Hurling championship opens with famous victory
Representatives from the seven clubs who will battle it out for the Mickey Cunniffe Cup are pictured alongside David Mannion, Kepak.
The 2026 Kepak Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship got underway today with a triple header of action taking place at Woodmount.
Naos Connaughton's tally of 3-7 propelled St. Dominic's to a famous 3-14 to 2-12 win over five in a row chasing Four Roads.
For St. Dominic's this is a big win that helps banish the demons of recent narrow defeats to a Four Roads side who were without Conor Mulry and Adam Donnelly.
Four Roads enjoyed the ideal start as Tommy Morris netted after six minutes. But nine first half wides meant they were unable to pull away and when Naos Connaughton netted a 20m free, St. Dominic's led 1-7 to 1-6 at half time.
Mickey Joe Egan and Gavin Staunton pushed the gap out but Noel Fallon came forward to net a 34th minute penalty to tie the game.
But Dominic's struck back with a quick 2-2 with Connaughton netting a penalty before slamming home from close range moments later. That pushed St. Dominic's eight up but try as they might Four Roads, who saw Jack Donnelly red carded in the 57th minute, couldn't reel in an impressive Dominic's side.
In the first game of the day Tremane faced Roscommon Gaels in a repeat of last year’s final round robin shootout for a quarter-final slot.
Mike Keaveney’s Tremane side avenged last year’s defeat with a convincing 0-21 to 0-13 victory over the Gaels.
Michael Kellehan and Evan Murray led the way for Tremane in the first half as they combined for seven points to hand their side a 0-13 to 0-6 halftime lead.
With the aid of the moderate breeze the Gaels reeled the deficit back to three, Richard Walsh scoring five points within ten minutes of the resumption.
But Tremane finished stronger, despite Michael Kellehan receiving a straight red card late on.
In this afternoon’s second game Oran commenced their campaign with a 1-19 to 1-16 win against a shorthanded Padraig Pearses side.
Oran only led 0-10 to 0-7 after enjoying wind advantage with eight players on target in the first half for them. Cathal Kenny was twice denied a goal by Pearses keeper Liam Creavin but late efforts from Paddy Fallon, Paul Kenny and Seamus Hussey saw Oran lead by three at half time.
The game's defining score came in the 36th minute when Nathan Flynn netted and from there Oran always led by at least two scores until deep in injury time.
Pearses outscored Oran 1-4 to 0-1 in the final six minutes with Ronan Finn netting with the final puck of the game but it was Oran who secured the spoils.
