Unforced errors allow Tyrone raid the Hyde

Tyrone 3-16

Roscommon 2-18

All-Ireland SFC (Round One)

The wind was taken out of Roscommon's sails as Tyrone justified their tag as the ultimate party poopers by raiding the Hyde with a deserved one-point victory on Sunday afternoon.

In front of 16,181, the home side emptied themselves, but they were slightly off in the decision-making department and made too many unforced errors, something we hadn't seen in the championship so far, to throw their championship prospects slightly off course.

Roscommon can still get back on track, but that may mean having to negotiate a trip to All-Ireland champions Kerry in Killarney in what would be the worst-case scenario when the draw takes place in a couple of weeks' time.  

Substitute Paul Carey’s two-pointer looked like sending a pulsating contest to extra time but Tyrone kept their cool and won the next kickout, enabling Player of the Match Eoin McElholm win a free, which Jordan duly converted to hand Malachy O’Rourke’s side a huge win in what had been an underwhelming season up to this point.

The winners were excellent during the opening half as error-ridden Roscommon played in fits and starts.

Peter Teague and the impressive Jordan opened the scoring for the visitors before Darragh Heneghan lit up the Hyde with his fifth championship goal of the season after five minutes.

But Tyrone’s feathers weren’t ruffled as their midfield dominance was rooted in the home side losing four out of their first five kickouts, although Conor Carroll’s restarts improved after that.

Conn Kilpatrick, McElholm — a late change for Darren McCurry — Ciarán Daly and Niall Devlin kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors.

But scores from Daire Cregg, Dylan Ruane and Diarmuid Murtagh (free) left the Connacht champions level by the 21st minute, 1-04 to 0-07.

But Tyrone turned the screw with well-worked goals from McElholm and Ronan Cassidy, albeit the Roscommon defending was poor, turning the tide in their side’s favour.

A two-pointer from Diarmuid Murtagh raised the home side’s hopes but Mark Dowd’s side were making too many unforced errors and a turnover by Daire Cregg on the stroke of half time allowed Tyrone counter-attack, leading to Jordan, who had hit one of the points of the afternoon five minutes earlier, landing a two-pointer to bring his tally to 0-04 for the half and hand the Red Hand County a deserved 2-11 to 1-09 advantage at the interval.

Both sides emptied themselves in the second half, with both goalkeepers — Carroll and Niall Morgan — making terrific saves.

Tyrone were keeping the Rossies at arm's length but when two points from substitute Conor Hand left just a point in it, the large home contingent in the 16,181 attendance began to sense that they could get something from the game.

That expectation was further nourished when, in the 53rd minute, Enda Smith found himself with only Morgan to beat after latching onto a long ball, and the 2023 All-Star didn’t disappoint with a calm finish to catapult his side a point clear — an advantage that was doubled soon afterwards when Diarmuid Murtagh split the posts.

But in a game of fine margins, the pendulum swung back in Tyrone’s favour when Ciarán Daly picked off a kickout from Conor Carroll, and seconds later the net rippled after Mattie Donnelly’s emphatic finish.

McElholm and Jordan (free) added to Tyrone’s tally, while Murtagh (free) replied for Roscommon.

With only a couple of minutes remaining, Carey looked to have brought the game to extra time, but when Senan Lambe fouled McElholm in Tyrone’s next attack, Jordan didn’t need a second invitation to get his side’s season back on track.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague (0-1), Joey Clarke; Michael McKernan, Niall Devlin (0-1), Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick (0-1); Seánie O’Donnell (0-1), Ronan Cassidy (1-0), Ciarán Daly (0-1); Eoin McElholm (1-3), Mattie Donnelly (1-1), Ethan Jordan (0-7, 1 2p, 3f, 1’45). Subs: Darren McCurry for Cassidy (53), Frank Burns for McGeary (53), Ciarán Bogue for Daly (62), Ruairí McHugh for Kennedy (67).

Roscommon: Conor Carroll (0-2, 1 2pf); Colm Neary, Caelim Keogh, Eoin McCormack; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe; Keith Doyle, Conor Ryan; Dylan Ruane (0-1), Enda Smith (1-1), Darragh Heneghan (1-0); Diarmuid Murtagh (0-8, 4f, 1 2p), Daire Cregg (0-2), Robert Heneghan. Subs: Conor Hand (0-2) for Robert Heneghan (44), Shane Cunnane for Ryan (51), Paul Carey (0-2, 1 2p) for Ruane (53), Brian Stack for Fallon (54), Cian McKeon for Cregg (60).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).

*Report, reaction and analysis in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald