Rossies turn things around to pick up precious league points against Monaghan
Roscommon midfielder, Conor Ryan, gets a shot away towards goal under pressure from Monaghan's Ryan O'Toole during Sunday afternoon's Division One Football League game at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park. Picture: INPHO/Andrew Paton
Second-half goals from Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith turned water into wine for Roscommon as Mark Dowd's side backed up last weekend's positive performance in Killarney with two league points in the Hyde Park winter sunshine.
The Rossies trailed by two points at half time, having failed to turn enough possession into scores in the opening 35 minutes, but they were far more fluent up front, led by Player of the Match Enda Smith, after the break to run out comfortable winners.
The game enjoyed an explosive start with both sides finding the net inside the opening seven minutes.
Louis Kelly and Enda Smith swapped early points before Kelly found a huge gap in the home side’s defence and finished emphatically to the net.
Roscommon replied through a Daire Cregg free but a two-pointer from Micheál Bannigan stretched wind-assisted Monaghan’s buffer to 1-03 to 0-02 after six minutes.
But when Dessie Ward was dispossessed a minute later, Enda Smith was on hand to place the ball beyond Beggan for a Roscommon goal.
A great run by Darragh Heneghan was rewarded with the levelling score for the Rossies — 1-03 apiece after ten minutes.
Beggan (’45) and Ryan McAnespie exchanged scores with Diarmuid Murtagh (a point from play and a free) to still leave nothing between them after 19 minutes.
Roscommon enjoyed plenty of possession, but it was Monaghan who made the majority of their opportunities count.
Bannigan, Andrew Woods and Gary Mohan added to Monaghan’s tally, while McAnespie had a goal ruled out for a square ball.
A free by Cregg on the stroke of half time ended a 16-minute scoring famine for the home side as they trailed by 1-08 to 1-06 at half time.
Fisted points on the resumption from Dylan Ruane and Darragh Heneghan signalled Roscommon’s intent, and even though Dessie Ward and Andrew Woods (free) replied for Monaghan, a loose pass from Gary Mohan left Beggan stranded in the middle of the field.
Roscommon worked the ball upfield quickly, allowing the rampaging Enda Smith tee up Diarmuid Murtagh for a crucial goal.
In the 48th minute, Roscommon bagged a third goal. Another turnover saw the supporting Paddy Gavin bearing down on goal. Darragh McElearney brought the Clann na nGael defender to ground, and Enda Smith stroke home the resultant penalty with aplomb.
Roscommon never relinquished their grip on the contest after that, with a couple of two-points frees from Daire Cregg and Diarmuid Murtagh keeping Monaghan at arm’s length on the scoreboard.
Micheál Bannigan brought his tally to 0-05, while substitute Eddie Walsh hit a two-pointer on the hooter but, in truth, there was precious little for Monaghan to shout about.
Roscommon were home and hosed, giving themselves a shout at survival in the division ahead of the visit of Armagh to the Hyde on Valentine’s weekend.
SCORERS – Roscommon: E Smith 2-2 (1-0 pen), D Murtagh 1-5 (2pf, 1f), D Cregg 0-4 (2pf), D Heneghan, D Ruane 0-2 each, P Carey 0-1
Monaghan: M Bannigan 0-5 (2p), L Kelly 1-1, E Walsh (2p), A Woods (1f) 0-2 each, R Beggan (1 ’45), R McAnespie, G Mohan, D Ward, S O’Hanlon, S Mooney 0-1 each.
Roscommon: A Brady; P Gavin, C Keogh, N Higgins; O Cregg, R Daly, S Lambe; K Doyle, C Ryan; D Ruane, E Smith, D Heneghan; D Murtagh, D Cregg, R Heneghan. Subs: E Ward for O Cregg (h-t), C Heneghan for D Cregg (52), P Carey for R Heneghan (57), J Duggan for D Heneghan (65), C Neary for Ruane (70).
Monaghan: R Beggan; D McElearney, D Treanor, R McAnespie; R O’Toole, D Ward, T Hughes; K Gallagher, G Mohan; R Boyle, M Bannigan, S O’Hanlon; A Casey, A Woods, L Kelly. Subs: M McCarville for Kelly (38), S Mooney for McAnespie (45), O McGorman for Hughes (49), L McDonald for Mohan (60), E Walsh for Woods (67).
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).
*Report, reaction and analysis in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald
