Last gasp Lennon score gives Roscommon historic win
Daire Cregg, pictured after scoring Roscommon's second goal, guided his side to an historic win. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Ciarán Lennon proved the hero as Roscommon came from 13 points down after 41 minutes to secure an incredible victory.
This game appeared destined to finish all square after Seán Kelly’s equalised the contest after 68 minutes but Senan Lambe won turnover ball from an errant Johnny McGrath line ball which set in wheels the sequence of events that led to Lennon’s dramatic winner. Yet, Galway could have nabbed the win as Aaron Brady denied Oisín Mac Donnacha a game winning goal with just eight seconds left.
With Galway leading 0-16 to 0-5 at half time having enjoyed a strong wind advantage, the Tribesmen had bolstered that advantage to 0-19 to 0-6 after 41 minutes. Yet, Roscommon were unfazed as Daire Cregg’s 1-7 and the fact Roscommon held the hosts scoreless for 21 minutes were key elements in securing the sweetest of victories for Roscommon.
With Galway enjoying wind advantage in the opening period, it was always a case of damage limitation from the visitors’ perspective. Yet, it was Roscommon who enjoyed the ideal start as despite Darragh Heneghan pulling up injured after two minutes, a Diarmuid Murtagh free and a Daire Cregg score moved Mark Dowd’s men ahead.
Galway struggled with early inaccuracies as they missed their opening three attempts at two-pointers while Fionn McDonagh was denied a fourth minute goal by Aaron Brady. But, Roscommon began to struggle to retain their own kickouts, losing their first seven.
After Roscommon’s pair of early scores, they were outscored 0-16 to 0-3 for the remainder of the half. Rob Finnerty got Galway moving but Roscommon were hanging tough off limited possession as Cregg got his side level at 0-3 apiece after 17 minutes.
However, Galway’s pressure began to tell as a Matthew Tierney two-pointer gave Galway the confidence boost they desired to shoot from deep. John Maher grabbed a trademark score before Liam Ó Conghaile exploded into action, kicking 0-5, including a pair of two-pointers, in a four minute spell.
Cregg’s third point from play gave Roscommon a boost but Finnerty had the last say to ensure Galway led 0-16 to 0-5 at half time.
Despite the wind at their backs, Roscommon struggled to make the elements count in the opening stages. Daire Cregg kicked two early scores but Seán Kelly’s influence rose as he slotted an early point while blocking a Cregg effort that led to Ó Conghaile wheeling away in delight.
But Roscommon were beginning to find their rhythm as a decisive turning point came in the 48th minute. Conor Ryan soared highest to claim a Brady restart before picking out Smith, who raced through and slammed an effort to the bottom corner of the net.
A Cregg score after Roscommon snagged a Galway restart gave the visitors hope. A rare Kelly misplaced pass resulted in Caelim Keogh winning a turnover as seconds later Diarmuid Murtagh kicked his side’s first two-pointer of the contest after. The momentum was with Mark Dowd’s men as a Ruane two-pointer left just two between the sides after 63 minutes.
Then Roscommon struck. After a Senan Lambe effort dropped short, Enda Smith reacted quickest to the breaking ball before feeding Daire Cregg to rifle home.
In a dramatic finale, Kelly stepped up to curl a terrific score off his left. Yet, the drama continued as Lennon struck before Brady hurled his body on the line to deny Galway and ensure a Roscommon pitch invasion upon David Coldrick’s final whistle.
*Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald*
