It was a disappointing day for Roscommon GAA supporters with both the Senior and Under 21 Footballers losing their pre-season games.
A very under-strength Roscommon Under 21 Team suffered a ten point defeat to Cavan in the opening round of the Hastings Cup. Despite leading by 0-6 to 0-0 after 14 minutes the sides were level in less than a minute when Cavan scored two goals in quick succession. The home side converted five of the next seven scores to lead by 2-5 to 0-8 at the interval.
Cavan extended their lead to six points before Cian McManus kicked Roscommon’s first score of the second half. The Brefini men scored their third goal of the game in the 40th minute and led by 3-9 to 0-9. Roscommon’s cause was not helped when Cian McKeon was Black Carded in the 47th minute. The sides traded scores for the remainder of the game but Cavan’s lead proved insurmountable. It ended Roscommon 0-14 Cavan 3-15.
Scorers: Hubert Darcy 0-7 (6 Placed Balls); Cian McManus 0-3 (1 Free); Aidan Murray, Eoin McCormack, Brian Kelly (1 Free) and Michael Cox 0-1 each.
Team: Paul Whelan (Padraig Pearses); Jack Casey (Oran), Keelan Bernie (Strokestown), Noel Watson (St Dominics); Shane McDonnell (Shannon Gaels), John Duffy (Western Gaels), Michael Cox (Faithleachs); Tom Butler (Padraig Pearses), Luke Kelly (Strokestown); Eoin McCormack (St Dominics), Cian McManus (Clann na nGael), Aidan Murray (Elphin); Brian Kelly (Roscommon Gaels), Hubert Darcy (Padraig Pearses), Aidan Brogan (St Croans)
Subs used: John Donohoe (Kilmore), David Connaughton (Clann na nGael), Kieran Whyte (Oran), Kieran Connaughton (Clann na nGael), Ciaran McHugh (Kilglass Gaels), Cian McKeon (Boyle).
Westmeath are the visitors to Kiltoom for Round Two on Saturday at 2pm.
A late scoring spree cost Kevin McStay his first win a sole Manager of the Roscommon Senior Footballers.
In what was a competitive game, played in ideal conditions in Kiltoom, the visitors led by 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval. The scores coming from Fintan Cregg, Kevin Higgins, Ultan Harney, Donie and Enda Smith, Ciarain and Diarmuid Murtagh.
Kildare extended their lead to four points before Enda Smith found the net in the 39th minute and Roscommon were level a moment later. The sides traded scores before Shane Killoran put the hosts into the lead in the 55th minute. Roscommon then led by 1-13 to 0-14 with seven minutes remaining but the Lilywhites scored 1-2 without reply to win.
Team: Colm Lavin; David Murray, Sean Mullooly, Niall McInerney; Niall Daly, Seanie McDermott, John McManus; Ultan Harney, Kevin Higgins; Fintan Cregg, Ciarain Murtagh, Donie Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh, Enda Smith, Niall Kilroy.
Subs: Mark Miley; Tom Featherston; Ciaran Cafferkey; Gary Patterson; Tadhg O’Rourke; Shane Killoran; Andy Glennon; Tom Corcoran.
The Seniors begin their FBD Connacht League campaign against IT Sligo in Boyle on Sunday at 2pm.