Wasteful Roscommon slump to opening round defeat
Roscommon U-20 football manager, Cian Smith, saw his side fall to an opening round defeat . Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Roscommon fell to an opening round defeat as a far more efficient Galway, for whom senior panellist Ciaran Mulhern starred, picked up a valuable win in Tuam.
Cian Smith’s side kicked 12 wides while four efforts dropped short in the opening half when they enjoyed wind advantage proved damaging as Roscommon were second best on the evening.
Roscommon’s inaccuracy and Galway’s greater efficiency was the story of the opening half. Despite enjoying wind advantage Roscommon kicked just three scores from 15 shots on goal as their shot selection and execution were below par.
One of those early scores was a two-pointer from Niall Heneghan in the third minute to give Roscommon an early lead after Mulhern opened the scoring. Despite Heneghan’s rousing score, Roscommon quickly started to spurn chances as they adopted a shoot on sight policy.
They were held scoreless for the next 20 minutes as Galway bagged 2-1 in that period. The first goal came as Galway countered following John Curran’s ’45 dropping short.
Mulhern led the Galway cavalry forward before Maitiú Ó Domhnaill picked out the rampaging Shay McGlinchey who slotted home. Galway struck again less than three minutes later as Ross Coen’s shot went over Patrick Gaynor’s head before Cian Mitchell applied the finishing touch.
Roscommon were in desperate need of a score and they found it when Cathal McKeon won turnover ball before Curran slipped a low finish past Cillian Walsh in the Galway net. Another Curran two-pointer gave Roscommon supporters optimism but late efforts from Mikey Mulryan and Matthew Collins gave Galway a 2-5 to 1-4 half time lead.
Galway dominated the start of the second half as Ó Domhnaill forced Gaynor into a sharp stop just 10 seconds into the final period. Kevin Johnson’s side continued to pile on the pressure as Mulhern slotted a two-point free before he teed up Matthew Collins to tap over as Galway pushed 2-8 to 1-4 ahead.
Roscommon kicked two further wides to bring their tally to 10 after just 39 minutes before Colin Murray and John McGuinness helped Roscommon hit back.
Roscommon began to turn the screw on their opponent’s kickout as after claiming a Galway restart, Charlie O’Carroll forced Cillian Walsh into a smart save at his near post. Cian Smith’s side found impact off the bench as sub Dean Casey teed up fellow replacement Cathal McKeon before O’Carroll made this a three point contest.
However, Galway found a second wind as a quickfire 1-1 which included Matthew Collins’ composed finish to the net.
O’Carroll rattled the crossbar in the resulting passage of play to sum up Roscommon’s evening before McKeon drove over when trying to find the net.
From there, Galway comfortably saw the game out as Roscommon will look to get off the mark when they host Sligo next Wednesday in Ballyforan.
*Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald*
