Michael Glaveys take direct route to knockout stages of senior football championship

Michael Glaveys took the most direct route to the quarter-finals of this year’s Roscommon Senior Football Championship by getting the better of St. Faithleach’s in a feisty contest in Ballyforan on Friday evening.

In a match where there were three red cards — one for Michael Glaveys and two for St. Faithleach’s — Iain Daly’s side prevailed by 3-6 to 1-8.

A brilliant solo goal from Darragh Heneghan gave Glaveys an early boost, but the attacker soon saw red for a late challenge on Karl Nerney.

Glaveys were 1-4 to 0-6 ahead at half time against a wasteful Faithleach’s side.

But the Ballyleague-based side’s ambitions were dealt a blow when Johnny Hussey, who had kicked two good points from play, picked up a second yellow card.

Glaveys grabbed their second goal through Cathal Heneghan but Faithleach’s replied with a three-pointer of their own as David Rooney found the net.

But a straight red card for goalkeeper Alan Manning left Faithleach’s down numerically once more, and a third Glaveys goal, scored by Dylan Ruane after a wonderful pass by Cathal Heneghan, earned the West Roscommon men second place in the group, and a place in the quarter-finals.

Faithleach’s will take their place in the preliminary quarter-finals.

As expected, defending champions St. Brigid’s confirmed top spot in Group B with a facile 5-15 to 0-6 victory against Western Gaels who must now try and save their senior status in the relegation play-offs.

The narrative in Lisnamult was penned inside 60 seconds when John Cunningham found the net. The one-way traffic continued as Shane Cunnane and Brian Derwin raised further green flags in the opening ten minutes.

There was still time for Paul McGrath to net a fourth goal to leave Brigid’s 4-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

With Eddie Nolan getting 60 minutes under his belt for the first time this season, Brigid’s scored a fifth goal from the penalty spot through Conor Hand.

Roscommon Gaels nailed down top spot in Group A with a straightforward 2-19 to 0-9 triumph against Tulsk in Tarmonbarry.

Goals from Peter Gillooly and Richard Walsh handed the Gaels a 2-4 to 0-4 interval advantage and Mark Dowd’s side duly pressed home their advantage by outscoring their opponents by 0-15 to 0-5 in the second half.

Walsh (1-5), Gillooly (1-3) and Cian Connolly (0-3) were among the Gaels’ top scorers. Thomas O’Rourke was Tulsk’s main score-getter with four points from frees.

Oran secured second place in the group with a comprehensive 4-16 to 0-6 victory against Castlerea St. Kevin’s in Strokestown.

In what was expected to be a close encounter, Seán Staunton’s side were utterly dominant, hitting 3-11 without reply between the fifth and 37th minutes.

Goals from Shane Walsh and Ciarán Lawless gave the winners a 2-9 to 0-2 buffer at the break, and further goals from Eoghan Murray and substitute Michael Harrington confirmed a satisfactory evening’s work for the winners.

The only worry was the sight of Lawless departing the fray injured.

Castlerea must now dust themselves down and prepare for the preliminary quarter-finals where they will face either St. Faithleach’s, North Roscommon or Boyle/Pádraig Pearses.

*Match reports from all four games in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald