St. Faithleach’s and Michael Glaveys reach senior football championship semi-finals
Diarmuid Murtagh tries to halt the momentum of Emmet Kenny during Saturday evening's pulsating senior football championship quarter-final between St. Faithleach's and Clann na nGael in Kiltoom. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
One of most the most dramatic days in the history of the Roscommon Senior Football Championship saw St. Faithleach’s and Michael Glaveys book their place in the last four.
Diarmuid Murtagh produced one of the great all-time individual performances in a local championship game, spearheading St. Faithleach’s to a dramatic 3-17 to 1-22 victory against Clann na nGael, after extra time, in Kiltoom.
In what will rank as one of the greatest games in Roscommon GAA club folklore, Murtagh, who was nominated for an All-Star award on Thursday, hit 1-7, but there was so much more to a performance with leadership at its core.
Faithleach’s recovered from the blow of losing a five-point lead in stoppage time as Paddy Gavin netted to give Clann a reprieve and send the game to extra time.
Faithleach’s were 1-5 to 0-7 ahead at the break but second-half goals from Jonathan Hussey and Murtagh left Adrian Donoghue’s side within touching distance of the last four.
But Gavin pulled on a loose ball deep into injury time to restore parity.
The quality of the game didn’t diminish in extra-time, with five out of the six scores in the first ten minutes coming from play, including a wonderful brace from St. Faithleach’s substitute Aidan Dooney.
It was fitting that Murtagh’s three points in the second period of extra time ultimately decided the contest as Clann pulled a couple of late chances wide.
In a game that featured 43 scores, all bar six came from play.
In Saturday’s earlier game, Michael Glaveys stunned Oran with two late goals to book their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 1996.
Colin Walsh’s calm finish put Oran back in the driving seat in the 52nd minute at O’Rourke Park to establish a seven-point lead after the Mid-Roscommon side had dominated the early exchanges to lead 0-10 to 0-4 at half time.
However, Walsh’s goal was to be his side’s last score of the game.
Despite losing Daniel Hagney and Luke Ruane to a second yellow and black cards respectively, Andy Glennon’s goal threw Iain Daly’s charges a lifeline with a minute remaining and, incredibly, in the fifth minute of injury time, Robert Heneghan held his nerve to slot home a penalty, after an Oran player was adjudged to have handled the ball on the ground inside the small square, to give his side a dramatic 2-9 to 1-11 victory.
In the quarter-finals of the intermediate football championship, Strokestown and Elphin advanced to the last four with routine victories against Creggs and Kilmore respectively.
Shane McGinley’s sixth minute goal set Strokestown up for victory at Dr. Hyde Park. With Fionn Cusack, Diarmuid McGann and Colin Compton kicking scores from play, the Black and Amber were 1-6 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Although their second-half performance was far from convincing, just another four points sufficed to Creggs’ one — a 46th minute score from Shane Dowd — to hand Strokestown a 1-10 to 0-6 win.
In Kilglass this evening, Elphin showed why they’re now many people’s favourites for intermediate honours with a facile 2-15 to 0-5 victory against neighbours Kilmore.
Frankie Cregg kicked seven points as Nigel Dineen’s side surged 0-8 to 0-2 clear at the break before second-half goals from Gerry Cregg and Shane Killoran sealed the deal.
In the quarter-finals of the Junior A Football Championship, Ballinameen booked their place in the last four where they will play St. Barry’s.
After drawing 0-10 apiece with Kilglass Gaels in regulation time, Ballinameen applied the after-burners in extra time, thanks to goals from Nathan Clarke and Finbar McDermott, to win by 2-14 to 0-11.
Roscommon Gaels will play Clann na nGael in the other semi-final following the Gaels’ comfortable 1-12 to 0-8 victory against Western Gaels — Aodha Hession’s goal swinging the pendulum very much in his side’s favour.
On Friday evening, a strong first-half performance from Clann na nGael, helped by goals from Cian Fallon and Cian Gavin, saw the home side get the better of St. Aidan’s in Johnstown on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-11.
St. Barry’s beat Boyle 2-12 to 1-7 in Strokestown, with the winners’ goals coming from Cillian Campbell and Kyle Cawley.
