1-3 from Mayo’s Evan Regan, who has strong Roscommon town connections, dealt a blow to Roscommon’s hopes of qualifying for the Allianz Football League Semi-Finals in Dr Hyde Park this afternoon.
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
The game was played in terrible conditions following torrential rain throughout the previous 18 hours and Referee Maurice Deegan conducted a number of inspections and consulted with both Management Teams before allowing the game to proceed.
Mayo made the brighter start and although chances were plenty scores were few and they led by four points before Conor Devaney got Roscommon’s opening point in the 22nd minute. Mayo Goalkeeper Rob Hennelly increased the lead via a ’45 two minutes later. Ciaráin Murtagh scored Roscommon’s second point, from a free, in the 29th minute and Mayo responded again to maintain their four point lead. Two injury time points from Ciaráin Murtagh, one from play and one from a free, left the half-time score at Roscommon 0-4 Mayo 0-6.
The second half began in the same way as the first but this time Mayo took their chances. They scored a goal and a point in the opening two minutes of the half and 1-4 in total – the goal coming from Man of the Match Evan Regan, who twisted and turned before slotting the ball to the left of Geoffrey Claffey.
A Fintan Cregg point in the 58th minute sparked a Roscommon revival but it proved to be too little too late. Diarmuid Murtagh found the net and also added a point, as did Conor Devaney, to leave Roscommon just three points behind with three minutes remaining. The Roscommon pressure continued but a Cillian O’Connor free, after a foul on Evan Regan, put four between the sides again. Final score: Roscommon 1-7 Mayo 1-11.
Roscommon host unbeaten Dublin and may be relying on other results to go their way to claim a Semi-Final spot. Mayo’s relegation worries have eased and they will face already relegated Down in the Round 7 next Sunday.
Team
1 Geoffrey Claffey
2 Sean McDermott
3 Neil Collins
4 Niall McInerney
5 Conor Daly
6 Sean Purcell
7 David Murray
8 Enda Smith,
23 Ian Kilbride,
10 Fintan Cregg, (0-1)
11 Ciaran Murtagh (0-3, 2f) (Capt)
12 Conor Devaney, (0-2)
19 Niall Kilroy,
22 John McManus,
15 Cathal Cregg,
Subs used:
Cathal Compton for Kilbride,
Sean Mullooly for McManus,
Diarmuid Murtagh (1-1) for Conor Daly
Ronan Daly for Devaney
James McDermott for Smith