Pearses still standing after getting better of Boyle in semi-final for the ages

Padraig Pearses are back in the Hodson Bay Group SFC final after getting past Boyle on a scoreline of 5-22 to 2-27, after extra-time, in one of the most incredible games of club football County Roscommon has ever produced on a perfect October evening at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park.

Boyle looked to have won it in regulation time when Donie Smith raised an orange flag from a free but, with their championship on the line, Pearses mustered a response through Declan Kenny who kicked the two-pointer of his life to leave supporters drained, and 20 more minutes required.

Both sides continued to empty themselves, but, ultimately, it was Adam McGreal’s two goals in extra time that eventually got Pearses over the line, and into their third county final in succession.

Both sides traded scores early on, with Paul Carey and Donie Smith landing orange flags for their sides.

A second Pearses two-pointer from Ronan Daly nudged his side in front before Boyle goalkeeper Rob Kearney didn’t deal with a long delivery, and David Murray scored his second goal in as many games.

By the break, Pearses were 1-11 to 0-12 ahead, and there was no let-up in the quality in the second half.

Another defensive lapse gifted Keelan Kelly a second three-pointer for Pearses, but Boyle responded instantly when Oisín Cregg produced an emphatic finish.

There was nothing between the teams after that, but Donie Smith looked to have won it for Boyle when he converted a two-point free deep into injury time.

Pearses had barely enough time left to fashion an equaliser but, in the last action of the game, Declan Kenny left fly from the next parish to incredibly send the game to extra time, 2-18 to 1-21.

DECLAN KELLY THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS 🤯

Boyle thought they'd won it at the death until Declan Kelly stepped up with the last kick of the game to send it to extra-time 🫡@propearses | @RoscommonGAA | #ClubberTV pic.twitter.com/uf2DDMtX2J

— Clubber (@clubber) October 3, 2026

Niall Murray’s side had the momentum now, and barely a minute into extra time, Jack Tumulty grabbed Pearses’ third goal.

A two-pointer from Enda Smith meant that Boyle were still standing, but when Adam McGreal ended the half with a fourth Pearses goal, the South Roscommon men had one foot in the final, leading by 4-21 to 1-25 at half time in extra time.

Early points from Donie Smith (free) and Daire Cregg gave Boyle hope but when McGreal grabbed Pearses’ fifth goal, the Woodmount-based side could finally breathe more easily as they set up a county final against either St. Brigid’s or Strokestown, despite Cathal McKeon grabbing a consolation goal for Boyle and Paul Whelan denying Daire Cregg a third green flag for Fergal O'Donnell's side at the death.

In the first of the King and Moffatt Junior A Football Championship semi-finals, a slow start didn’t deter Ballinameen from returning to the final after they hammered Kilglass Gaels by 4-21 to 0-12 in Tom Collins Park, Croghan.

Adam Dwyer scored 3-3 but, incredibly, that performance was bettered by Dean Casey who hit 0-11 and ran the show from centre-forward.

With the breeze at their backs, Kilglass Gaels were the better team for most of the opening half, aided by a hat-trick of two-point frees from Tristan Hoey and a fourth orange flag from Diarmuid Connellan.

Dwyer’s opening goal in the 17th minute settled his side but Kilglass Gaels still held a 0-10 to 1-2 lead after 22 minutes.

From there, Ballinameen — with Casey pulling the strings — took over and they were level by the midway mark, 0-10 to 1-7.

Pierce Bolger briefly nudged Kilglass Gaels ahead with a free on the resumption but Ballinameen went on to hit an unanswered 1-11 before Kilglass troubled the scoreboard again — that a second Bolger free with nine minutes remaining.

Ballinameen’s firepower went into overdrive as Dwyer added a second goal before kicking a two-pointer from play.

Casey nailed a couple of two-point frees as Eoghan Keavney and Ronan Garvin added further scores.

There was still time for Dwyer to complete his hat-trick of goals before a penalty from Garvin rounded off a comprehensive victory for the North Roscommon men.

*Match reports from Saturday's semi-final action in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald