Fired-up Roscommon best in battle of the west

Roscommon 2-10

Despite being reduced to 14 men 15 minutes into the second-half, following the red carding of left half-forward Stephen Lohan, was red carded for an uncompromising for a heavy tackle on Derek Savage, Roscommon kept their nerve to and held their composure to outplay their lacklustre opponents.

The omens always looked bright for Roscommon were quick to put their stamp on the game and after just 90 seconds captain Nigel Dineen expertly slotted home a penalty after Gary Fahy fouled Karl Mannion inside the square.

It was a dream like start for It could have been even better for Roscommon and it could have been so much better if Dineen had been on target a minute later when he waltzed through the Galway defence but shot badly wide, with the goal at his mercy.

It was obvious from the outset that Roscommon were really up for this one.

They played with much more passion and commitment, and with Gary Cox turning in a magnificence performance at centre-forward, they always had a very subdued Galway side on the back foot.

To prove conclusively that this was not going to be Nothing went right for Galway on a day they lost their unbeaten home record.

In the 23rd minute, with Roscommon four points to the good, Galway were awarded a penalty after Paul Clancy was taken down by Alan Nolan. But from the resultant kick Derek Savage made a hash of things by tamely shooting into the hands of Shane Curran.

With Savage and Pádraig Joyce having complete off days, as did many others of their colleagues also. Galway struggled all over the field and Roscommon, leading 1-5 to 1-6 at half time and turning to play with the wind, looked odds-on to win this one, before a bumper crowd, in an unfamiliar football setting.

Galway did received some cause for hope three minutes after the resumption when Savage kicked over a point to leave just the bare minimum between them. But a totally focused Roscommon side had no intention of leaving this one slip.

However, Galway did miss one glorious opportunity of drawing level. Awarded a free 25 metres, Pádraig Joyce was adjudged to have over-carried in his run up to the conversion attempt. That slip by Joyce, who was held scoreless and later substituted, proved to be the defining moment and Roscommon never looked back,

in this game which Roscommon thoroughly deserved to win.

They Roscommon responded in the most clinical manner.

“Man of the Match” Gary Cox soloed all of 50 metres to score a brilliant goal, then Dineen kicked two smashing points and in the twinkling of an eye Roscommon had stretched their lead to six points and were back in absolute ascendancy.

Then came Lohan’s sending off, but Galway, who managed to score only two points in the second half, were unable to take any worthwhile capital out of their numerical advantage.

Roscommon, with Francie Grehan outstanding in the heart of their magnificent defence and with Alan Nolan and Seamus O’Neill lording it over Kevin Walsh and Kieran Comer at midfield, ruled the roost and maintained their two goals advantage entering into the closing stages of a game in which six players received yellow cards.

Karl Mannion gave Roscommon further breathing space when he kicked a super point nine minutes from time and even the introduction of Sigerson Cup heroes Michael Meehan and Matthew Clancy, coupled with that of Ja Fallon could not save Galway.

John Devane did get a point back for them but Roscommon always held the reigns of control and responded again with late scores from Gary Cox and substitute Dave O’Connor ncopper fastened a exemplary triumph for Tommy Carr’s tigerish team.

Scorers for Roscommon: G. Cox (1-4), N. Dineen (1-2, 0-1 pen), S. Lohan, F. Dolan, D. O’Connor, K. Mannion (0-1 each).

Galway: D. Savage (0-2), J. Devane (0-2), T. Joyce (0-2), D. O’Brien (0-1), K. Comer, (0-1 free).

ROSCOMMON: S. Curran, J. Whyte, D. Grey, R. Cox, B. Higgins, F. Grehan, M. Beirne, A. Nolan, S. O’Neill, C. Connelly, J. Cox, S. Lohan, N. Dineen, K. Mannion, F. Dolan, Subs: J. Dunning for Nolan, D. O’Connor for Dolan, J. Tiernan for Connelly, R. Cox for Dineen.

GALWAY: A. Keane, M. Comer, J. Fahy, K. Fitzgerald, K. Brady, J. Divelly, S. Og de Paor, K. Walsh, K. Comer, P. Clancy, P. Joyce, D. O’Brien, J. Devane, D. Savage, T. Joyce.

Subs: M. Meehan for T. Joyce, K. Fahy for Divelly, M. Clancy for P. Joyce, J. Fallon for K. Comer.

Referee: S. McCormack (Meath).