Magnificent Rossies stun Tyrone to reach All-Ireland quarter-finals
Tyrone's Nathan McCarron tries to block a shot from Daire Cregg during Saturday evening's famous victory at O'Neills Healy Park, Omagh. Picture: INPHO/Leah Scholes
Whoever said it was Mission Impossible?
Roscommon went to the home of 2021 All-Ireland champions, Tyrone, and produced their best performance of the season by a country mile to beat their hosts in the championship for the first time and reach next weekend's All-Ireland quarter-finals in Croke Park.
With the Rossies leading by 0-9 to 0-3 at the break, Davy Burke's men withstood Tyrone's second-half comeback to record, arguably, their biggest championship win against a team outside of Connacht since 1980.
The opening half couldn’t have gone any better from a Roscommon perspective.
Davy Burke’s men controlled the tempo, and picked their moments to kick some wonderful scores.
The visitors forced a number of excellent turnovers, with Niall Higgins keeping tabs on Darragh Canavan.
Seán O’Donnell opened the scoring for Tyrone, but the next six points went Roscommon’s way with a hat-trick of scores from Donie Smith, two from Conor Cox and Diarmuid Murtagh giving their team a dream start.
Darren McCurry responded for Tyrone but further points from Diarmuid Murtagh and Conor Cox (free) pushed the Rossies’ lead out to 0-8 to 0-2.
McCurry (free) and Daire Cregg swapped points before another swift counter attack presented Diarmuid Murtagh with a great goal chance, but Niall Morgan made a great save.
Up the other end, Ciarán Daly dragged a goal chance wide as Roscommon led by 0-9 to 0-3 at the break.
Tyrone turned their team upside down at half time, introducing U-21 star, Eoin McElholm, Conn Kilpatrick, who had his red card overturned against Cork on Friday evening, and Peter Harte.
The brilliant Darragh Canavan led the expected Tyrone backlash but, crucially, they could never get level.
With Canavan, McElholm and Darren McCurry (two frees) splitting the posts, the home side gradually reeled in Davy Burke’s men, but Roscommon were always able to keep their noses in front through a series of wonderful scores from Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Smith and Daire Cregg.
A Michael McKernan score made it 0-13 to 0-12 with seven minutes remaining, but Roscommon’s produced a mammoth defensive effort to prevent Tyrone from getting level.
In the end, Cregg, who was vying for Player of the Match with Donie Smith, kicked the score of the game under pressure to hand Roscommon’s one of their greatest-ever championship wins and set up an All-Ireland quarter-final against either Donegal, Kerry or Armagh in Croke Park next weekend.
The only concern was the sight of Diarmuid Murtagh limping off in the game’s dying embers with what looked like a hamstring injury.
Afterwards, Enda Smith described it as a “career-defining win” for this group of players.
Indeed it was.
TYRONE: N. Morgan; B. Cullen, P. Hamsey, N. Devlin; N. McCarron, M. McKernan (0-1), M. O’Neill; B. Kennedy (0-1, a mark), M. Donnelly; C. Daly, R. Canavan, C. McShane; D. McCurry (0-4, three frees), D. Canavan (0-4, two frees), S. O’Donnell (0-1). Subs used: E. McElholm (0-1) for R. Canavan (half-time), C. Donnelly for O’Neill (half-time), P. Harte for Cullen (half-time), K. McGeary for Daly (59 mins), S. O’Hare for McShane (64 mins).
ROSCOMMON: C. Carroll; R. Dolan, N. Higgins, D. Murray; E. McCormack, B. Stack, R. Fallon; D. Ruane, S. Cunnane; U. Harney, D. Murtagh (0-4), E. Smith; D. Cregg (0-3), C. Cox (0-3, one free), D. Smith (0-4). Subs used: R. Daly for Ruane (43 mins), C. Lennon for McCormack (47 mins), N. Daly for Harney (59 mins), A. Glennon for Cox (65 mins), K. Doyle for Murtagh (66 mins).
Referee: D. Coldrick (Meath).
