Hurlers play 'get out of jail card' to rescue share of the spoils against Tyrone
Cian Murray was on target for Roscommon in injury time to rescue a draw against Tyrone in King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
Roscommon played their “get out of jail” card to earn an undeserved share of the spoils against Tyrone and keep their league promotion hopes alive at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon.
The warm favourites huffed and puffed for most of the contest, and it took a hat-trick of points in injury time from Seán Canning, Cian Murray and Micheál Hussey to rescue a draw against a Tyrone side that deserved far better.
Roscommon were fortunate to be ahead by the bare minimum at the break.
The home side’s handling was poor, they made a number of unforced errors, and they had goalkeeper, Enda Lawless, to thank for making two outstanding saves.
The sides were level, 0-5 apiece, after 14 minutes — Seán Canning (2), Conor Morris (two frees), and one of the points of the game from Keelan Ryan accounting for the Rossies scores, while Aidan Woods, Kiefer Morgan, Ciaran Magill, Michael Little (’65) and Niall McGarel split the posts for the visitors.
At that stage, Lawless had dived to his right to deny Pierce Mullin from point-blank range. But it was a sign that Tyrone were gaining the upperhand, and points from Pierce Mullin, Dean Rafferty and Little edged them three points ahead.
But Roscommon responded with 1-2 without reply. Cian Bowes and Morris (free) found the target before poor Tyrone defending allowed Conor Mulry and Liam Óg Coyle set up Bowes for a well-taken goal in the 26th minute.
A loose pass from Tommy Morris gifted Niall McGarel a point. Conor Morris replied with a free before Lawless denied McGarel with another incredible save, albeit there was consolation for the Red Hand County when Mullin pointed to leave his side 1-8 to 0-10 in arrears at the break.
As patchy as Roscommon were in the opening 35 minutes, they were worse after the break.
Tyrone dominated through the excellence of midfielder Ciarán Magill, the neat stickwork of Kiefer Morgan and Niall McGarel, and the accuracy of Michael Little from frees.
Lawless made a third outstanding save, and Tyrone were also unlucky not to win a penalty when Turlough Mullin appeared to be pulled back by a Roscommon defender when bearing down on goal.
Roscommon only scored five times in the opening 33 minutes of the second half through Canning (2), Morris (two frees) and Adam Donnelly (a free from long range).
During that time, their interplay was poor, and their shot selection left much to be desired as they amassed ten wides.
Crucially, however, they were within striking distance going into injury time, and when Canning and Cian Murray fired over rapid-fire scores, their final attack yielded the equaliser for Micheál Hussey in what was the last action of the game.
ROSCOMMON: E. Lawless; E. Mulry, J. Dillon, M. Hussey (0-1), K. Ryan (0-1), T. Morris, D. Finn; C. Morris (0-6, six frees), R. Finn; C. Murray (0-1), C. Bowes (1-1), S. Canning (0-5); C. Mulry, A. Donnelly (0-1, one free), L. Óg Coyle. Subs used: P. Fallon for Óg Coyle (half-time), J. Dowling for Mulry (51 mins), B. Mannion for D. Finn (65 mins).
TYRONE: C. McElhatton; D. Rafferty (0-1), O. McKee, J. McCann; S. Sweeney, F. Devlin, F. Donaghy; S.P. McKernan; C. Magill (0-3); T. Mullin, A. Woods (0-2), P. Mullin (0-1); N. McGarel (0-4), K. Morgan (0-1), M. Little (0-7, four frees, two ‘65s). Subs used: R. Weir for P. Mullin (60 mins), L. Griffiths for T. Mullin (55 mins), A. Crossan for McKernan (70 mins).
Referee: M. Redmond (Kildare).
