Second-half goal rush claims Connacht crown for Rossies
Roscommon's Senan Lambe celebrates with teammates. Pic ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Second-half goals from Niall O’Donnell, Shane McGinley and Ryan Dowling powered Roscommon to an impressive Connacht U20 title, beating Galway in Castlebar.
With the benefit of the wind, Roscommon surged into an early four-point lead, but with Jack Mullen's shooting boots on, Galway responded with a show of strength and led by two at the break, 0-8 to 0-6.
They looked well on course for the All-Ireland semi-final at that point, but Roscommon had other ideas.
O'Donnell got their challenge motoring by palming the opening goal soon after the break.
Mullen kicked another beauty for Galway, but when McGinley struck 15 minutes from time, Roscommon were four up.
Sub Ryan Dowling took that lead to six but Galway weren't giving up, narrowing the gap to three to set up a grandstand finish. But McGinley turned provided to set up Dowling for the clinching goal.
It's Tyrone next for Roscommon this coming Saturday.
S McGinley (1-6, three frees, one mark); R Dowling (1-2); N O’Donnell (1-1); S Lambe, R Hester, B Nugent (m), R Heneghan (0-1 each)
M Thompson (2 frees), J Mullen (0-4 each), F Mac Donnacha (1m), C Costello (1f) (0-3 each); S McGlinchey, R Coen, M Mannion (0-1 each)
S Allen; E Kerins, J Connolly, E Carthy; S Lambe, D Casey, J McGreal; C Harley, C Ryan; R Hester, D Hagney, R Heneghan; S McGinley, N O’Donnell, B Nugent
E O’Reilly for McGreal (half-time), R Dowling for Hagney (46 mins), O O’Flaherty for Harley (51), S Walsh for O’Donnell (57), R Carthy for Hester (60).
E McGrath; D Costello, B Noone, S Canavan; M Mannion, J Lonergan, J Folan; S McGlinchey, C Heneghan; C Mulhern, M Thompson, C Murphy; J Mullen, F Mac Donnacha, C Costello
P Godwin for Noone (28-29, temp), D Kilcommons for Heneghan (half-time), R Coen for Folan (41), R Colleran for C Costello (temp, 46-47), L O’Connor for Mannion (49), R Colleran for Murphy (54), N Mannion for D Costello (60).
L Devenney (Mayo)
