A free from substitute Donie Smith in the 72nd minute secured a draw for Roscommon in a tense Connacht Senior Football Championship Final played in terrible conditions at Pearse Stadium, Salthill.
Picture Credit: James Molloy/Connacht GAA
The Boyle man was brought down while negotiating a gap in the Galway defence and showed great composure to coolly sent the resulting free over the bar.
First Half
The two teams exchanged scores throughout the opening 35 minutes. Roscommon got the opening point of the game through Conor Devaney in the first minute before O’Donnell equalised for Galway a moment later. Roscommon regained the lead through a Darren O’Malley ’45 in the sixth minute with Gary Sice levelling the game in the 9th. Enda Smith put three between the teams in the 15th minute when he slotted the ball, soccer style, into the empty net after playing a one-two with John McManus.
The impressive Niall Daly extended the lead in the 17th minute before Galway fought back with three points without reply. Points from Ciarain Murtagh and Fintan Cregg, a free, steadied the ship and Roscommon led by 1-5 to 0-5 after 25 minutes. Heaney reduced Roscommon’s lead to two with a 28th minute point, but it was cancelled out almost immediately by Niall Daly.
Second Half
Galway started the second half brightly, with Bradshaw and Comer scoring in the opening three minutes. Fintan Cregg responded with a point from play but Galway continued to apply the pressure and took the lead for the first time in the 48th minute via a Paul Conroy free from 50 metres.
A Ciarain Murtagh free in the 51st minute made it 1-8 to 0-11 but scores were scares in the remainder of the game. Damien Comer edged Galway in front in the 56th minute and 10 minutes later a point from Varley pushed the Tribesmen further in front.
With two minutes remaining Cathal Cregg reduced the deficit to a point and in the 73rd minute Donie Smith dusted himself down to convert the equaliser.
Rather than settle for a Draw Roscommon pushed for a winner and had possession in the corner forward position as Conor Lane blew the Final whistle.
A Ciarain Murtagh free in the 51st minute made it 1-8 to 0-11 but scores were scares in the remainder of the game. Damien Comer edged Galway in front in the 56th minute and 10 minutes later a point from Varley pushed the Tribesmen further in front.
With two minutes remaining Cathal Cregg reduced the deficit to a point and in the 73rd minute Donie Smith dusted himself down to convert the equaliser.
Rather than settle for a Draw Roscommon pushed for a winner and had possession in the corner forward position as Conor Lane blew the Final whistle.
Final score: Roscommon 1-10 Galway 0-13
Roscommon Team and scorers
1 Darren O’Malley (0-1, ’45)
2 Sean McDermott.
3 Sean Mullooly.
4 Niall McInerney.
5 David Murray.
6 Sean Purcell.
7 John McManus.
8 Niall Daly (0-2)
9 Cathal Compton.
10 Fintan Cregg (0-2, 1f)
11 Ciaran Murtagh (0-2, 1f)
12 David Keenan.
13 Conor Devaney (0-1).
14 Enda Smith (1-0).
15 Cathal Cregg (0-1).
Subs used: Donie Smith (0-1,f) for E Smith (42m), Ultan Harney for Compton (52m), Thomas Corcoran for Keenan (61m), Donie Shine for Devaney (65m), Senan Kilbride for Fintan Cregg (67m).
Tactics
As expected, based on team selection, Roscommon adopted the same defensive approach as Galway. However, unlike Galway, they failed to apply pressure to high up the pitch, instead retreating behind the 65 metre line, which invited Galway to attack. This approach could ultimately have cost Roscommon as Galway trailed by just one goal at half-time, despite playing against a strong wind.
Replay
The replay will now take place on Sunday at 3:30pm at MacHale Park, Castlebar. It was originally scheduled for Saturday in the Master Fixtures Plan. Ticket Prices have been reduced with Stand Tickets for €30 and Sideline seating Tickets available at €20.