U-20 hurlers denied by Derry’s greater firepower

Derry 1-17

Roscommon 1-11

FulFil GAA Hurling All-Ireland U-20 B Championship Final

A blistering eight-minute spell in the opening quarter, which procured an unanswered 1-6, laid the platform for Derry to claim the Richie McEllligott Cup at Roscommon’s expense at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday afternoon.

The difference between the sides was Derry’s greater firepower up front as Roscommon struggled for traction, especially in a second-half that only yielded four points.

Evan Murray and Oisín Finneran were shining lights for John Benton’s side but the endeavour further back the field wasn’t rewarded on an afternoon when Connor Melaugh and Ruairi Biggs, alongside centre-back Emmett Óg McKeever, stood tall for Derry.

For large tracts of the opening half, Roscommon struggled to cope with Derry’s physicality and pace, but they would have been happy to be trailing by just three points at the break after finishing the half strongly.

Wing-back Cailean Gallagher and wing-forward Connor Melaugh were to the fore for the Oak Leaf County, and, at times, it looked unlikely that the Roscommon defence would be able to keep their opponents at bay.

The first six points were shared — Melaugh, Biggs and Gallagher splitting the posts for Derry, while a hat-trick of excellent scores from Keelan Doran, the impressive Oisín Finneran and Daniel Mooney kept the Rossies in touch after seven minutes.

Then Derry took off, hitting a necklace of delightful scores to register 1-6 without reply in a blistering eight-minute spell.

PJ Glover set up his brother Felix for the opening goal before Melaugh, PJ Glover — two frees and a point from play — Felix Glover and Paul McNicholl catapulted Derry 1-9 to 0-3 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

But Roscommon managed to stem the bleeding with scores from Gavin Staunton and Conor Morris (’65 and a free). Melaugh replied with his third score of the half but Roscommon were right back in it when Morris went for goal from a 21-yard free, and David Mannion reacted quickest to find the net at the second attempt.

Great pressure in attack procured another point for Morris in the 30th minute, and Roscommon only trailed by 1-10 to 1-7 at the break.

The Rossies were valiant in defence after the break, but too many deliveries went into areas where only Derry players were waiting.

Derry won the third quarter 0-3 to 0-1 as a superb effort from Biggs was sandwiched between a free and a point from play by PJ Glover. David Mannion replied with Roscommon’s sole score from play during the half.

Eventually, Derry’s dominance, coupled with Roscommon’s dearth of firepower, put some distance between the teams.

Biggs landed another wonderful effort while Player of the Match McKeever and Glover, from a ’65, ensured that Derry wouldn’t be caught.

All Roscommon could muster in response were three Conor Morris frees.

The game ended on a sour note when a melee resulted in red cards for Roscommon centre-back Adam Kenny and Derry’s Felix Glover, who had already been substituted.

Moments later, Derry were celebrating as Roscommon’s wait for a first title since 2012 continues.

DERRY: C. Ó hEireamhóin; D. Kelly, T. Melaugh, D. McNamee; C. Gallagher (0-1), E Óg McKeever (0-1), P Óg Diamond; R. McGarvey, R. McGilligan; P. McNicholl (0-1), K.B. Mullan, C. Melaugh (0-3); PJ Glover (0-7, four frees, one ’65), F. Glover (1-1), R. Biggs (0-3). Subs used: C. Connery for F. Glover (43 mins), D. Ó’Lochlainn for Mullan (52 mins), R. Scullion for McGilligan (60 mins), M. Doyle-Kennedy for McNamee (60 mins).

ROSCOMMON: D. Monaghan; L. Cormican, E. Murray, M. Finneran; D. Bolger, A. Kenny, S. McDonnell; K. Doran (0-1), D. Mooney (0-1); M. Kelly, O. Finneran (0-1), J. Kelly; C. Morris (0-6, four frees, one ’65), G. Staunton (0-1), D. Mannion (1-1). Subs used: R. Glynn for Jamie Kelly (35 mins), C. Mulry for M. Kelly (49 mins), N. Doran for Mannion (58 mins), Jack Kelly for K. Doran (59 mins), B. Killion for Staunton (60 mins).

Referee: D. Argue (Cavan).