Roscommon minor footballers produce the goods against Leitrim
Dara Curran scored Roscommon's second goal against Leitrim this evening. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
The Roscommon minor footballers produced an assured display to comfortably get the better of Leitrim in Ballinamore this evening.
James Duignan’s side were excellent for the most part, and goals in either half from Cathal Enright and Dara Curran pretty much guaranteed the young Rossies their place in the semi-final ahead of their final group game against Sligo in Dr. Hyde Park next Friday evening.
With the sides deadlocked at 0-4 apiece after 12 minutes, Roscommon took control of the contest.
The excellent Dean Casey pointed his second free of the afternoon before points from Gordon Casey, Stephen Tighe and Shay McGuinness rewarded constructive, patient football from a Roscommon perspective.
Gavin Gallagher stopped the rot for Leitrim momentarily, but when McGuinness fed the supporting Cathal Enright for the game’s opening goal after 22 minutes, James Duignan’s side were in the box seat.
Eoin Collins made it 1-9 to 0-5 before Leitrim finally managed to isolate Jack Moolick on the edge of the square in the 26th minute, and Gallagher’s delivery broke off the Leitrim full-forward into the path of full-back Oran Foley who netted to get the home side back into the game.
A surging run by corner-back Kyle Russell reduced the deficit further as Leitrim only trailed by three points, 1-9 to 1-6, at the change of ends.
But Roscommon’s game management was superb in the second half as they filtered bodies back in front of Moolick on the edge of the square.
All Leitrim had to show for their efforts were three scores from Dáire McCabe, while Roscommon continued to pick off their scores, including three points from Stephen Tighe.
When Dara Curran added a second goal with five minutes remaining and substitute Seán McDonnell landed an eyecatching point, Roscommon were home and hosed to all but assure their place in the semi-final with a game to spare.
ROSCOMMON: P. Gaynor; L. Finneran, G. Casey (0-1), M. Connaughton; E. Collins (0-1), K. Kelly, C. Murray (0-1); D. Devaney, C. Enright (1-1); D. Kennedy, D. Curran (1-2, two frees), A. Conroy; S. Tighe (0-4, one free), S. McGuinness (0-2), D. Casey (0-2, both frees). Subs used: S. McDonnell (0-1) for D. Casey (39 mins), J. McKeon for Conroy (46 mins), C. Kennedy for McGuinness (55 mins), A. Cox for Murray (56 mins), J. Oates for G. Casey (59 mins).
LEITRIM: S. Carolan-Morris; K. Russell (0-1), O. Foley (1-0), L. Fitzsimons (0-1); S. Bohan (0-1), L. Braam-Farrell, B. McBride; C. Moran, G. Curley; N. Torsney, J. Kelly (0-2, both frees), G. Gallagher (0-1); D. McCabe (0-3, all frees), J. Moolick, J. McBrien. Subs used: C. Reynolds for Curley (26 mins), K. Gethins for O’Brien (half-time), J. Plunkett for Torsney (46 mins), J. Prior for Bohan (57 mins), C. McWeeney for Gallagher (60 mins).
Referee: S. Corcoran (Mayo).
