Hurlers grind out hard-earned win against Louth
Conor Morris was Roscommon's top scorer with 0-6 against Louth. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
The Roscommon senior hurlers remain on track for promotion after grinding out a three-point victory against a resilient Louth side in Darvar on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Hanley’s charges were the better side, but they were made to work hard for the victory on a heavy pitch that made constructive hurling impossible.
Predictably, a dogfight ensued, and it took late points from Paddy Fallon and Seán Canning to seal the deal.
Playing against the wind in the opening half, the visitors struggled to make inroads up front.
The one exception was Eoin Kiernan who was prominent, but he had to retire with a hamstring injury after 28 minutes.
Four Conor Morris frees supplemented Kiernan’s early point from play as Roscommon trailed by 0-6 to 0-5 at half time.
With the wind behind them, Roscommon began to turn the screw in the second half as a couple of Conor Morris free, a hat-trick of points from Seán Canning, and scores from Cian Murray and Conor Mulry left the Primrose and Blue four points ahead, 0-12 to 0-8, with 18 minutes remaining.
But a more physically imposing Louth side began to dominate, and although Keelan Ryan and the Finn brothers — Darragh and Ronan — stemmed the tide initially, points from wing-back John Casey and a couple of Ciarán McKelvey frees left Louth within striking distance, 0-12 to 0-11, with a minute remaining.
But Roscommon held their nerve as Fallon and Canning guided over late points from play to leave their side with three wins from three and very much in the hunt for promotion.
Afterwards, manager Brian Hanley dedicated the victory to the family of the late Kieran Connell from Athleague, whose son-in-law Basil Jones is part of the Roscommon backroom team.
ROSCOMMON: E. Lawless; E. Mulry, J. Dillon, M. Hussey; K. Ryan, T. Morris, D. Finn; C. Morris (0-6, six frees), R. Finn; C. Murray (0-1), E. Kiernan (0-1), S. Canning (0-4); C. Mulry (0-1), A. Donnelly, L. Óg Coyle. Subs used: P. Fallon (0-1) for Kiernan (28 mins), B. Lawlor for Óg Coyle (52 mins).
LOUTH: C. Clancy; S. Kettle, A. McGuinness, S. Hodgins; J. Casey (0-1), P. Fortune (0-1), M. O’Shea; D. Geoghegan (0-3, one free), S. Flynn; A. Le Touche Cosgrove (0-1), S. Conneely, K. Rafferty; C. Murphy (0-2), C. McKelvey (0-3, three frees), M. Gahan. Subs used: J. Costello for Rafferty (42 mins), S. Magill for Gahan (58 mins).
Referee: S. Walsh (Waterford).
