Roscommon strike late to secure dramatic victory
The Roscommon hurling team that faced Wicklow in the opening game of their Division Three League campaign. Picture: Roscommon Hurling.
Adam Donnelly netted a 72nd minute free to ensure Roscommon secured a dramatic come from behind victory in their opening Division Three contest.
Wicklow will feel this was one they let slip after firing 14 wides but Roscommon deserve great credit for battling with 14 men after Cian Bowes’ red card in the 50th minute. At that stage Roscommon trailed 1-10 to 0-11 but they never let Wicklow out of their sights before Liam Óg Coyle’s 62nd minute goal levelled the contest.
The visitors looked to have done enough when substitutes Padraig Doyle and Fionn Darcy slotted over but when Wicklow ‘keeper Conor McNally was pinged for a throw ball on his own 20m line, Donnelly stepped up to rifle the free to the net. This gave Roscommon the lead for the first time in the contest.
Wicklow poured forward in search of an equaliser as Conall Byrne’s hurl was tugged with referee Michael Connolly playing advantage. Andrew Kavanagh’s subsequent effort flew wide but the advantage was deemed to have passed much to the dismay of the Wicklow faithful.
Conor Mulry nailed his fifth point from play to push his side two points up and ultimately secure a statement win against a fellow Christy Ring Cup team.
The start of this game looked ominous as Wicklow’s Germaine was denied by Enda Lawless in the fifth minute.
Andrew Kavanagh thought he had found the breakthrough nine minutes later, but Luke Evans was penalised for a throw ball when picking out the full forward.
Wicklow found the goal they craved in the 19th minute as Germaine flicked the sliothar to the net after Ken Cullen’s effort dropped short. That moved Wickow eight clear of a Roscommon side that was lacklustre up until that juncture.
With Roscommon trailing 1-6 to 0-1, Roscommon needed a response.
They fired over seven of the next eight scores as a gem of an effort by Conor Morris in the 23rd minute gave Brian Hanley’s men their first score from play.
Wicklow struck five wides in the final 10 minutes of the half and nine in total during the opening period as Paddy Fallon and Cian Bowes scores ensured Roscommon only trailed 1-7 to 0-8 at half time.
Roscommon went score for score with the visitors for the opening 20 minutes of the second half as four Tommy Morris efforts and a Conor Mulry score helped Brian Hanley’s men hang tough. Despite the blow of Bowes’ sending off, Liam Óg Coyle netted to level the game for just the second time.
Wicklow looked to have done enough when Doyle and Darcy slotted over but Donnelly had other ideas as Roscommon secured a precious win.
**Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald**
