Major breakthrough for Roscommon Gaels in senior hurling championship

Roscommon Gaels made a huge breakthrough in the Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship by booking their place in this year’s semi-finals at Tremane’s expense in Ballyforan this afternoon.

Up until Ronan O’Meara’s arrival in 2022, it seemed that the Gaels were always the team to be knocked out of the championship after the group stages. But O’Meara’s arrival heralded a change in fortunes, and last year’s quarter-final appearance has now been backed up by a place in the last four.

Finn Killion’s ten-point haul was crucial in the Gaels’ 1-19 to 3-9 victory against Tremane.

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, the Gaels, aided by Killion’s accuracy, were 0-12 to 1-3 ahead at the break — Tremane’s goal coming from Jack Naughton.

The Gaels looked to be cruising to victory when Killion set up Mark Purcell for his side’s only goal.

Tremane scored two late goals, including one from wing-back Michael Kellehan and an own goal, but the Gaels had done enough to book their place in the last four where they will meet defending champions Four Roads.

In the other semi-final in Creggs, two late Athleague goals procured a dramatic 2-12 to 0-16 victory for last year’s beaten finalists against Oran.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-6 apiece at the break but, led by Paddy Fallon, Oran nudged ahead and were 0-14 to 0-12 ahead with injury time looming.

But when a Niall Connolly free went through a cluster of bodies all the way to the net, Athleague, just as they had done in the group game between the sides a few weeks ago, came with a late scoring flurry, and Aengus Lyons’ goal in the fourth minute of injury time catapulted his side into a semi-final meeting against St. Dominic’s.

*Match reports from both quarter-finals in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald.