Wins for Michael Glaveys, Clann na nGael and St. Brigid's in senior football championship

Saturday evening’s action in the Roscommon Senior Football Championship saw St. Brigid’s and Clann na nGael rack up their second wins of the campaign, while Michael Glaveys edged out Western Gaels in Frenchpark to resurrect their chances of making the knockout stages.

Clann na nGael gained revenge for their quarter-final defeat against Boyle last year with a 0-16 to 1-8 victory in Enfield.

The South Roscommon men, led by David McManus, were full value for their victory.

Niall O’Donnell’s opportunistic goal kept Boyle in contention in the opening half as Clann led by 0-9 to 1-2 at the interval.

Boyle staged a mini-revival at the start of the second half, aided by a Donie Smith score. But Clann kicked on once more with Alan McManus, Ciarán Lennon and David McManus kicking some fine points to run out comfortable winners, despite Enda Smith missing a late penalty.

Defending champions St. Brigid’s didn’t have things all their own way against St. Faithleach’s in Kiltoom, even though a relatively comfortable 0-16 to 1-9 success didn’t flatter them.

Brigid’s, who welcomed back Paul McGrath to their starting 15 and Eddie Nolan to the bench, landed some wonderful scores in the opening half, kicking eight out of their nine points from play to lead by 0-9 to 0-3 at the change of ends.

When McGrath kicked his second score of the evening barely a minute after the restart, another comfortable victory loomed for Anthony Cunningham’s men.

To St. Faithleach’s credit, they didn’t lie down. They upped their physicality and intensity, and when Johnny Hussey found the net with seven minutes remaining, Brigid’s lead was just two points.

But Brigid’s composed themselves and late points from Brian Derwin (free) and substitute Padraig Kelly sealed a four-point triumph.

In the other game in Group B, Western Gaels will rue a slow start as a ferocious second-half comeback just fell short against Michael Glaveys in Frenchpark, with the visitors holding on for a 0-14 to 0-13 victory.

Dylan Ruane, Robert Heneghan and Caoileann Fitzmaurice kicked early points as Iain Daly’s side opened up a six-point lead. That was the advantage at the break as Glaveys were in control with a 0-8 to 0-2 buffer.

But a tour-de-force from Rory Hester ignited a Western Gaels comeback. Hester kicked seven second-half points to end up with 0-8 overall.

However, Western Gaels had left themselves with too much to do and their brave comeback fell just short.

In the intermediate football championship, there were wins for Éire Óg, Strokestown and Elphin.

In Group B, Éire Óg laid their platform for victory against Creggs in Loughglynn with a dominant first-half display before running out 0-13 to 0-10 winners at James Timothy Park.

Pat Doory’s side took a 0-8 to 0-2 lead into the interval, with Conor Cox helping himself to six of those scores.

Nothing much changed in the third quarter as the home side continued to hold the upper hand with a 0-13 to 0-6 lead.

Creggs made a few changes that swung the pendulum in their favour somewhat. Mark Brandon and Mark Dowd were introduced and pitched in with a point apiece. Ronan Dowd brought his tally to 0-5, including three from play, for the evening but the goal that Creggs needed never looked like coming and Éire Óg, despite losing midfielder Christopher Scally to a red card, held on for their second win of the campaign.

In Kilglass, championship favourites Strokestown registered a 3-9 to 0-11 victory against Kilmore to stay top of Group C and cement their place in the quarter-finals.

The 2022 senior champions made a flying start, surging 1-4 to 0-0 ahead, thanks to a goal from Luke Kelly and a hat-trick of points from Diarmuid McGann.

McGann, who contributed 1-5 overall, added his side’s second goal in the 25th minute, using his soccer skills to find the net as Strokestown established a 2-6 to 0-3 interval lead.

Kilmore improved in the second half, with Paul Garvey impressing in the forward line. But Stroketown’s third goal had already arrived earlier in the half when Mikey Kavanagh reacted quickest to a Ciarán Regan shot that came back off the crossbar.

In Group A, Kilbride suffered another chastening experience, going down by 1-22 to 1-2 against Elphin at Orchard Park.

While Nigel Dineen’s side, despite a resolute defensive performance, struggled for scores against Pearses in the opening round, there were no such problems here with Fintan Cregg, Shane Killoran and Nessan Lenehan to the fore.

A late penalty from Oisín O’Beirne meant that Kilbride trailed by 0-12 to 1-1 at half time. Things didn’t improve for the visitors in the second half, and Fintan Cregg’s goal in injury time sealed a facile win for the home side.

In the Junior A Football Championship, St. Joseph's staged a second-half comeback to share the spoils, 0-11 apiece, with Ballinameen. 

* Reports from this evening’s senior and intermediate football championship games in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald. Make sure you pick up a copy.