Roscommon recover from seven point defecit to pip Cork

Roscommon1-12 Cork1-11

Yesterday, they did it again as Cork let a seven-points lead slip away in a poor second-half performance.

The Siberian-type conditions ensured most supporters were sitting around the fire watching rugby. But after the second successive fight-back at home, Roscommon can expect a healthier following for their next league game.

Tommy Carr was delighted his team was able to recover from last week's thrashing by Kerry.

"We let ourselves down last week and we let the supporters down. It was important we gave a good account of ourselves here and I think the team did that."

They did it the hard way, though, having to dig deep to fashion a victory. As thrilling as their comeback was, the disintegration of Cork was bewildering.

Four minutes into the second half, Brendan Jer O'Sullivan kicked the Leesiders seven points in front 1-10 to 0-6. It was to be their last score until O'Sullivan's effort in injury-time.

A disappointed Larry Tompkins conceded afterwards that Cork had Roscommon beaten four or five times over the course of the game.

However, Cork seemed content to sit back on any big lead they concerted.Tompkins' team sprung from the traps like a prize greyhound. It took Roscommon eight minutes to even work the ball into Cork's half, the Leesiders already two points ahead. But in early evidence of what would blight their period of dominance, the first three Rebel attacks yielded three wides.

Tompkins said there were no positives to take from a performance as disappointing as this, but he must have been impressed by Micheál Ó Cróinín, whose free-taking was exemplary.

Four points in Cork's early scoring splurge came from Ó Cróinín's boot and by the time O'Sullivan lofted a wonderful 45-yard effort over the bar, Roscommon looked a defeated team. Cork were 0-7 to 0-1 up and cruising.

Carr had an ace up his sleeve, however. There is a lot expected of Séamus O'Neill in Roscommon. Yesterday, coming off the bench after 22 minutes and only returning from injury, he showed why. Until his arrival, Cork, through Bernie Collins and Nicholas Murphy, had been dominant in midfield. O'Neill's appearance subdued their influence.

He spearheaded the first Roscommon arrival of the afternoon. Scores from Frankie Dolan as well as Stephen and Gerry Lohan brought them to within a point of parity - 0-7 to 0-6 and only for reluctance among some of their forwards to shoot, they would have gone into half-time ahead.

However, Carr was extremely pleased by his side's ability to revive their fortunes. "It was a tonic after last weekend. When you are trying to build a team and build their confidence, it is really encouraging to see them dig deep and to win games in the last 10 or 15 minutes as we did." Despite making the game close at half-time 0-9 to 0-6 in Cork's favour, within three minutes of the restart, Cork had punished some lax Roscommon defending with what many thought was a killer blow.

Ó Cróinín finished off a sweet move which saw five crisp passes between himself, Nicholas Murphy, Jim O'Donoghue and finally Fionnán Murray, by slotting the ball past Shane Curran.

As Roscommon furrowed their way back into the game, thanks to points by Nigel Dineen and Dolan, Cork's frustration began to bubble over. Their hard-hitting style became occasionally over-zealous. However, the referee's leniency meant that Cork managed to finish with a full complement for the first time in four competitive games.

This did little to rescue the game. But with 12 minutes left, Andrew McPadden launched the ball into the Roscommon full-forward line. Dolan, who tormented Noel O'Donovan all afternoon, palmed the ball into Ronan Lynch's path. The substitute chipped the ball over the head of O'Dwyer and into the net. Three minutes later, Dolan found space with some impressive trickery and brought Roscommon to within a point of their opponents. Cork were fading fast. Roscommon's equaliser two minutes later was facilitated by token Rebel resistance that allowed Gary Cox to run into space and slot the ball over the bar.

Scores for Stephen Lohan and Lynch embellished Roscommon's comeback, and even though John Miskella missed a glorious opportunity to win the game for Cork with a goal in the dying moments, the home side were well worth their victory.

Scorers for Roscommon - F. Dolan 0-4, K. Lynch 1-1, G. Cox, G. Lohan 0-3 each, N. Dineen, B. Higgins 0-1 each.

Cork - M. O'Croinin 1-5 (3 frees), B.J. O'Sullivan 0-3, K. Murphy, N. O'Leary, F. Murray, J. Minskella 0-1 each.

ROSCOMMON: S. Curran; J. Whyte, D. Casey, A. Carbury, A. McPadden, F. Grehan, J. Nolan, K. Mannion, B. Higgins, R. Cox, S. Lohan, G. Cox, N. Dineen, G. Lohan, F. Dolan. Subs: S. O'Neill for Carbury (22 mins.), K. Lynch for S. Lohan (47 mins).

CORK: K. O'Dwyer; N. O'Donovan, A. O'Connor, A. Lynch, E. Sexton, G. Canty, N. O'Leary, N. Murphy, B. Collins, B.J. O'Sullivan, M. O'Croinin, P. Kissane, K. Murphy, F. Murray, C. Crowley. Subs: J. O'Donoghue for Kissane (35 mins.), D. O'Sullivan for Crowley (half-time), C. McCarthy for Murpy (56 mins.), J. Miskella for Sexton (57 mins.), J. O'Shea for O'Donoghue (67 mins).

Ref: C. Broderick (Down).