Roscommon cruise to final as Sligo challenge falls short

Roscommon 6-18 Sligo 0-12: Reigning Connacht U21 champions Roscommon enjoyed a goal feast as they accounted for Sligo by a whopping 24 points at Kiltoom.

Enda Smith bagged a first-half hat-trick of goals inside 22 minutes as Mark Dowd’s charges led by 5-9 to 0-4 at the break. Diarmuid Murtagh and Paul Kenny also raised green flags.

All Sligo had to show for their first-half efforts were a brace of frees from Cathal Henry, a free from Michael Casey and a point from play in the 21st minute by Kevin Henry. Diarmuid Murtagh cracked home Roscommon’s sixth goal six minutes into the second half.

There was still time for wing back Ronan Daly to kick his third point and centre back Cathal Kenny also got a score.

Roscommon now face Mayo or Galway on April 4.

Roscommon scorers:

D Murtagh 2-5 (3f), E Smith 3-1, P Kenny 1-2 (1 pen, 2f), R Daly 0-3, U Harney (1f) S Killoran 0-2 each, J Earley, C Kenny, D McGann (1f) 0-1 each.

Sligo scorers:

M Casey 0-4 (2f), C Henry 0-3 (2f), Ciaran O’Connor (St Farnan’s) 0-2 (1f), K Henry, C Kerins, C Breheny 0-1 each.

ROSCOMMON

S Mannion; N McInerney, S Mullooly, D Barron; C Hussey, C Kenny, R Daly; C Compton, T O’Rourke; S Killoran, U Harney, J Earley; D Murtagh, E Smith, P Kenny. SUBS – N Gately for Smith (37), K Kilcline for Killoran (42), M Murtagh for Earley (44), D McGann for Murtagh (44), E McGrath for Daly (54), P Neilan for Barron (58).

SLIGO

E McDonagh; D Long, K McDonnell, B Walsh; C Kerins, J F Carr, C Surlis; B Smith, C Breheny; K Henry, C Henry, C Davey; S Curley, M Casey, S Cawley. SUBS – Ciaran O’Connor (St Farnan’s) for Curley (33), O Kennedy for Long (40), K Gavigan for Smith (44), Ciaran O’Connor (Shamrock Gaels) for Cawley (52), G Brady for Henry (55, b/c).

REFEREE

R McBrien (Leitrim).