Roscommon U-20 footballers produce the goods to be crowned Connacht champions
Robert Heneghan on the charge for Roscommon during this evening's Connacht U-20 football final success against Galway at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Roscommon have claimed their second Connacht U-20 football title in three years after edging out Galway in a terrific final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this evening.
Second-half goals from Niall O’Donnell, Shane McGinley and Ryan Dowling procured a famous triumph.
Noel Dunning’s side found themselves two points behind at the break, having played with the aid of a slight breeze in the opening half, but they turned the tables with a hat-trick of goals to secure the Rossies’ 11th provincial U-20/U-21 crown.
Roscommon made a blistering start with points from Senan Lambe, Rory Hester, and McGinley (one from play and one free). They were winning all the major collisions, but once Galway found the range they wiped out the deficit in jig time with scores from Jack Mullen (2) and Colm Costello (one free and one from play).
A couple of marks from McGinley and Bobby Nugent restored Roscommon’s advantage momentarily, but Galway finished the half impressively — the pick of the scores coming midfielder Shay McGlinchey and wing back Mark Mannion to hand the Tribesmen a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, Roscommon were back in front when McGinley’s turn of pace teed up Niall O’Donnell for the game’s opening goal.
At the three-quarter stage, Roscommon were 1-10 to 0-12 in front as Ryan Dowling and Ross Coen marked their introductions for their respective sides with points.
But when Conor Ryan and Conor Harley set up McGinley for the Rossies’ second goal, they had the impetus to go on and finish the job with 13 minutes remaining.
Galway didn’t make life easy for their opponents as Fionn MacDonnacha, Mullen and Colm Costello kicked some terrific scores.
But a crucial turnover in injury time allowed Ryan Dowling cement his side’s triumph with a third goal as Roscommon set up an All-Ireland semi-final meeting against Ulster champions, Tyrone, on Saturday next.
Scorers – Roscommon: S McGinley 1-6 (0-3f, 0-1m), R Dowling 1-2, N O’Donnell 1-1, S Lambe, R Heneghan, R Hester, B Nugent (1m) 0-1 each.
Galway: J Mullen, M Thompson (2f) 0-4 each, F MacDonnacha (1m), C Costello (1f) 0-3 each, M Mannion, S McGlinchey, R Coen 0-1 each
ROSCOMMON – S Allen; E Kerins, J Connolly, E Carthy; S Lambe, D Casey, J McGreal; C Harley, C Ryan; R Hester, D Hagney, R Heneghan; S McGinley, N O’Donnell, B Nugent. Subs: E O’Reilly for McGreal (h-t), R Dowling for Hagney (45), O O’Flaherty for Harley (50), S Walsh for O’Donnell (57), R Carthy for Hester (59).
GALWAY – E McGrath; D Costello, B Noone, S Canavan; M Mannion, J Lonergan, J Folan; S McGlinchey, C Heneghan; C Mulhern, M Thompson, C Murphy; J Mullen, F MacDonnacha, C Costello.
Subs: D Kilcommins for Heneghan (h-t), R Coen for Folan (41), L O’Connor for Mannion (48), R Colleran for Murphy (53), N Mannion for Costello (60).
REF – L Devenney (Mayo).
