Roscommon secure FBD league crown in Galway cruise
CRUISE-CONTROL: Enda Smith of Roscommon in action against Daragh Varley of Galway. Pic: Tyler Miller, Sportsfile
THERE was very little drama or excitement as Roscommon cruised to their first FBD Insurance Connacht League title success for five years at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan.
Davy Burke’s seasoned senior panel were much too good for Galway’s Development Squad, and the gulf in class was brutally exposed from the opening stages.
Roscommon started as they meant to go on and the match was over as a contest by half-time.
The second half was little more than a victory lap for the new champions.
A crowd of 2,237 spectators watched the action unfold but, unfortunately, there was very little to keep them on the edge of their seats once Roscommon got into their stride.
The Rossies were in front by 1-14 to 0-6 at the interval and were so comfortable at that stage that Davy Burke had introduced five substitutes, including All-Star Enda Smith, his brother, Donie, and experienced defender, Niall Stack.
The Galway rookies had no answer to Roscommon’s pace and running power, with the winners shooting 1-10 from play in that opening period from eight different sources.
Galway, in contrast, struggled to create scoring chances with Lee Costello and Cillian O’Curraoin their only forwards to hit the target from open play before the break.
The writing was on the wall after only seven minutes as a series of slick Roscommon moves saw them ease into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead courtesy of long-range scores from Dylan Ruane (mark) and Cian Connolly and frees from Diarmuid Murtagh and Conor Cox.
Two minutes later, flying wing-back Eoin McCormack raced through to fire the ball into the Galway net past Oran Burke to put some daylight between the teams.
That gap got wider as the minutes ticked by as the likes of Cathal Heneghan (2), Ciaran Lennon, Adam McDermott (2), Dylan Ruane, Niall Higgins and Donie Smith all engaged in some target practice.
The lively McDermott was also denied a goal by the post as Galway struggled to keep up.
Down at the other end, the Tribesmen were unlucky to see Jack O’Neill rattle the crossbar on a rare occasion that Roscommon’s defence was caught flat-footed.
The rampant Rossies tagged on 1-11 at their leisure over the course of a brutally one-sided second period with both sides making a swathe of substitutions.
Galway’s experimental line-up, under the guidance of senior manager, Padraic Joyce, shot seven points in response with six of them coming from the boot of the stylish Cillian O’Curraoin, four from frees and one via a well-struck ‘45.
The pick of Roscommon’s scores came from subs Andrew Glennon (2), Daire Cregg (2), Senan Lambe and Jack Duggan, whose father Derek wore the primrose and blue with distinction for many years.
Davy Burke will now turn his attention to Roscommon’s opening game of the National League away to Tyrone next week while Padraic Joyce’s focus will be on getting his first-team squad ready for the visit of Mayo to Salthill.
C Carroll; P Gavin, L Glennon, C Keogh; N Higgins (0-1), E Flynn, E McCormack (1-0); K Doyle, D Ruane (0-3, 1 mark); C Connolly (0-1), D Murtagh (0-1, 1f), C Lennon (0-2); A McDermott (0-2), C Heneghan (0-3), C Cox (0-2, 2fs).
E Smith (1-0) for Murtagh; A Glennon (0-2) for Cox; D Smith (0-3, 2fs) for Connolly; N Daly for McCormack; D Kenny (0-1) for Keogh; C Lavin for Carroll; D Murray for Glennon; J Duggan (0-1) for McDermott; S Lambe (0-1) for Heneghan; C Walsh for Flynn; D Cregg (0-2, 1f) for Doyle;
O Burke; L Boyle, B Mannion, D Varley; C Monaghan, J Kirrane, D O’Flaherty; C Brady, C Darcy (0-1); R Monaghan, A Ó Laoi (0-1, 1f), J O’Neill; L Costello (0-1), C Power, C Ó Curraoin (0-9, 7fs, ‘45).
R Cunningham for O’Neill; D Kilcommins for Flaherty; G Davoren for Ó Laoi; D Hunt for C Monaghan; S McGrath for Costello; M Colleran for Power; C Rafferty for Brady;
M McGirl (Leitrim)
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