Day of high drama lights spark under senior football championship
Diarmuid Murtagh tests the strength of Colin Walsh's jersey during Sunday's senior football championship clash between St. Faithleach's and Oran in Kilbride. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
It has been an afternoon of high drama in the Roscommon Senior Football Championship, with wins for Roscommon Gaels, Oran and Strokestown.
Roscommon Gaels produced a miraculous second-half recovery to defeat Clann na nGael by 2-17 to 1-18 and, in the process, dump their South Roscommon rivals out of the championship in Kiltoom.
Peter Gillooly’s early goal wasn’t a sign of things to come initially from a Gaels perspective.
For the next 20 minutes, Clann outscored their opponents by 1-13 to 0-2. The goal came from Paddy Gavin, while Emmet Kenny kicked a hat-trick of points.
A 1-13 to 1-5 lead for Clann suggested that the game was done and dusted at the break but a resurgent Gaels had other ideas.
A string of two-pointers from substitute Rory Carthy (free), Richard Walsh (a couple of outstanding efforts from play) commenced Operation Transformation, and when Carthy goaled, his side were, amazingly, in front.
Clann kicked the next three points to edge back ahead but there was no denying the Gaels as late points from John McGuinness, Senan Lambe and Peter Gillooly — a two-pointer — sealed a famous win for Decie Hoare’s charges.
The result means that Pádraig Pearses will top the Group of Death and Clann are heading for the relegation play-offs irrespective of what happens when they meet in Johnstown, while Roscommon Gaels and Boyle will battle it out in Lisnamult to see who finishes second and third.
In Group A, Strokestown made it two wins from two with a high-scoring 2-19 to 3-14 victory against Michael Glaveys at Enfield.
A couple of orange flags from goalkeeper Niall Curley got last year’s intermediate champions up and running, and when Cormac Heneghan dropped Kevin Finn’s “up and under”, Shane McGinley pounced for the simplest of goals after 13 minutes.
But scores from Daniel Hagney (’45), Darragh Heneghan and an inspirational two-pointer from Niall Heneghan meant that Glaveys only trailed by two points at the break.
The second half was littered with scores and provided three penalties.
Robert Heneghan nailed the first spot kick in the 42th minute before McGinley did likewise 13 minutes later.
A tour-de-force from Thomas Corcoran around the middle third provided the platform for Keith Murphy, Stephen Tighe, McGinley and Cathal Lavin to stretch Strokestown’s lead further, but two late goals for Glaveys — a second penalty from Heneghan and a well-taken effort from Daniel Hagney — brought the margin back to a couple of points.
Strokestown host St. Brigid’s in their final group game to decide who tops the group, while Michael Glaveys will welcome Western Gaels to Ballinlough to see who finishes third.
In Group C, Oran’s upwards trajectory continued as a composed second-half performance was enough to see off last year’s beaten semi-finalists, St. Faithleach’s, on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-13 in Kilbride.
Pat Regan’s charges opened up a 0-8 to 0-2 lead with the wind behind them, but Faithleach’s kicked the last five scores of the half, including three from Ciaráin Murtagh, to trail by just a point at half time.
Early scores from Ciarán Lawless, Charlie Carthy, and James Fitzpatrick extended Oran’s lead further, and Faithleach’s could get no closer than three points behind in the second half despite a couple of two-pointers from Diarmuid Murtagh (free) and Jonathan Hussey.
Oran travel to Castlerea St. Kevin’s for their final game, while Faithleach’s make the journey to Elphin.
In the McNulty’s Furniture Intermediate Football Championship, St. Michael’s took firm control of Group B with a narrow 2-14 to 1-16 victory against Creggs in the first of Sunday’s games at Enfield.
Jeffrey Oates’ goal handed the “Green and Red” a 1-7 to 0-8 lead at the break, and when Fiachra Henry, his side’s top scorer, and Alex Oates stretched that advantage on the resumption, Michael’s looked set for victory.
But they were caught napping from a quick free, allowing Enda O’Roarke find the net.
Creggs were back in the game, but they gifted Henry a second Michael’s goal and James Martin’s side duly kept a late Creggs revival at bay to leave themselves in pole position to top the group if they can get the better of neighbours Shannon Gaels in their final game at Ardcarne Park.
There was also another high-scoring game in Knockcroghery where St. Dominic’s picked up their second win to cement top spot in Group A with a 6-16 to 2-14 victory against St. Brigid’s.
Aided by the wind, and Daniel Keenan’s unerring accuracy, which included five two-pointers, Brigid’s took a 1-10 to 1-8 lead into the half-time interval.
Keith Doyle’s early point set the tone for a dominant display from the hosts in the second half as Brigid’s were made to pay dearly for some defensive errors.
Daire Keenan (2), Ronan McDermott, Mick Feely and Thomas Hurley added goals for Dominic’s, and although Adam Lennon goaled for Brigid’s, Dominic’s were on their way to the quarter-finals as group winners.
