Michael Glaveys blow Roscommon SFC wide open with stunning victory
Darragh Heneghan contributed to a famous victory for Michael Glaveys against St. Brigid's in Lisnamult on Friday evening. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Michael Glaveys have blown the Roscommon Senior Football Championship wide open following a stunning 1-13 to 0-11 victory against St. Brigid’s in Lisnamult on Friday evening.
Brigid’s were 1/20 favourites, having steamrolled Elphin and Western Gaels in their opening two games. When the sides met in last year’s championship, there were 11 points between the teams in Ballinlough.
But Iain Daly’s men tore up the pre-match script to cause one of the biggest upsets in the Roscommon SFC in recent years.
Glaveys were 0-8 to 0-7 ahead at the break, and Rob Heneghan’s 67th minute breakaway goal sealed a famous, and deserved, win for the West Roscommon side.
While Glaveys will be seeded for the quarter-finals, St. Brigid’s could be on a collision course against Clann na nGael, or possibly Boyle, unless they are drawn as the seeded second-place team for the last eight.
In the other game in Group B, Elphin put their recent poor form behind them to secure third place in the group, and a preliminary quarter-final meeting against North Roscommon, following a 2-13 to 1-13 victory against Western Gaels in Kilbride.
Nigel Dineen’s side kicked the final five points of the game to make sure they’ll be playing senior championship football in 2026.
A couple of Evan Gunn points got the winners off to a good start but Western Gaels, thanks to a couple of two-pointers from Cathal Cregg, recovered to lead 0-9 to 0-6 at the change of ends.
An unanswered 1-1 in the opening five minutes of the second half from John Finnerty wrestled back the initiative for last year’s intermediate champions.
Evan Gunn and Kevin Higgins exchanged goals, before a couple of Rory Hester frees left Western Gaels 1-13 to 2-8 ahead after 48 minutes.
But Elphin’s late scoring burst, aided by Gunn (3), Fintan Cregg, and Finnerty, sealed a memorable victory.
In Group A, Clann na nGael, minus Ultan Harney, brought St. Faithleach’s unbeaten run to an end with a high-scoring 3-22 to 2-18 victory in Strokestown.
Helped by Alan McManus’ 20th minute goal alongside 1-11 from Ciarán Lennon, Pat Fallon’s men took a 2-16 to 0-7 lead into the interval in a half that lasted 43 minutes and also saw Faithleach’s reduced to 13 players as a result of black cards for Connell Kennelly and Brian Murtagh in injury time.
But the time the second half resumed, St. Faithleach’s were restored to their full quota of players and duly made a game of it, thanks to goals from Brian Murtagh and his younger brother Diarmuid from the penalty spot.
A brilliant last-ditch block prevented Faithleach’s from eroding the deficit to just four points and Dylan Sumner’s late goal sealed the win, and top spot in the group, for Clann.
In the other game in the group, reigning champions, Pádraig Pearses, recorded a 4-14 to 1-12 victory against St. Dominic’s in Ballyforan.
The underdogs raced 0-4 to 0-1 ahead before Player of the Match, Enda Colleran, who finished with 1-5 from play, got Pearses back on track with a clinical finish.
Paul Carey added a second green flag to catapult Pearses 2-5 to 0-6 ahead at half time, and further goals from Seán Canning and Adam McGreal sealed a comfortable victory.
As a result of the scoring difference in the games involving Clann, Faithleach’s and Pearses, Faithleach’s edged Pearses and finished second, while Pearses will now face a preliminary quarter-final against the third-placed team in Group C (Boyle, Roscommon Gaels, Oran, Castlerea St. Kevin’s).
