Rossies is dreamland as U-20 footballers win second Connacht title in three years
Ruairí Kilcline scores a goal for Roscommon during Wednesday evening's epic Connacht U-20 football final against Mayo at Tuam Stadium. Picture: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
There have never been a few days like this in the annals of Roscommon GAA.
Sunday was utterly memorable but, somehow, the county U-20 footballers eclipsed their senior counterparts' victory in Castlebar with an incredible performance to procure a second provincial title in three years against a fancied Mayo side in Tuam on Wednesday evening.
Cian Smith’s side’s ability to get goals at crucial times alongside their never-say-die attitude kept them alive, and they eventually snapped Mayo’s resistance to claim silverware.
Niall Heneghan was magnificent in the middle of the field, while the Roscommon bench also made an impact as Ruairi Kilcline and Kevin Hester scored a hat-trick of goals between them.
The winners made the brighter start and the towering Heneghan, who went in on the edge of the square for the throw-in, was denied by Mayo goalkeeper Conor Meaney. However, Heneghan had the consolation of a mark, which he duly converted.
In Mayo’s first meaningful attack, they demonstrated their great quality in attack. Captain Colm Lynch made an incisive raid and fed the supporting Kobe McDonald, and he gave Patrick Gaynor no chance with an assured finish.
Josh Moyles ambled forward to kick a point, highlighting the space Mayo were enjoying against their opponents’ rearguard. A simple point soon followed for Dylan Flynn as Mayo turned the screw.
But Roscommon continued to be ultra-competitive around the middle third, and John Curran landed a much-needed score after good work by Charlie O’Carroll.
A second goal chance came the Rossies’ way in the 13th minute, but, once again, Meaney came to the rescue by denying John McGuinness. Gaynor nailed the resultant ’45 to leave his side 1-2 to 0-3 in arrears.
Tom Lydon and Heneghan swapped points before Mayo pounced for their second goal — Lydon making up the ground before his looping shot deceived Gaynor and ended up in the net.
The Neale forward soon completed his hat-trick of scores in a three-minute spell after Curran replied for Roscommon as Mayo led 2-4 to 0-5 after 20 minutes.
Mayo duly stretched that gap out to eight points with points from McDonald, Moyles and Darragh Beirne, but Roscommon replied before the break when Curran goaled after good work by Dean Casey before O’Carroll added a free to leave his side trailing by 2-7 to 1-6 at the break.
Just like their seniors a few days earlier, Roscommon made a blistering start to the new half. Dean Casey, substitute Colin Murray and John McGuinness found the target before a two-point free from Eoghan Carthy edged the Rossies in front by the 39th minute.
McDonald and Beirne steadied the ship for Mayo but a mistake by Meaney gifted Ruairi Kilcline Roscommon’s second goal in the 46th minute.
A superb two-pointer from McDonald edged Mayo back in front, 2-12 to 2-11, before Roscommon struck for a third goal — Cathal Enright setting up John McGuinness for a cool finish.
But Mayo were more efficient in the last ten minutes as Lydon brought his tally to 1-5 with a couple of points before captain Colm Lynch nudged his side in front with five minutes remaining.
But Roscommon kept plugging away and it was left to Keelan Kelly to send the game to extra-time with the equaliser in the second minute of injury time.
Predictably, Lydon edged Mayo ahead but Roscommon struck for a fourth goal when substitute Kevin Hester bundled the ball over the line, not long after Murray had rattled the crossbar.
But the Mayo response was excellent — McDonald, Dylan Flynn and Lynch hitting points to leave the Green and Red 2-19 to 4-12 ahead at the end of the first period of extra time.
There was one final kick in the Rossies, however, as Eoghan Carthy led by example to land his second two-pointer of the game.
Dean Casey was reintroduced and kicked two points, but Kilcline’s second goal of the evening finally broke Mayo hearts to make it a week to remember for the Rossies.
Scorers — Roscommon: R Kilcline 2-0, J Curran 1-2, J McGuinness 1-1, E Carthy 0-4, (1tpf, 1tp), K Hester 1-0, D Casey 0-3 (1f), N Heneghan 0-2 (1m), P Gaynor (’45), C O’Carroll (1f), C Murray, K Kelly 0-1 each. Mayo: K McDonald 1-7 (1 tp, 1 ’45), T Lydon 1-6, D Beirne 0-3, J Moyles, C Lynch 0-2 each, D Flynn, C Walsh 0-1 each.
ROSCOMMON – P Gaynor, D O’Higgins, M Gillooly, N Berzins; K Kelly, E. Carthy, C Grogan; N Heneghan, C Enright; C McKeon, D Casey, E Collins; J Curran, C O’Carroll, J McGuinness. Subs – D Kenedy for McKeon (h-t), C Murray for Grogan (h-t), R Kilcline for Casey (43), D Higgins for Enright (49), K Hester for Curran (54), S Tighe for O’Carroll (f-t), L Finneran for O’Higgins (f-t), D Casey for Collins (73), C Enright for Carthy (77), C McKeon for McGuinness (77).
MAYO – C Meaney; J Lavelle, T Lambert, A Coggins; C Lynch, R Mortimer, J Moyles; D Staunton, J Holmes; A Quinn, K McDonald, D Flynn; D Beirne, O Deane, T Lydon. Subs – C Walsh for Holmes (43), T Tuffy for Moyles (49), C Jordan for Staunton (55), M Noonan for Mortimer (f-t), D Neary for Quinn (f-t), Y Coghill for Lavelle (67), B Holmes for Lydon (77), J Carey for Flynn (77).
REF – T Murphy (Galway).
