Roscommon Gaels set up county final meeting against Pádraig Pearses
Peter Gillooly scored the all-important goal for Roscommon Gaels that finally snapped Michael Glaveys' resistance at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell.
Roscommon Gaels found an extra gear to see off Michael Glaveys after extra time in a pulsating county senior football semi-final at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon to set up a repeat of the 2019 final against Pádraig Pearses in two weeks’ time.
Peter Gillooly’s goal in the second period of extra time finally snapped the resistance of a tiring Michael Glaveys side who let a four-point lead slip in the final quarter of regulation time.
The sides finished level after normal time, 0-15 to 2-9, after the Gaels kicked the last four points, including three points in injury time.
Tim Lambe was the Gaels hero, kicking two of those points after Andrew Glennon had scored a 48th minute goal to leave four points between the teams and leave Glaveys on the cusp of their first senior final since 1996.
Ryan Conlon was on fire for Roscommon Gaels in the opening half, kicking five points from play, but Cathal Heneghan’s 21st minute goal, after he intercepted a free from Cathal Dineen, threw Glaveys a lifeline.
With Darragh Heneghan’s pace causing the Gaels all sorts of problems, Glaveys, who were 0-8 to 1-4 behind at the break, took charge of the third quarter, and Glennon’s goal laid the platform for victory.
But points from Ryan Conlon (free) and a Mark Purcell ’45, which was sandwiched between Lambe’s two points from play in the four minutes of injury time, sent the game to extra time.
Robert Heneghan’s well-taken goal at the start of extra time gave Glaveys a renewed boost but they visibly tired after that as Gaels, slowly but surely, reeled them in.
Cathal Heneghen, who couldn’t find Niall Heneghan with a potentially killer pass soon afterwards, went off injured and, as a result, Glaveys’ attack petered out.
Within 30 seconds of the second period of extra time, substitute Kieran Kilcline brought Roscommon Gaels level before Mark Purcell remained cool under pressure to land a free from 45 metres to edge his side in front.
As Glaveys wilted, Gillooly finished off a move ignited by Senan Lambe’s quickly-taken mark to finally put the game to bed.
In the first of this afternoon’s intermediate football semi-finals, Strokestown suggested that they’re hitting form at the right time with a comfortable 2-17 to 1-9 victory against Fuerty at Kiltoom.
It was hard to believe that there was only a point between the teams with 15 minutes remaining, but Strokestown, led by Diarmuid McGann and Shane McGinley, hit the after-burners to score 1-7 without reply.
The Black and Amber made the better start, and a lovely point from Ciarán Regan handed them a two-point lead.
A Gearoid Ennis penalty edged Fuerty ahead but a Fionn Cusack goal before the break gave Strokestown a 1-7 to 1-4 lead at the break.
A point from Oisín Lyons left Fuerty just a point behind at the three-quarter stage but a black card for Cian Murray dented his side’s chances.
But McGann came into his own before Shane McGinley netted a late penalty to leave Pearse McGinley’s men 60 minutes from a possible return to the senior ranks.
Strokestown will play neighbours Elphin in the final as Evan Gunn's 17th minute goal proved to be the crucial score in their 1-7 to 0-7 semi-final victory against Éire Óg in Frenchpark.
Conor Cox kicked the opening two points for last year's defeated finalists but Elphin's first score in the 15th minute by Fintan Cregg was followed by Gunn's game-defining green flag.
At half time, Nigel Dineen's side led by 1-3 to 0-4, and Éire Óg were never able to get any closer as Fintan Cregg's 55th minute free left three points between the sides, and that's the way it stayed until the full-time whistle.
