The Roscommon Hurlers travelled to Celtic Park in Derry looking for their first win in Division 2B of the Allianz League but came home empty handed.
By Robert McConn
The Rossies took to the field facing into a strong breeze and it was Derry who got a dream start with points from Ciaran Steele and Eanna Cassidy and an opportunist goal from Aaron Kelly. This left the Rossies trailing by 1-2 after just three minutes. Robbie Fallon got Roscommon’s first score from a free after seven minutes. Jonny Coyne got a good point from play on thirteen minutes. It was not until the last ten minutes of the first half before the Rossies settled, with scores from Robbie Fallon two points and points from Cathal Kenny, Naos Connaughton and Cathal Kenny. At half-time it stood Roscommon 0-7 Derry 1-10.
Roscommon started the second half as they finished the first and narrowed the Derry lead with scores from Robbie Fallon (two frees) and points from Johnny Coyne, Adam Finnerty – who scored a good point on his first touch of the ball after replacing Shane Curley and a long range point from Eamon Flanagan. At the other end Roscommon kept Derry to a single point for the first fifteen minutes of the second half.
Things were looking good until “the wheels came off” and Derry upped their game, completely outplaying Roscommon for the rest of the match. They finished deserving winners with well taken goals from full forward (the reporter’s man of the match) Oisin McCloskey and Darragh Cartin.
Final score Derry 3-16 Roscommon 0-12.
Best for Roscommon were Padraig Kelly, Peter Kellehan and Robbie Fallon. This was not the result that Roscommon were looking for as they travel to Ashbourne next Thursday to play Meath, in their rescheduled game, at 8pm.
Team: Jerry Fallon; Michael Beirne, David Loughnane, Alan Moore; Shane Curley, Eamon Flanagan (0-1),Pat Nolan; Tomas Seále, Peter Kellehan; Padraig Kelly, John Coyne (0-2), Jason Kilkenny; Cathal Kenny (0-2), Robbie Fallon (0-5, 4 frees), Naos Connaughton (0-1).
Subs used: Cathal Dolan for Alan Moore, Adam Finnerty (0-1) for Shane Curley, Connor Coyle for Robbie Fallon, Eoghan Costello for Tomás Seale.