14-man Roscommon overwhelm New York with five first half goals

Roscommon will play Mayo in the Connacht SFC semi-final

A BRONX TALE: New York’s Cian O’Dea secures possession with protection from Conall Kennedy despite the attention of Daire Cregg of Roscommon in their Connacht SFC quarter-final at Gaelic Park in New York. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Connacht SFC quarter-final: Roscommon 5-22 New York 1-10 

A first half red card for Daire Cregg was the only downside of an otherwise straightforward victory for Roscommon on their return to Gaelic Park in New York for the first time in ten years.

The 2019 provincial champions overpowered the Exiles from the early stages of this Connacht SFC quarter-final and five first half goals killed the game as a contest.

Enda Smith netted after just 90 seconds to give Roscommon a dream start and, although Jack McKenna responded with a goal at the other end three minutes later, the visitors continued to attack at will.

Further goals followed from championship debutants Rob Heneghan and Darragh Heneghan as well as Dylan Ruane and Eoin McCormack to leave Roscommon 19 points ahead at the break — 5-11 to 1-4.

Roscommon were rampant all through that opening half with their pace and power causing New York’s over-worked defence plenty of problems.

The visitors attacked from all angles with the likes of Daire Cregg (3), Conor Ryan and Eoin Ward all picking off points with goalkeeper Conor Carroll also landing two 45s into the wind.

However, a red card for the aforementioned Cregg after an off-the-ball incident involving New York’s Seán Wilson proved to be the major talking point afterwards.

A capacity crowd turned out to watch Roscommon’s first championship fixture in New York since 2016, and Mark Dowd’s charges took care of business in style.

New York’s lack of match practice — they hadn’t played a competitive match for 10 months — caught up with them from an early stage.

Ronan McGinley’s side never threw in the towel though with six second half points from Frank O’Reilly (4) and Killian Butler (2) a reward for their gallant effort.

But Roscommon continued to pile on the pressure and, despite being down to 14 players for the entire second period, they shot 11 points with the best of them coming from Robert Heneghan, Diarmuid Murtagh, Shane Cunnane and Enda Smith (2).

Dowd had picked just seven of the side that started the county’s last championship game 10 months ago and his new-look side looked impressive as they cruised to their biggest ever win in this fixture.

Roscommon will now meet Mayo in the provincial semi-final in Castlebar in two weeks’ time while New York’s attention will turn to the Tailteann Cup.

Scorers for Roscommon: C Carroll 0-2 (2 45s), E Smith 1-2, R Heneghan 1-2, D Cregg 0-3 (1f), K Doyle 0-2, S Lambe 0-2 (tp), D Murtagh 0-2 (1f), D Ruane 1-1, D Heneghan 1-1, E McCormack 1-0, E Ward 0-1, C Ryan 0-1, S Cunnane 0-2, P Carey 0-1 (1f).

Scorers for New York: F O’Reilly 0-5 (2fs), J McKenna 1-1, K Butler 0-2, J Foley 0-1, C Keenan 0-1.

ROSCOMMON: C Carroll; P Gavin, C Keogh, E McCormack; E Ward, R Daly, S Lambe; K Doyle, C Ryan; D Ruane, E Smith, D Heneghan; D Murtagh, D Cregg, R Heneghan.

Subs: C Hand for D Heneghan (42); C Neary for Lambe (42); N Higgins for Gavin (48); S Cunnane for Doyle (50); P Carey for Murtagh (60).

NEW YORK: J Grace; T O’Riordan, S Wilson, C O’Dea; J Foley, M Queenan, R Wharton; E McElligott, C Kennedy; D Hunt, F O’Reilly, T Mathers; C Keenan, J McKenna, K Butler.

Subs: J Walsh for Foley (30); S Brosnan for O’Riordan (HT); J Savage for Mathers (HT); O Mathers for Hunt (52); J Kennedy for Keenan (60).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)