Qualter savours Roscommon triumph

Kildare 3-16 Roscommon 3-17

Qualter guided Westmeath to Christy Ring Cup glory in 2005 and 2007 but he derived huge satisfaction from Roscommon’s gripping one-point victory over Kildare.

The Rossies, available at 6/1 in some bookmakers before throw-in, came from three points down to collect a first title at this grade since 2007.

In a cracking final, Kildare looked on course for a very first B crown in the second half as they came from six points behind to lead by three, courtesy of a run of 1-6 without reply. But Noel McMahon’s Lilywhites were reeled in by dogged Roscommon and Qualter said: “This is up there. The first Christy Ring with Westmeath was up there, beating Dublin in Leinster in 2006 is up there but for a bunch of players from Roscommon...”

Kildare boss Noel McMahon reflected: “We gave them three soft enough goals. And the last three frees they got up here were gifts. ”

Scorers for Kildare: C Kenny 1-7 (0-2 65s, 0-1f), G Keegan 1-3, C Ó’Hehir 1-1, M Fitzgerald 0-3, L McDonagh 0-1 (65), P Comocan 0-1.

Scorers for Roscommon: R Fallon 1-6 (0-5f), N Kilroy 0-6, N Connaughton 1-1, R Kelly 1-0, J Lawlor 0-2, N Fallon 0-1f, L Kilcline 0-1.

KILDARE: C Gallagher; R McGrath, M Carter, D MacDonnadha; S O’Flynn, M Purcell, K Whelan; L McDonagh, M Fitzgerald; P Cocoman, C Kenny, R Kelly; C Ó’Hehir, G Keegan, M Delaney.

Subs: F Conway for Kelly (h.t.), S Gainey for Delaney (39), D Flaherty for Ó’Hehir (49).

ROSCOMMON: N Fallon; M Keaveney, P Kellahan, D Fallon; C Dolan, B Donnelly, N Keenan; E Mulry, J Lawlor; P Leahy, N Kilroy, R Kelly; R Fallon, N Connaughton, L Kilcline.

Subs: C Egan for Leahy (41), H Rooney for Kilcline (50), C Shaw for Lawlor (53).

Referee: D Copps (Cork).