Roscommon return to FBD final after getting the better of London
Conor Cox was Roscommon's top scorer against London in this evening's FBD Connacht semi-final at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Roscommon mixed the good with the mediocre to qualify for their tenth FBD Connacht final on the trot at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome this evening.
London, who shocked Mayo a week ago, were plucky opponents for Davy Burke's side and the manager's frustration was palpable afterwards when he described his side's performance as "not great".
Six unanswered points between the 13th and 22nd minutes were the highlight. Roscommon were in their pomp at that stage, bisecting the Air Dome posts from distance.
But it all went a bit flat after that, and Roscommon had Conor Carroll to thank for denying Liam Gallagher from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.
A London goal at that stage would have left only three points between the teams, but any lingering doubts about a shock result disappeared as Roscommon, despite their defensive frailties, got the job done.
The sides were level at 0-3 apiece after ten minutes before Roscommon showed their class, kicking the game’s next six points from play as Eoin McCormack (2), Colin Walsh, Diarmuid Murtagh (2) and Conor Cox grabbed scores.
Shea Rafter ended London’s 14-minute scoring famine, but a couple of Conor Cox scores and another from Daire Cregg left it 0-12 to 0-4 after 28 minutes.
But London struck for a great goal when centre-back Ciarán McKeon finished off a sweeping move with an unstoppable shot to the back of the net.
A free from Shea Rafter and a point from play by Daniel Clarke gave London further encouragement before a Cox free on the half-time whistle left the Rossies 0-13 to 1-6 to the good.
Roscommon were always able to keep the scoreboard ticking over after the break, but 13 wides over the course of the 70 minutes will have been noted by Burke and his management.
With Roscommon 0-16 to 1-7 ahead after 49 minutes, thanks to Enda Smith’s first point of the evening, London were handed another lifeline when substitute Ryan Tohill was upended for a penalty.
But Young Footballer of the Year nominee, Conor Carroll, made a smart save from Liam Gallagher’s effort, and any remaining inkling of a London upset disappeared.
Cox continued to impress with a couple of fine points from play, while Andrew Glennon marked his introduction off the bench with a brace of scores too as Roscommon set up a final meeting against Galway at the same venue next Friday evening.
Roscommon – C Carroll; S Lambe, L Glennon, N Higgins; D Murray, C Walsh, E McCormack; D Ruane, E Smith; C Connolly, D Murtagh, D Cregg; C Cox, C Lennon, J Duggan. Subs: A McDermott for Cregg (33), K Doyle for Connolly (33), C Keogh for Walsh (h-t), A Glennon for Duggan (45), E Flynn for Lambe (45), P Gavin for Murray (54), N Daly for Ruane (54), D Kenny for Lennon (60).
London – A Walsh; D Rooney, M Moynihan, F Eastwood; O Kerr, C McKeon, C Cox; S Dornan, L Gallagher; A McLoughlin, D Clarke, D Flaherty; J Obahor, S Rafter, E Walsh. Subs: R Tohill for Dornan (42), T Barry for McLoughlin (47), C Healy for McKeon (55), R O’Connell for Kerr (58), C Mulgrew for Obahor (63).
Referee – C Ryan (Galway).
