Rossies complete clean sweep after edging out Galway in thrilling Connacht final
Diarmuid Murtagh with the Nestor Cup as Roscommon are crowned Connacht senior football champions following a thrilling two-point victory against Galway at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park. Picture: INPHO/James Lawlor
In the end, it was written in the stars.
Roscommon have completed the clean sweep of Connacht senior, U-20 and minor football titles for the first time in the county’s history with the most incredible of victories against Galway at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park.
A first championship victory over Galway in the Hyde since 1990 and a first Connacht senior title on home soil in 25 years — how fitting it was that it was captain Diarmuid Murtagh who landed a two-point free and the insurance score to ensure that it was the Rossies who were celebrating a 25th provincial senior crown.
The opening half was simply breathtaking, although it was nothing compared to the drama that subsequently followed as Roscommon came from six points down in the final eight minutes to secure the sweetest of victories when defeat was staring them in the face.
The visitors were 1-7 to 0-2 ahead after 18 minutes but goals from Robert and Player of the Match, Darragh Heneghan, brought Roscommon back into it during a 35 minutes, during which Galway raised five orange flags.
Galway had the ball in the net inside 90 seconds when Cein Darcy’s deliciously-floated pass was gathered by championship debutant Ryan Roache who fed Robert Finnerty for the game’s opening goal.
Roscommon were struggling on their own kickout but, as the half wore on, Conor Carroll’s ability to mix up his restarts stood to his side.
A ’45 from Shane Walsh was followed by a point for Finnerty to embellish Galway’s good start.
Three of Galway’s next four scores were two-pointers as Paul Conroy, Walsh and Kieran Molloy hit points from outside the 40-metre arc.
Things were looking bleak for Roscommon at that stage but Robert Heneghan’s 21st minute goal, after his first cousin Darragh was denied by Galway goalkeeper Conor Flaherty, ignited a comeback.
Barely a minute later, the Hyde erupted again as Darragh Heneghan bore down on goal and gave Flaherty no chance.
Further scores followed from Dylan Ruane, Diarmuid Murtagh and Keith Doyle to, unbelievably, just leave Roscommon a point behind after 27 minutes.
By the midway mark, Shane Walsh had kicked a fifth two-pointer for Galway, who kicked nine first-half wides, to hand his side a 1-14 to 2-8 buffer at the break.
To Galway’s credit, they had Roscommon where they wanted them for much of the second half as Mark Dowd’s side failed to enjoy the midfield dominance they managed against Mayo.
And yet when Darragh Heneghan scored his second goal in the 40th minute, not long after Conor Ryan had kicked his side’s first two-pointer, Roscommon had hit the front for the first time after 45 minutes.
But they didn’t kick on as Galway, led by Cillian McDaid, knuckled down and thwarted Roscommon, showing every inch why they were going for five Connacht titles in succession.
The fluency evaporated from Roscommon’s game, and when substitute Damien Comer galloped forward and hit the net with nine minutes remaining, they were six points ahead, and only one winner looked likely.
But, from somewhere, Roscommon summoned a response.
Substitute Paul Carey landed a two-pointer from the next parish, which was followed by a ’45 from Conor Carroll.
Suddenly, there was hope and Daire Cregg raised another unbelievable orange flag to leave just a point in it.
Galway were rattled and when Comer prevented Cian McKeon from taking a "tap and go" quickly, the ball was brought forward 50 metres, allowing Murtagh to nudge Roscommon in front from the subsequent two-point free.
Murtagh wasn’t finished yet as he tagged on another score, and when a last-gasp two-point attempt from Walsh drifted wide, Roscommon were champions, and in dreamland.
ROSCOMMON: C. Carroll (0-1, one ’45); P. Gavin, C. Keogh, E. McCormack; E. Ward, R. Daly, S. Lambe (0-1); K. Doyle (0-1), C. Ryan (0-2, one 0-2); D. Ruane (0-1), E. Smith (0-1), C. Neary; R. Heneghan (1-0), D. Murtagh (0-7, two frees, one 0-2 free), D. Heneghan (2-2). Subs used: D. Cregg (0-3, one free, one 0-2) for R. Heneghan (46 mins), R. Fallon for Ward (43 mins), P. Carey (0-2, one 0-2) for Gavin (60 mins), C. Hand for Neary (65 mins), S. Cunnane for Ryan (66 mins), C. McKeon for D. Heneghan (69 mins, temp sub).
GALWAY: C. Flaherty; J. McGrath, S. Kelly (0-2), J. Glynn; D. McHugh (0-1), K. Molloy (0-2, one 0-2), L. Silke; P. Conroy (0-4, two 0-2), J. Maher; D. O’Flaherty (0-1), C. McDaid, C. Darcy (0-1); R. Finnerty (1-1), S. Walsh (0-9, two 0-2, one 0-2 free, one free, one ’45), R. Roche. Subs used: F. Ó Laoi for O’Flaherty (half-time), D. Comer (1-2) for Roche (41 mins), C. Hernon for Conroy (43 mins), J. Daly for Molloy (43 mins), M. Tierney for Finnerty (60 mins), S. McGrath for McDaid (65 mins, temp sub).
Referee: S. Hurson (Tyrone).
