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Match Report - Senior Football County Club
Semi-Final 2004
Match Report -
Senior Football County Club Final 2004
Match Report - Connacht Senior Football Club Semi-Final
2004
Interview with Kevin McStay
Ger Michael Memorial football Tournament 2005
Match Report -
Connacht Senior Football Club Semi-Final
1999
Castlerea surrender their senior crown after one year
Castlerea’s one year reign as Roscommon senior
champions ended in Ballyforan on Sunday when they went under to Roscommon Gaels
in the county semi-final. A late goal by David Scahill helped put a better gloss
on the scoreboard but there was no disputing the Gaels merited 0-11 to 1-5
victory.
The winners led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval and the score stood at 0-6 to 0-4
for several minutes during the second half. Castlerea created one golden chance
in this spell when Nigel Dineen raced through the defence only for fullback John
Nolan to deny him a goal with a fine save.
Roscommon Gaels subsequently regained the momentum and had pulled seven points
clear entering injury time. Castlerea tagged on a point and Scahill got through
for the only goal of the match but time had run out for the defending champions.
COUNTY FINAL
The Roscommon Senior Football Final will be played in Hyde Park next Sunday.
Roscommon Gaels enter the match as favourites against neighbours Kilbride who
had a 1-7 to 1-5 win over Strokestown in the other semi-final at the weekend.
Gaels storm back to summit
WHAT a difference in 12 months. This time last year Roscommon Gaels were facing into a relegation play-off to retain their senior status, last Sunday the town team secured the club's 19th county title, bringing them level at the top of the roll of honour with Clann na nGael. Last Sunday's two-point triumph over Kilbride in Hyde Park was hardly the most memorable of the Gaels' victories and manager Kevin McStay conceded afterwards that this was his team's poorest performance of the year. However finals are all about winning and the Gaels forwards' more economical use of less possession than their Kilbride counterparts proved crucial in a match which defences dominated.
Ruby Oil county senior football final
Roscommon Gaels 0-10 Kilbride 0-8
A lack of atmosphere in the stands led to a dearth of excitement except in the
last few minutes as Kilbride tried to retrieve a four-point deficit. The tension
which is a feature of all finals was present. Perhaps the players knew each
other too well but there was a curious lack of 'cut' to what was a dour match.
Maybe the seeds for this victory were sown that day in Castlerea a year ago when
Roscommon Gaels overcame Shannon Gaels in a relegation play-off. The experience
and craft of Alan Nolan and Fergal O'Donnell were crucial in staving off the
prospect of the drop and when the Gaels regrouped during the winter other
survivors of the 1994 triumph Chris Grogan, Ciaran Heneghan, Clifford McDonald
and Ross Shannon returned to provide a solid core to this year's team. The
appointment of McStay as manager was also an indication of the Gaels' intent.
Grogan, O'Donnell (second-half), Nolan and Finbar O'Reilly were key figures in
this victory but younger players like John Nolan, Cathal Kilcline and Cian
O'Brien also made important contributions.
The Gaels never created a goal chance but took their points while Kilbride saw
three goal opportunities go abegging. The last of these came three minutes from
the end. A long ball bounced over John Nolan and was collected by Stephen Lohan,
who had switched from midfield to full-forward, and bore down on goal.
Lohan could have shot early but shrugged off another defender to leave himself
with only Grogan to beat. However the goalkeeper narrowed the angle well and
with O'Reilly also dashing towards him Lohan drove his shot over rather than
under the bar.
While Lohan, who could have been moved to the edge of the square earlier, hit
another point in injury-time the Gaels held out a victory. Kilbride's last
attack typified the second-half as the Gaels blanket defence drove them sideways
and backwards before two Kilbride players got in each other's way going for a
crossfield ball.
Both defences were on top, especially when playing against the wind. Kilbride,
for whom Paul Foxe and Darren Feely excelled, contained the pre-match favourites
in the first-half and were only two points behind at the interval. However the
Gaels employed a blanket defence strategy in the second-half and restricted
Kilbride to wayward shots from distance for most of that period. The only time
they were breached in that second-half was for Lohan's late chance.
Kilbride will rue this defeat. They hit 13 wides to the Gaels' eight, were
foiled twice in the first-half by two fine saves from Grogan and hit a number of
shots short into the Gaels goalkeeper. A lot of the misses can be attributed to
diligent Gaels defence but many were down to rank bad shooting.
Kilbride took a first-minute lead when Martin McDermott curled over a 13-metre
free after Gerry Lohan was fouled. The Gaels equalised within a minute when
Kilcline and Shannon set up O'Brien for a point. Eddie Lohan slotted over
another close-range free to regain the lead for Kilbride and after six minutes
Grogan made his first vital intervention.
The keeper dived full length to make a fingertip save from Eddie Lohan who shot
from the left of goal. Martin McDermott collected the rebound and looked certain
to find the net only for John Nolan to get back and deflect McDermott's shot
around the post for a 45 which Eddie Lohan sent wide off the post.
Cliffy McDonald equalised in the ninth minute and two minutes later Nolan gave
the Gaels a lead they never relinquished when he arced over a free in his
distinctive style. After 13 minutes Grogan again came to the Gaels' rescue when
a long ball from Stephen Lohan was knocked down by Gerry Lohan to McDermott
whose snap-shot was parried by Grogan.
O'Brien and Shannon paved for the way for Nolan to slot over a good point after
15 minutes. Gerry Lohan popped a point for Kilbride when a goal chance looked on
for a split second before the Gaels defence closed the door. Nolan responded
within seconds from a free.
Kilbride got their best score of the match in the 27th minute when Eddie Lohan
rounded off a flowing team which was carried through by Gerry Lohan, Justin
Fannon, Seamus O'Neill (the dominant figure at midfield in the first-half) and
Stephen Lohan. Nolan nudged the Gaels two in front again with an expertly-judged
free one minute before the break.
Kilbride looked well placed at half-time but the pattern of their second-half
was apparent quickly as they hit two wides and one ball into Grogan's arms
inside the first three minutes. In contrast the Gaels, despite having less
possession than Kilbride in the second-half, made better use of the chances that
came their way. Jonathan Farrell had to deflect a dipping Mike Ryan shot on to
the post and in the 35th minute Mike Costello punched a point after the winners'
best move of the match. Costello was involved in the build-up himself as were
O'Donnell, who redressed the midfield balance significantly in the second-half,
and O'Brien.
Gerry and Eddie Lohan set up O'Neill for a Kilbride point three minutes later.
The hard-working O'Brien kicked the Gaels into a three-point lead after 39
minutes. A full 13 minutes elapsed before the next score of the game, a Kilbride
point from a 30-metre free by Eddie Lohan.
However the Gaels responded with two valuable and well-worked points. Six
minutes from the end Nolan knocked over his fifth point after good approach work
from Lorcan Dowd and Kenneth Hegarty. With three minutes left Gerry Kelly
stretched the lead to four with a well-taken point from 25 metres after a pass
from Dara O'Gara. Kilbride's late rally yielded two points but it wasn't enough
to deny the Gaels who now go on to meet the Mayo champions in the Connacht club
championship on 21st November.
Referee Jimmy Reilly did a good job and was helped by the positive attitude of
both teams.
ROSCOMMON GAELS: Chris Grogan; Ciaran Heneghan, John Nolan, Finbar O'Reilly;
Mike Costello (0-1), Cathal Kilcline, Michael Ryan; Fergal O'Donnell, Brian
McNeela; Cian O'Brien (0-2), Clifford McDonald (0-1), Gerry Kelly (0-1); Ross
Shannon, Alan Nolan (0-5, three frees), Lorcan Dowd. Subs: Marty O'Keeffe for
Heneghan (36 mins), James Comiskey for McDonald (40 mins), Kenneth Hegarty for
Shannon (49 mins), Dara O'Gara for O'Brien (55 mins).
KILBRIDE: Jonathan Farrell; Stuart Feely, Colin Farrell, Paul Foxe; James
Farrell, Declan McDermott, Darren Feely; Seamus O'Neill (0-1), Stephen Lohan
(0-2); John Fannon, John Hanly, Eddie Lohan (0-3, two frees); Gerry Lohan (0-1),
Martin McDermott (0-1, free), John Shally. Subs: Joe Hanly for Fannon (48 mins),
Aidan Shanagher for Shally (59 mins).
Referee: Jimmy Reilly
courtesy of roscommon champion
Ballina breeze to facile win over Gaels
AIB Connacht club
senior football semi-final 21-11-04
Ballina Stephenites 1-18 Roscommon Gaels 1-5
SAME old, same old. You
the readers are tired of reading it, the reporters are tired of writing it and
most of all the players are tired of enduring it but it was a familiar story at
James Stephens Park last Sunday as a humiliated Roscommon team trooped home from
Mayo with its tail between its legs. There wasn't strong optimism behind
Roscommon Gaels' Connacht club semi-final assignment against Ballina but few
could have predicted a rout of this proportion.
It was a re-run of this year's Connacht final and not just because the home team
wore the Mayo colours of Green and Red. Ballina won with the insouciant ease
that oozes from Mayo teams at all levels when faced with Roscommon opposition.
The Gaels were out of their depth but would any other Roscommon club have fared
any better? Maybe, maybe not.
No Roscommon club would have beaten Ballina last Sunday. Perhaps one or two
would have coped better with the Stephenites' blistering pace but they still
would have done well to avoid a drubbing. The harsh truth is the standard of
this year's county championship was bad verging on dire and last Sunday's result
was the inevitable corollary of that.
There's no point going on about the magnificent feats of Clann na nGael when
they swatted aside Mayo and Galway teams. You'd have to be in at least your
mid-20s to remember much of Clann's halcyon days. Sadly, their victories hold no
relevance today as Mayo and Galway teams have moved to a different plane from
Roscommon clubs.
Look at this decade. Only Strokestown of the last five Roscommon champions have
been competitive at Connacht level. Kilbride, Roscommon Gaels (twice) and
Castlerea have been outclassed. In the five seasons before that just Clann with
a final kick in 1996 that brought them tantalisingly close to success and
Roscommon Gaels who lost to Crossmolina in a replay in '99 have been at the
races.
The suspicion that this generation of Gaels players had missed the boat at
provincial level hardened to conviction last Sunday. They were within a whisker
in the drawn final in '99 and since then they've been falling further behind the
provincial brand leaders.
The town team had to be imaginative in team selection and they were. Michael
Ryan was deployed as a third midfield with Marty O'Keeffe dropping back into
defence to leave Alan Nolan and Lorcan Dowd as a two-man full-forward line.
Given Ryan's strength and ball-winning ability it looked a good ploy but as the
game developed the scale of the dominance of the Ballina half-backs and
centrefield nullified the tactic.
The signs were ominous from the off. Oblivious to the energy-sapping underfoot
conditions Ballina cruised from the starting blocks with elegant assurance. Liam
Brady (two) and Stephen Hughes all slotted points inside the opening four
minutes. Alan Nolan opened the Gaels' account in the seventh minute from a free.
Ger Brady responded with a high shot which soared over the bar.
The Gaels shot two wides during a nine-minute scoreless spell before the home
team turned the screw with four rapid-fire points from the 17th minute onwards.
Paul McGarry (following a marvellous block by John Nolan), Liam Brady, Patrick
Harte and Ronan McGarrity were the scorers although the Gaels disputed
McGarrity's point vigorously with Kevin McStay rushing in to remonstrate with
referee Michael Curley.
Roscommon Gaels were sinking only to be buoyed by a goal that couldn't have been
more timely. Clifford McDonald picked out Mike Costello with a slide rule pass
and the overlapping wing-back squeezed a low shot past David Clarke for the
Gaels' first goal in this year's championship.
In the wake of Costello's goal the Roscommon side enjoyed their sole spell of
control but didn't reap sufficient reward. Alan Nolan slotted a free but another
Costello raid down the left wing ended in a wide by Nolan. McDonald also shot
wide and in the final minutes of the half Ballina regained the initiative with
points from Harte, after Finbar O'Reilly overcarried, McGarry and Liam Brady,
after Enda Devenney won a very soft free.
At 0-11 to 1-2 the Gaels' cause wasn't lost but they needed a good start to the
second-half; it didn't happen. Liam Brady steered over a delightful point from
the left of goal and a defensive mix-up allowed Hughes to stretch the home lead
to eight points six minutes into the half.
The Gaels forwards were being starved of quality ball but a pinpoint ball from
Ryan into Lorcan Dowd yielded a 39th-minute point from the inside forward.
However the flickering embers of Gaels' resistance were finally snuffed out two
minutes later by a well-worked goal.
Ger Brady found McGarrity who looked set to kick a point. However the midfielder
showed quick hands to change the whole impetus of the move as he offloaded to
Hughes. He in turn picked out Eanna Casey to the right of the small square and
he rifled a thunderbolt to the top of the net.
The game wound down after that with Ballina giving McGarrity a breather as he'd
played a basketball match in Tralee the night before. After 43 minutes Hughes
lashed over this third point after retrieving a ball from going wide.
The Gaels kept trying and after Alan Nolan kicked a 48th minute point the same
player found Eoghan Coll inside the defence only for the substitute's shot to be
blocked superbly by Clarke. Dowd converted the 45 but the same player missed an
open goal with six minutes left when he palmed wide of the target after a
possible foot block on a Coll shot sent the ball looping across the small
square. Ballina rounded off a satisfactory afternoon's work with two points from
Brian McStay (brother of the Gaels manager) and further scores from Devenney and
David Brady.
Ballina looked an excellent team last Sunday although after being taken in by
Mayo's Connacht final performance I won't jump to any definitive conclusions
yet. Killererin will test them in the Connacht final but Ballina have a good
chance of reaching the All-Ireland final. That is the stage where doubts creep
in for Mayo teams. Roscommon football's problems are of a different hue. The
prospect of a Roscommon club reaching an All-Ireland final is as remote as at
any time in the last 15 years.
ROSCOMMON GAELS: Chris Grogan; Finbar O'Reilly, Eoin Browne, Marty O'Keeffe;
Cathal Kilcline, John Nolan, Michael Costello (1-0); Brian McNeela, Fergal
O'Donnell; Cian O'Brien, Ross Shannon, Clifford McDonald; Michael Ryan, Alan
Nolan (0-3, two frees), Lorcan Dowd (0-2, one 45). Subs used: Benjy Penney for
Browne inj.) (35 mins), Eoghan Coll for Shannon (43 mins), Kevin Kilcline for
O'Reilly (43 mins), Darragh O'Gara for O'Brien (46 mins), John McHale for C.
Kilcline (52 mins).
BALLINA: David Clarke; Kenny Golden, Martin Wynne, Colm Leonard; Brian Ruane,
Shane Sweeney, Enda Devenney (0-1); Ronan McGarrity (0-1), David Brady (0-1);
Patrick Harte (0-2, frees), Ger Brady (0-1), Stephen Hughes (0-3); Liam Brady
(0-5, three frees), Paul McGarry (0-2), Patrick McHale. Subs used: Eanna Casey
(1-0) for McHale (half-time), Brian McStay (0-2) for McGarrity (49 mins), Shane
Melia for Harte (50 mins), Adrian Kelly for Hughes (53 mins), Thomas Duffy for
Leonard (58 mins).
Referee: Michael Curley (Galway).
courtesy of roscommon champion
McStay expresses
concern about Gaels future
-interview with Noel Fallon-
OVER the years Roscommon
and Mayo journalists have become used to congregating outside dressing-rooms
after matches involving teams from the counties. The Roscommon media often while
away the time by attempting to remember the last time a Roscommon team won on
Mayo soil. With the possible exception of the odd junior championship match the
Connacht minor final of 1992 is the answer we come up with (all suggestions from
readers will be gratefully accepted).
The dressing-rooms in James Stephen's Park in Ballina are very familiar to Kevin
McStay. He saw many glory days there with his home club. Last Sunday was another
day of triumph for the club that has won more Mayo county titles than any other.
It was a victory in which McStay couldn't partake as he had tried to mastermind
Ballina's downfall but it wasn't to be.
The genial Roscommon Gaels manager repeated his pre-match ambition that he
wanted his team to be competitive but acknowledged that it didn't happen. "The
scoreline doesn't look pretty, I don't think it reflects the work the lads have
done. We were outclassed. Ballina were too clever, too athletic and had too many
big guns for us. Everyone on our team kept trying but we were overpowered and
overrun, it was a fair drubbing.
"I was happy with the goal we scored. We had worked hard in training on brining
Mike Costello into play. Our ploy was to send high balls into Alan Nolan and
Lorcan Dowd. At half-time we had an opportunity but we were never going to beat
them 10 or 15 minutes into the second-half.
"The six-week break isn't an excuse for the defeat, neither are our injuries. We
worked hard in training and we thought Ballina might be tired, we thought this
might be one game too far for them. However the defeat to the Sligo champions
last year had Ballina forewarned for this game."
McStay has high expectations for Ballina in the rest of the championship. "They
are the first team to put county titles back to back in Mayo for some time. I
can't see Ballina being beaten in Connacht, March 17th is looking good for them.
Who is going to beat them on their side of the draw? I expect Ballina to beat
Killererin in the final, especially as they have the game at home and the
Connacht champions are playing the Munster winners in the All-Ireland
semi-final."
McStay praised his players lavishly but didn't try to diminish that yawning
chasm that exists between club football in Mayo and Roscommon. "I want to
tribute to our players. What we have are honest tradesmen who gave us everything
they had. We have players with a lot of character who are superior human beings.
A lot of them won't get another chance to win a Connacht title but those guys
owe the club nothing. Today was a bridge too far.
"Roscommon club football is slipping further behind Mayo club football but I
don't think it's any worse off than it was compared to the other three Connacht
counties. For us to win the Roscommon title with the age profile of our team
says everything about the Roscommon championship. It's competitive but it
doesn't have the depth of Mayo club football, Mayo has four or five teams who
could go on and win the Connacht club championship.
"Next year's Roscommon county championship is wide open. There is no stand-out
team in it and right now there isn't a Roscommon team to challenge for next
year's Connacht club championship.
"It must be remembered Ballina are an exceptional team, all of their players
have played county football at some level. All the Ballina players are
fundamentally sound players. They are big, physical, athletic men. We didn't
have much athleticism in our team apart from a player like Mike Costello."
McStay confirmed that he will be stepping down now that his one-year term is
open and expressed concern about the short-term future for the Roscommon town
club. "The supply of players is poor and we've going to have lean times. Players
like Fergal O'Donnell, Alan Nolan, Ciarán Heneghan, Ross Shannon and Cliffy
McDonald can't keep going forever. We're going to struggle in the next few
years," Kevin said.
With our work done some of us adjourn to a most inviting local bar to see the
dramatic finale of the Munster club hurling final. Nobody lingers around too
long though. The road back from Castlebar after a defeat is a familiar one but
the club championship provides alternative routes even if the result is always
the same. Charlestown, Crossmolina and Ballina have all been the scenes for
further Roscommon woe.
Another winter is upon us. As the rugged beauty of Mayo becomes shrouded in mist
and darkness descends on the journey home you begin to wonder when will a
Roscommon team return victorious from Mayo again? Yet soon it will be FBD league
time and hope will rise once more. That's sport for you but on this particular
dreary November evening optimism about Roscommon football isn't too abundant.
courtesy of roscommon champion
Ger Michael Memorial football Tournament 2005
A huge crowd turned out
in Hyde Park on a beautiful Easter Monday to see 140 players fight it out for
the Ger Michael Grogan Perpetual Cup. The day began with registration at 12 noon
and the play-off matches began at 1 p.m. In total 10 teams took part -- eight
men's teams and two ladies. The eight teams were divided into two groups of
four. Teams A, B, C, D were in Pool 1 and played on the practice pitch and E, F,
G, H in Pool 2 played on the main pitch.
After the first-round of matches Team H, captained by Paul Noone, was on maximum
points (six points) followed by Team G, captained by Alan Nolan on four points.
In Pool 1 a result was harder to find, three teams finished level on four points
even after some matches went to extra-time. Eventually Brian McNeela's team (D)
and Ross Shannon's team (C) emerged victorious.
The semi-final draw was: Brian McNeela's team v Paul Noone's, Ross Shannon's
team v Alan Nolan's.
At this stage Paul Noone had to play without his brilliant full-forward Cliffy
but luckily he seemed to have his homework done and rallied all his troops. This
match was a bit one-sided and P. Noone's team came out easy victors.
The second semi-final was harder to win with Ross Shannon and Alan Nolan
fighting it out to the very end. Eventually, Alan Nolan's team edged ahead and
won with four points to spare. A well-earned break for the lads came next and
the ladies took over the pitch for the Ger Michael Shield.
This was an entertaining game, refereed by Maire Allen, with both teams playing
great football and each eager to get their hands on the trophy. Sinead Hynes'
team were the victors at the final whistle.
The final of the cup began at 6 p.m. approx. with Jimmy Reilly throwing in the
ball. Watched by up to 300 spectators the atmosphere was electric. This match
was a great end to a great day's football.
Alan Nolan's team, having lost only one game in the play-off games, certainly
put it up to Paul Noone's team who had not lost any game. It was a match which
featured great scores and brilliant saves. The first-half went mainly Paul
Noone's way and the led at half-time by 1-4 to 0-2.
However Alan Nolan rallied his troops at the interval and they came out all guns
blazing. In a tension-filled game every player played his heart out. Paul
Noone's team seemed to be tiring as the half progressed and Alan notched up 1-1
without reply. It was now getting close and were it not for the brilliance of
Johnny Flanagan in goal there could have been another goal for Alan's team.
After a lapse of six to seven minutes Paul's team regained the initiative and
were it not for the brilliance of Declan Hynes in goal for Alan's team they
could have had another goal. Declan's great save saw the ball go over the bar.
Paul Noone's team added two more points while their opponents could only manage
one further point.
After the games the teams refreshed themselves and returned to the Hyde Centre
for the presentation at 9.30 p.m. Karen Grogan, representing the Grogan family,
presented the Ger Michael Cup to Daragh O'Gara (on behalf of Paul Noone) and the
Ger Michael Shield to Sinead Hynes, captain of the winning ladies team.
Michael McNeela, on behalf of the club, congratulated all the lads and girls who
turned up to play on the day to honour the memory of our former club and county
footballer Ger Michael. He thanked the ladies committee Siobhán Menton, Mary
McDonald, Jacinta Hoare, Eileen Kelly, Maureen Sharkey and Martha Gleeson who
worked all day in the kitchen of the centre to keep the masses fed with soup,
sandwiches, tea etc.
He thanked the organisers of the successful tournament Jimmy Menton and Stella
O'Gara. He also thanked the managers of the various teams for their input. Food
again accompanied the presentation and thanks to Anne Hynes for providing this.
Thanks to the musicians Tommy Donlon and friends for entertainment on the night.
A special word of thanks to our referees Jimmy Reilly, Declan Hunt and Maire
Allen. We hope to have another great day shortly, when our hurlers fight it out
for the Kenneth Kearney Cup.
Our youngsters and maybe out not-so-young people had a great time when they got
tired watching football. They took to a bouncing castle which Jimmy Menton had
arranged in the Hyde Centre.
All in all everybody had a great day agus "Go mBeimid Beó ag an am seo arís an
bliain seo chugainn."
Another showdown in the West
AIB Connacht club senior football semi-final 1999
Roscommon Gaels 0-9 Crossmolina 0-9
It will take another six days before we know how the West was won. Over at Hyde Park in Roscommon Town on Sunday, the home town lads took on Crossmolina from Mayo and the match ended all square after a tense and exciting finale.
There were few complaints about the outcome. Now, it's back to Crossmolina on Saturday( 2 p.m.) for the replay.
On a dull, overcast but dry day, a crowd of around 4,000 enjoyed a lively encounter between the champions of these age old rival counties. The stakes were high and questions were always going to be asked and answered on such an occasion.
Missing from the Crossmolina squad was the stylish Mayo player, Kieran McDonald, who had got his marching orders in the semi-final in Tuam two weeks earlier. His absence dented the thrust of the visitors attack, yet they appeared to have enough in reserve to win their first ever Connacht crown.
Roscommon Gaels, who looked pretty rattled for long spells of the opening half, showed commendable courage and spirit with a tenacious second half display that hauled them right back to level the game. They almost stole a winner in the final seconds but Michael McHale's effort from 50 yards dropped narrowly wide of the posts.
Had Crossmolina gone out in such circumstances, it would have been rough justice. Yet, such is the fate of many in the cauldron of championship football. Crossmolina showed some exquisite touches in the opening half. Time and time again, they spread wide the Roscommon defence but they failed to convert this dominance in so many sectors into vital scores. It almost cost them dearly in the end.
With the exception of the game against St. Brigid's in the earlier rounds of the championships and, to a lesser extend against Kilmore in the county final, Roscommon Gaels, because of the uneven nature of senior football clubs across the county, did not have to face before this the kind of challenge that was posed by the Mayo champions on Sunday.
Great pace and commitment
In the early stages, Crossmolina showed ferocious commitment and pace. Roscommon Gaels appeared to be adrift in the spring tide that showed no signs of abating as wave after wave of pressure crashed against the Roscommon defence. While Michael McHale had given the home side a brief lead when he converted a free after two minutes, Crossmolina soon took control. Michael Moyles, who had a terrific first half, landed the first score for the visitors and Joe Keane shot them ahead a short time later.
Moyles and Paul McGuinness combined sweetly in a move that ripped open the Roscommon Gaels defence and a goal looked "on" but Moyles' effort to lob the goalie just went over the bar.
The Mayo side was rock solid in defence with Thomas Nallen, Stephen Rochford, Colm Reilly, Damien Mulligan, Pat McAndrew and Ger O'Malley working hard to close down the Roscommon Gaels attack. James Nallen excelled in his roving role and once again stamped his mark on this encounter while Michael Moyles was the pivotal figure in the attack during the opening half. Yet, it took two points late in the half from Paul McGuinness and Johnny Leonard to leave them ahead by 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval.
Gaels a new force
Any notions that Crossmolina were going to find their rhythm over on 'easy street' were quickly dispelled on the resumption. Within seconds, the Roscommon lads breached the rearguard and it took a fine save by Barry Heffernan to deny Ross Shannon an opening goal.
And while Crossmolina extended their lead with a point from a free by Johnny Leonard, big Fergie O'Donnell and Liam McNeill were coming more and more into the fray. O'Donnell is the 'Jonah Lomu' of Roscommon football, a "horse" of a man who is a special favourite with Roscommon followers. Big Fergie, on his day, is a joy to behold … as long as you are not supporting the opposition! He is one of the old-style fielders of the high ball and is a powerful asset to any team.
The Roscommon halfback line were also tightening their grip on this encounter with Ciaran Heneghan coming very much into the game. Heneghan's sense of positioning was highly effective and he made a number of excellent clearances. On either flank he was well supported by the industrious Michael Ryan, who scored two fine points, and young Paul Noone who showed up well, especially in the second half.
Incredibly, the Roscommon lads had drawn level with four points from Michael Ryan, Michael McHale and Ross Shannon (two) over the next eight minutes.
Johnny Leonard edged Crossmolina in front with a point from a free and the highly mobile Paul McGuinness had the large Crossmolina following 'on song' when he added a lovely point following a cracking move involving Joe Keane and Michael Moyles. Peader Gardiner was drafted in to replace Thomas Loftus midway through the second half.
Tense finish
The home side looked in deep bother again. But up popped defender Michael Ryan to score another great point and Michael McHale shot the equaliser ten minutes from the end. In a tense and gripping finish, Crossmolina again took the lead after Damien Mulligan was adjudged to have been fouled and Leonard slotted over the free.
But Roscommon Gaels, with time ebbing away, dug deep into the well of self-belief ad came storming up the field. They won a free around 35 yards from goal and the ice cool Michael McHale earned another day out for Roscommon Gaels as he calmly posted the levelling score a minute from the end.
A short time later, the Gaels launched the last attack of the game. Liam McNeill was fouled fifty yards from goal. Near the Crossmolina bench on the stand side,
former President of the GAA, Dr. Mickey Loftus, could hardly venture to look at the kick! Crossmolina followers, who well outnumbered the Roscommon Gaels supporters, breathed a collective sign of relief as McHale's shot drifted narrowly wide of the left upright. The announcement that the replay would be in Crossmolina drew a loud cheer from the Mayo followers but they have been warned that Roscommon Gaels are formidable combination.
Essentially, this was the proverbial game of two halves. As James Nallen said in the aftermath of the match, no team is going to dominate a game for the full sixty minutes. While the game was fair to middling at times, on other occasions it tended to blossom into classy spells, orchestrated in the main by the Crossmolina men.
Thomas Nallen gave a very disciplined, controlled and dependable performance at fullback while Stephen Rochford and Colm Reilly worked exceptionally hard. Barry Heffernan was equal to all that came his way. Pat McAndrew, Damien Mulligan and Gerard O'Malley had some rare old duels with the Roscommon half forward trio. Nallen was to the fore at midfield while Thomas Loftus tried hard but it was never going to be easy in the company of someone like Fergie O'Donnell.
While the forwards put in a lot of work, things did not work out as planed on several occasions. Michael Moyles and Paul McGuinness were the most effective on the day. Joe Keane, Enda Lavelle, Johnny Leonard and Noel Convey tried hard but did not enjoy the same leeway that they did in the semi-final against Killererin.
Roscommon Gaels, slow out of the starting blocks, displayed commendable courage with their rugged and determined second half comeback. When all is said and done, the extraordinary running of John Hanly, coupled with O'Donnell's fielding exploits, played a crucial role in lifting the Gaels. Hanly, by no means one of the bigger men on the team, gave a whole-hearted and pulsating display and was at the heart of many of the Roscommon Gaels attacks.
The halfback line of Michael Ryan, Ciaran Heneghan and Paul Noone was the foundation on which the Gaels fashioned their comeback. Brian McNeela also turned in a strong second half performance. Chris Grogan was also rock solid as goalie. Fergal O'Donnell and Liam McNeill grew in stature as the game progressed while Michael McHale, John Hanly, Clifford McDonald and Alan Nolan also did well with Ross Shannon securing two vital points in the second half.
Roscommon Gaels: C. Grogan, P. Hoey, B. McNeela, M. Costello, M. Ryan (0-2), C. Heneghan, P. Noone, L. McNeill, F. O'Donnell, M. McHale (0-5), C. McDonald, A. Nolan, R. Shannon (0-2), G. Kelly, J. Hanly. Subs: J. Comiskey for R. Shannon (inj.), E. Browne for P. Hoey.
Crossmolina: B. Heffernan, S. Rochford (0-1), T. Nallen, C. Reilly, P. McAndrew, D. Mulligan, G. O'Malley, T. Loftus, J. Nallen, E. Lavelle, N. Convey, J. Leonard (0-3), P. McGuinness (0-2), M. Moyles (0-2), J. Keane (0-1). Subs: P. Gardiner for T. Loftus, G. Walsh for N. Convey.
Referee: E. Stenson (Leitrim).