Rossies surprise favourites Down to set up novel All-Ireland U20 football final against Offaly
TESTY: Tempers flare in the closing minutes of the All-Ireland U20 FC semi final between Roscommon and Down in Breffni park.
A crazy final quarter at Kingspan Breffni Park turned Saturday's Eirgrid U20 football championship semi-final on its head, as Roscommon outscored Down by 1-5 to no score to set up a novel decider against Offaly next Sunday in Croke Park.
This was a game where Down were marginally the better side throughout, but Roscommon did enough to stay in contention and then powered home thanks to a strong contribution from their bench.
Charlie Carthy’s point in the fourth minute of stoppage time was the only flag raised by a substitute, but in so many key areas on the field, Roscommon found ways to turn around problem areas and tun them into an advantage.
Midfield in particular was crucial. Tom Close and Ordhán Murdock were imperious and Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll was visibly perturbed by his lack of short options, and how his longer restarts were invariably gobbled up by Down foragers – aided by the fact that goalkeeper Charlie Smyth pushed up to give the Mourne County an extra player in this sector.
Yet an early goal from James Fitzpatrick edged the Rossies into the lead, and they managed to preserve that lead right up to just before halftime when Shealan Johnston cracked one in for Down after an incredible turnover and run from Ryan Magill.
Roscommon could have had more goals – both Adam McDermott and Ben O’Carroll hit the crossbar, while Paddy Gavin also had an attempt blocked over the bar by Charlie Smyth.
Ben O’Carroll opened the second half with a sublime score to make it 1-7 to 1-6, but Down picked up where they left off with the next two points, and it could have been more had Danny Magill’s shot dipped an inch lower instead of crashing off the woodwork.
The introduction of a raft of Roscommon substitutes proved to be a game changer. Ruaidhrà Fallon was freed up to go to midfield where he made a big impact by the introduction of Sean Trundle, David Wynne added energy and speed to Roscommon’s link up play, while Charlie Carthy chipped in with a crucial score late in the game.
Once the final quarter got underway, Roscommon were about to take over. A superb point from Patrick Gavin, drew them level, then Adam McDermott, Fitzpatrick and Carthy all hit the target, before the crazy finish led to McDermott carrying the ball 40 metres and roll it into an empty net, as Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth had joined his colleagues in trying to salvage a goal of their own to take the game to extra time. By then their challenge was hampered by a straight red card to captain Shealan Johnston, and he was joined on the sideline by midfielder Tom Close in the final minute of the eight extra allocated by referee David Murnane, though by now there was no doubt about the result.
Daire Cregg (0-5, 1 free), James Fitzpatrick and Adam McDermott (1-1 each), Ben O’Carroll (1f), Patrick Gavin (0-2 each), Robbie Dolan, Charlie Carthy (0-1 each).
S Johnston (1-0), C Smyth (frees), A Gilmore (1 free), R O’Hare (1 free), D Magill (0-2 each), J McGovern and T Smyth (0-1 each).
C Carroll; C Lohan, C Walsh, D Gaughan; P Gavin, R Fallon, T Crean; E Crawley, K Doyle; D Heneghan, J Fitzpatrick, D Cregg; B O'Carroll, A McDermott, R Dolan.
Subs: C Carthy for D Heneghan (19-21, temporary), S Trundle for E Crawley (41), C Carthy for D Heneghan (41), J Lohan for T Crean (44), D Wynne for R Dolan (45), J Doory for D Gaughan (53).
: C Smyth; T Fettes, L Toal, R Magill; T Smyth, P McCarthy, A Morgan; O Murdock, T Close; R O'Hare, S Johnston, J McGovern; A Gilmore, E Brown, D Magill.
: P McMullan for T Fettes (20), S Óg McCusker for D Magill (44), S Croskery for E Brown (48), J Clarke for J McGovern (54), J Murtagh for R O'Hare (59).
Referee: D. Murnane (Cork).
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