Smith shines for Boyle as final championship placings for knockout stages decided
ON FIRE: Donie Smith hit 1-13 against Oran on Saturday evening as Boyle cemented top spot in Group C of this year's Roscommon Senior Football Championship. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
The final placings in the senior and intermediate football championships have been decided following the conclusion of the group stages on Saturday evening.
In Group C of the Hodson Bay Hotel Group SFC, Donie Smith produced a scoring masterclass as Boyle confirmed top spot, and their seeding for the quarter-final draw, with a 2-23 to 2-16 victory against Oran at Davonna Park, Ballinameen.
The former Roscommon forward, who only announced his retirement from the “Primrose and Blue” a few weeks ago, hit 1-13 over the 60 minutes — a delightful necklace of scores that included four two-pointers in the second half.
Daire Cregg’s ninth minute goal gave Eamonn O’Hara’s side some early impetus but two defensive mistakes gifted Oran a couple of green flags as Charlie Carthy — from the penalty spot — and James Fitzpatrick, on the call of half time, handed Pat Regan’s men a 2-8 to 1-8 interval lead.
Early second-half points from Shane Walsh and Darragh Walsh (free) stretched the Mid-Roscommon side’s buffer to five points.
But Boyle, led by Smith’s superb accuracy, wrestled back the momentum, and the Player of the Match duly goaled in injury time to hand his team their hat-trick of victories in the group stages.
For Oran, a preliminary quarter-final against reigning champions, Pádraig Pearses, awaits.
In the other game in the group at Enfield, Roscommon Gaels laboured to a 2-12 to 1-10 victory against Castlerea St. Kevin’s.
Last year’s beaten finalists played against the breeze in the opening half but they found themselves 1-5 to 1-4 ahead at the break — Richard Walsh for the Gaels and Aaron McDermott, via the penalty spot, grabbing their sides’ respective goals.
Castlerea St. Kevin's were still very much in the hunt at the three-quarter-stage but a pair of two-pointers from Ryan Dowling and Walsh, alongside a goal from John McManus, ensured that Mark Dowd’s side finished second in the group.
In Group A of the Ward Bros. Intermediate Football Championship, Éire Óg finished top following a routine 1-16 to 2-7 victory against Kilmore at Nash Park, Frenchpark.
A 15th minute goal from Liam Taylor left Kilmore on level terms but Ronan Cahill responded with a cracking goal for Brendan Greene’s side who led by 1-9 to 1-1 at the change of ends.
Gary Connellan’s controversial goal from a free handed Kilmore something to cling to but Éire Óg were too far ahead to be caught.
In the other game in the group, Fuerty overturned a two-point half-time deficit to confirm second place in the group with a nervous 1-11 to 1-8 victory against Pádraig Pearses at Ballyforan.
Tadgh Lyons pounced for a 13th minute goal for the winners, but a hat-trick of two-pointers from Emmett Kelly, Tom Butler, and goalkeeper Jamie Donoghue left wind-assisted Pearses 0-8 to 1-3 ahead at the break.
Thomas Carey’s second-half goal hinted at an upset but Fuerty recovered with points from Lyons, Gearoid Ennis, Jack McGahon, and Eoin Ward to stumble over the line.
In Group B, Tulsk Lord Edwards finished top after a hard-earned 1-18 to 1-14 victory against Creggs at a windswept Knockcroghery.
With the elements at their backs, Creggs established a 0-10 to 0-3 lead inside the opening 20 minutes, with sharpshooter Ronan Dowd contributing eight of those scores, including a couple of two-pointers.
But Tulsk hit back with 1-4 on the bounce — Callum Fahey with the all-important goal.
A 25th minute red card for Enda O’Roarke was a further blow to Creggs as the sides went in level at the break, 1-7 to 0-10.
Another red card, this time for Tulsk full-back Niall McNamara, at the start of the second half provided another twist, and at the three-quarter mark, Creggs were 1-12 to 1-8 ahead, thanks to Padraig Gaffey’s goal.
But Tulsk reeled off the next nine points, including three two-pointers from Daniel Connolly, goalkeeper Seán Martin and Thomas O’Rourke to hand Liam McNeill’s side a hard-earned four-point win.
St. Michael’s confirmed second place in the group with a 1-14 to 0-6 victory against St. Barry’s at Orchard Park, Elphin.
With the wind behind them, James Martin’s side missed a hatful of chances and it was Barry’s, thanks to three John Murtagh frees, that led 0-3 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.
But Michael’s settled, thanks to a Player of the Match performance from goalkeeper Shane O’Dowd who kicked 0-7 over the hour, including three two-pointers.
Michael’s were 0-7 to 0-4 ahead at the interval, and Liam Conlon’s early second-half goal ensured that they kept their opponents at arm’s length.
In Group C, Strokestown were pushed all the way before taking top spot in the group, thanks to a much-improved second-half performance, with a 2-9 to 2-5 win against St. Brigid’s at Ballyleague.
Both teams struggled to come to terms with a difficult crossfield breeze but, despite losing Eoghan and Brian Derwin to their senior team the previous evening, goals from Daniel Keenan and Luke Griselain handed Brigid’s a narrow 2-3 to 2-2 interval lead.
But Strokestown subsequently called in the cavalry in the form of Paddy Brogan and Seán Mullooly, and with the Neary brothers coming to the fore, they played with more purpose to outscore their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2 in the second half.
In Kilglass, Kilbride produced their best showing of the season to just fall short against Shannon Gaels on a scoreline of 0-16 to 1-11.
Conor Devaney’s 21st minute penalty handed the underdogs a 1-8 to 0-4 lead in the difficult conditions at the break.
A two-pointer from the influential Fintan Sweeney was among the highlights as Shannon Gaels came roaring back into proceedings.
The game remained in the melting pot, and it took late scores from Aaron Taylor, Lee Taylor and goalkeeper, Marcus Feeney (a two-point free), to leave Shannon Gaels third in the group and condemn Kilbride to the relegation play-offs.
Group winners (seeded for quarter-finals): Clann na nGael, Michael Glaveys, Boyle
Runners-up (one team to be seeded for quarter-finals): St. Faithleach’s, St. Brigid’s, Roscommon Gaels
Preliminary Quarter-Finals: Pádraig Pearses v Oran; Elphin v North Roscommon
Relegation Play-Offs: St. Dominic’s, Western Gaels, Castlerea St. Kevin’s
Group winners: Éire Óg, Tulsk Lord Edwards, Strokestown
Runners-up (one team to be seeded for quarter-finals): Fuerty, St. Michael’s, St. Brigid’s
Third place (one team into quarter-finals, other two teams into preliminary quarter-final): Kilmore, Creggs, Shannon Gaels
Relegation Play-Offs: Pádraig Pearses, St. Barry’s, Kilbride
