Senior, Intermediate and Junior A football championship semi-finalists confirmed
Pádraig Pearses midfielder, Conor Ryan, gets past Boyle's David Duggan during Sunday afternoon's senior football championship quarter-final at Enfield. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
A “Super Sunday” of action in the Roscommon Senior, Intermediate and Junior A Football Championships didn’t disappoint, as the semi-finalists in all three grades were confirmed after some memorable encounters.
Defending senior football champions, Pádraig Pearses, produced a late comeback that was at least as good as anything they’ve ever produced during the club’s golden era over the last decade, coming from seven points down against Boyle at Enfield to force extra time and win by 1-23 to 1-18.
From being seven down, Hubert Darcy’s goal in the first period of extra time pushed Pearses seven clear — a remarkable turnaround that bore all the hallmarks of champions.
Pearses, despite playing against the breeze, would have been happy to be just 0-8 to 0-5 in arrears at the break.
But Boyle dominated the third quarter, aided by David Flanagan, Cathal Feely and Oisín Cregg all going well in the middle third.
Eamonn O’Hara’s side were 0-14 to 0-7 ahead when Donie Smith was black carded, and with Niall Daly returning to the fray for Pearses, they found a way back into the contest.
Paul Carey hit a couple of majestic two-pointers, and when Donie Smith dropped an effort short, Pearses surged upfield, leading to Jack Tumulty kicking the equaliser to bring the game to extra time.
Darcy’s goal alongside orange flags from the same player and Carey catapulted Frank Canning’s men over the horizon, and even though Cian McKeon goaled for Boyle, Pearses had built up a sufficient cushion to prevail.
In the semi-final, Pearses will meet St. Faithleach’s in a repeat of last year’s last four encounter as the Ballyleague-based side hit six two-pointers in the second half, including three from Diarmuid Murtagh, to register a thrilling 1-20 to 1-18 victory against Michael Glaveys in Rockfield.
Glaveys made a superb start, moving four points ahead. But David Rooney set up Connell Kennelly for a goal that shifted the momentum of the contest.
Glaveys' 0-10 to 1-6 half-time lead looked scant, given the strength of the breeze, but Robert Heneghan’s penalty moved Iain Daly’s side five points clear.
But Faithleach’s came roaring back with doubles by Rooney, Kennelly and Murtagh to take control of their destiny.
Glaveys hit four-in-a-row, and when Danien Hagney dragged a late two-point effort from a free wide, Faithleach’s were back in the semi-finals.
Clann na nGael set up a South Roscommon derby against rivals in St. Brigid’s, taking control of their quarter-final encounter against Elphin in the second half at Strokestown to run out 0-16 to 1-8 winners.
Elphin were 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break, thanks to two-pointers from Shane Killoran and goalkeeper Aaron Brady.
But their accuracy in front of goal let them down in the second half as Clann regained control, aided by Ciarán Lennon’s five-point haul.
John Finnerty did find the net in injury time from a rebound after his initial penalty was saved, but Clann were already thinking about a mouth-watering clash against their neighbours.
With Strokestown and Fuerty qualifying for the intermediate football semi-finals on Saturday, St. Michael’s and Éire Óg will meet in the other semi-final following comfortable victories against Kilmore and St. Brigid’s respectively.
St. Michael’s were 1-18 to 1-11 winners against Kilmore at Tom Collins Park, Croghan, laying the platform for victory with a dominant first-half display, when wind-assisted, to lead by 11 points at the break.
Fiachra and Ruadhan Henry kicked three two-pointers between them, and when Niall Sheerin bundled the ball over the line in the 27th minute, James Martin’s side had one foot in the semi-finals, although goalkeeper Shane O’Dowd had made a superb save from an Oisín Boland penalty.
Michael's stretched the lead to 14 points with three quick scores on the resumption, but Kilmore showed their typical heart and determination to try and rescue the game, ignited by a ’45 from goalkeeper Aaron Cox that went all the way to the net.
Mark McMahon, Caelen Bracken and Cox tagged on a hat-trick of two-pointers, but with the Henry brothers in superb form, Michael’s eased their way into the semi-final.
Another scoring masterclass from Conor Cox enabled Éire Óg get the better of St. Brigid’s, 0-21 to 0-7, in the other quarter-final at Mulhern Park, Fuerty.
The Roscommon forward kicked seven two-pointers over the hour on his way to a 0-15 total, including three against the wind in the opening half when the Loughglynn-based side established a 0-11 to 0-3 lead at the break.
St. Brigid’s were wasteful, kicking nine wides in total, but there was nothing they could do about Cox’s wizardry as Éire Óg stormed to a 14-point victory.
In the last Junior A Football Championship quarter-final, St. Croan’s set up a semi-final meeting against Western Gaels with a 1-21 to 1-15 triumph against Kilglass Gaels at Davonna Park, Ballinameen.
Adrian Collins’ first-half goal gave Croan’s a dream start, but Ciarán McHugh’s green flag moved Kilglass Gaels 1-3 to 1-2 in front.
Croan’s response was to kick nine points on the bounce, with wing-back Richard Thompson contributing four of them.
A 1-10 to 1-3 lead for Croan’s became a 1-16 to 1-7 advantage, which included a double from Kevin Lambert, at the end of the third quarter.
Kilglass Gaels kicked four two-pointers in the final quarter, including efforts from Gavin Tully, Pierce Bolger and Daniel Cox, but Croan’s had done enough to book their place in the semi-finals.
Clann na nGael v St. Brigid’s
Pádraig Pearses v St. Faithleach’s
Strokestown v Fuerty
Éire Óg v St. Michael’s
St. Aidan’s v Ballinameen
St. Croan’s v Western Gaels
