GAA: Firtst title for Roscommon in 10 years

Roscommon 2-10 Mayo 1-12

Defender Denis Gavin snatched a sensational injury-time winning goal as

Roscommon won their first Connacht Football Championship title in 10 years at

Hyde Park.

It was a stunning bolt from the blue which left Mayo stunned into disbelief,

for they thought they had made it a dramatic victory when Gerry Lohan gave

them the lead with a goal just moments earlier.

With both teams reduced to 14 men, a thrilling second hafl followed a

mediocre first, and no-one could have imagined the high drama which was to

unfold in those final heart-stopping minutes.

Defences ruled in the opening quarter of an hour, Mayo's Ray Kennelly and

Roscommon's Michael Ryan both performing heroics as scores were kept to a

minimum.

The sides were locked at 0-2 each midway through the first half, Conor

Kennelly and John Hanley on target for Roscommon, with Kieran McDonald and

Trevor Mortimer hitting back.

With McDonald growing in confidence at centre forward, Mayo enjoyed a period

of supremacy, Stephen Carolan and Martin McNicholas hitting the points which

saw them tale a 0-5 to 0-3 lead.

But it was Roscommon who took control to dominate the final ten minutes of

the half.

Peter Burke had to pull off a courageous save at the feet of Nigel Dineen,

and with Mayo forced to defend desperately, points flowed from the boots ofr

Frankie Dolan, Gerry Lohan and Stephen Lohan, before teenage midfielder

Seamus O'Neill hit a magnificent score to open up a two points lead.

Mayo did threaten briefly in an error-ridden spell, but the normally reliable

McDonald and Maurice Sheridan were both badly off target from free kicks.

But Sheridan rediscovered the scoring touch as Mayo made a flying start to

the second half.

He converted two frees, Colm McManaman edged them back in front, and with

Roscommon under severe pressure, goalkeeper Derek Thompson had to make a great saved from Stephen Carolan.

And to add to their problems, they had defender Clifford McDonald sent off

after a high tackle on James Gill earned a second yellow card just six

minutes into the half.

Dolan levelled the scores for the fifth time from a '45', but only briefly,

before Mayo swept back into attack to go two points clear through McDonald

and Sheridan.

Dolan and O'Neill had brought Roscommon back level when Mayo too were reduced to 14 men, defender Ray Kenenlly harshly dismissed for a push on Dolan.

And Roscommon seized the advantage almost immediately, Gerry Lohan drilling home a goal from John Hanley's pass seven minutes from the end.

But in a dramatic finish, Mayo substitute broke through for a dramatic

injury-time goal, only for corner back Denis Gavin to hit a brilliant goal at

the other end in the sixth minute of added time to snatch the most dramatic

of victories for Roscommon.