Roscommon’s bravery rewarded with another stalemate

Roscommon 0-6

Galway 0-6

EirGrid Connacht U-20 Football Championship

Draw specialists Roscommon eked out another stalemate after displaying tremendous character to earn a share of the spoils against Galway in difficult conditions at Dr. Hyde Park.

Galway looked to be in the box seat at half time, leading by a point after playing into the teeth of the wind and rain.

The visitors were two points to the good with five minutes remaining but Galway’s inability to put the game to bed left Roscommon on life support, and they produced a rousing finish to earn a deserved share of the spoils - their third of this campaign.

With the wind at their backs, Roscommon were forced to keep the ball in the tricky conditions in the knowledge that any loose pass would be gobbled up by the greasy Hyde Park surface.

After a cagey opening, Rory Hester opened the scoring in the tenth minute after Senan Lambe embellished a good start by setting up the Western Gaels wing-forward.

A rare miss from Shane McGinley from a free showcased the difficulty in terms of judging the wind but a clever pass by the Strokestown player allowed Robert Heneghan double his side’s advantage with 20 minutes gone.

But Galway, led by Shay McGlinchey, started to gain a significant foothold around midfield, and Colm Costello kicked a beautiful score from an acute angle to get them off the mark in the 22nd minute.

The Tribesmen’s dominance continued, and when Matthew Thompson (free) and Costello added to their side’s tally in quick succession to edge their side 0-3 to 0-2 in front at the break, Roscommon had it all to do facing the elements in the second half.

Conor Heneghan (mark) and Shane McGinley (free) swapped points before Cian Murphy added to Galway’s tally after 43 minutes, and a two-point lead looked like a significant one given the horrible conditions.

To Noel Dunning’s credit, he emptied his bench and his subs gave the Rossies fresh impetus.

A McGinley free and substitute Niall O’Donnell brought the sides level but Cian Murphy looked to have won it for Galway when he landed a magnificent point in the first minute of injury time.

But Roscommon rallied and came upfield where McGinley’s bravery was rewarded when he won a free in front of the posts, which he converted to earn his side their hat-trick of draws in the campaign.

With the other match between Sligo and Leitrim also finishing level, the table has become even more congested with just three points separating first (Galway) and fifth (Sligo).

Every team remains in contention, and it comes to the final round of games where Roscommon travel to Ballinamore next Wednesday evening for a “winner takes all” contest against Leitrim. Mayo will host Sligo in the other match.

ROSCOMMON: S. Allen; J. Connolly, E. Kerins, J. McGreal; D. Hagney, D. Casey, E. Carthy; C. Ryan, S. Lambe; R. Heneghan (0-1), S. Walsh, R. Hester (0-1); S. McGinley (0-3, three frees) A. McGreal, B. Nugent. Subs used: Subs used: R. Dowling for A. McGreal (half-time), R. Conlon for Hester (35 mins), E. O’Reilly for J. McGreal (39 mins), O. O’Flaherty for Walsh (46 mins), N. O’Donnell (0-1) for O’Reilly (54 mins).

GALWAY: E. McGrath; D. Costello, S. Canavan, B. Noone; J. Folan, R. Coen, M. Mannion; C. Heneghan (0-1, a mark), S. McGlinchey; J. Lonergan, C. Mulhern, R. Colleran; C. Murphy (0-2), C. Costello (0-2), M. Thompson (0-1, a free). Subs used: J. Mullen for Colleran (46 mins), L. O’Connor for Folan (51 mins), P. Godwin for Lonergan (59).

Referee: B. Judge (Sligo).

*A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Dessie McLoughlin, Boyle, before this evening’s game.