Semi-finalists confirmed for Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship

The line-up for the semi-finals in this year’s Kepak Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship has been completed following victories for Pádraig Pearses and St. Dominic’s in Ballyforan on Sunday afternoon.

Seán Canning hit 0-11 to spearhead Pádraig Pearses 1-16 to 0-9 victory against Roscommon to set up a last four meeting against reigning champions, Four Roads, next weekend.

The foundations for victory were laid in the opening half when Pearses, playing against the elements, led by 0-7 to 0-6 at half time.

Four Canning points on the resumption stretched that lead further but Roscommon Gaels, who were overly reliant on Finn Killion for their scores, were handed a lifeline.

But Brendan Quinn’s penalty was saved by his Pearses counterpart, Liam Creavin, and from there, the 2020 champions never looked back.

Canning teed up Matthew Comerford for the only goal of the game as Pearses cruised through to the last four.

In the other game, St. Dominic’s put on the after-burners in the final quarter to power past Athleague and set up a rematch against Oran.

Cian Murray edged Athleague 1-7 to 0-9 ahead after 24 minutes but Ruairí Kilcline replied with a green flag for St. Dominic’s to leave last year’s beaten finalists 1-9 to 1-7 ahead at half time, with a strong wind to come in their favour in the second half.

Initially, they didn’t make the elements count as Athleague remained very much in touch.

But Martin “Thady” Beirne’s side powered their way towards the finishing line, helped by goals from Kilcline and Naos Connaughton — the former hitting 2-3 and the latter scoring 1-9 over the hour — to prevail by 3-20 to 1-12.

*Match reports from both games in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald