Allianz FL D1: Roscommon shine against Monaghan
Enda Smith scored two goals for Roscommon in their victory over Monaghan.
Allianz Football League Division 1
Roscommon 3-16 Monaghan 1-16
By Ian Cooney at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park
Roscommon’s third quarter onslaught turned the tables on Monaghan as Mark Dowd’s young side poured more water on last weekend’s shoots of encouragement against Kerry to pick up their first league points.
The home side found themselves two points adrift at the break but a devastating start to the second half, which included goals from their top scorers Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith, swung the pendulum in their favour.
Monaghan welcomed back goalkeeper Rory Beggan but the visitors ran out of steam in the face of the Rossies’ second-half onslaught.
The game exploded into life with both sides finding the net inside the opening seven minutes.
Louis Kelly and Smith swapped early points before Kelly punctured a huge gap in the home side’s defence and finished to the net.
Roscommon responded with a Daire Cregg free but a two-pointer from Micheál Bannigan stretched wind-assisted Monaghan’s advantage to 1-3 to 0-2 after six minutes.
But when Dessie Ward was dispossessed a minute later, Smith was on hand to place the ball beyond Beggan for a Roscommon goal.
A great run by Darragh Heneghan was rewarded with the levelling score for the Rossies — 1-3 apiece after ten minutes.
Beggan (’45) and Ryan McAnespie exchanged scores with Diarmuid Murtagh (a point from play and a free) to still leave nothing between them after 19 minutes.
Roscommon enjoyed plenty of possession, but it was Monaghan who made the majority of their opportunities count.
Bannigan, Andrew Woods and Gary Mohan added to Monaghan’s tally, while McAnespie had a goal ruled out for a square ball.
A free by Cregg on the stroke of half time ended a 16-minute scoring famine for the home side as they trailed by 1-8 to 1-6 at the change of ends.
Fisted points on the resumption from Dylan Ruane and Darragh Heneghan hinted that Roscommon were reborn and meant business, and even though Dessie Ward and Andrew Woods (free) replied for Monaghan, a loose pass from Gary Mohan left Beggan stranded in the middle of the field.
Roscommon worked the ball upfield quickly, allowing the rampaging Enda Smith set up Diarmuid Murtagh for a crucial goal.
In the 48th minute, Roscommon bagged a third goal. Another turnover saw the supporting Paddy Gavin bearing down on goal. Darragh McElearney brought the Clann na nGael defender to ground, and Enda Smith stroke home the resultant penalty beyond Beggan with aplomb.
Roscommon never relinquished their grip on the contest after that, with a couple of two-point frees from Daire Cregg and Diarmuid Murtagh keeping Monaghan at arm’s length on the scoreboard.
Micheál Bannigan brought his tally to 0-5, while substitute Eddie Walsh hit a two-pointer on the hooter but, in truth, there was precious little for Monaghan to shout about.
Roscommon were home and hosed, giving themselves a major lift in the division ahead of the visit of Armagh to the Hyde on Valentine’s weekend.
Scorers for Roscommon: Enda Smith 2-2 (1-0 pen), Diarmuid Murtagh 1-5 (0-2f, 0-1f), Daire Cregg 0-4 (0-2f), Darragh Heneghan 0-2, Dylan Ruane 0-2, Paul Carey 0-1
Scorers for Monaghan: Micheál Bannigan 0-5 (0-2), Louis Kelly 1-1, Eddie Walsh 0-2 (0-2), Andrew Woods 0-2 (0-1f), Rory Beggan 0-1 (0-1 ’45), Ryan McAnespie 0-1, Gary Mohan 0-1, Dessie Ward 0-1, Stephen O’Hanlon 0-1, Stephen Mooney 0-1.
Roscommon: Aaron Brady; Patrick Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Niall Higgins; Oisín Cregg, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe; Keith Doyle, Conor Ryan; Dylan Ruane, Enda Smith, Darragh Heneghan; Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg, Robert Heneghan.
Subs: Eoin Ward for Oisín Cregg (h-t), Cathal Heneghan for Daire Cregg (52), Paul Carey for Robert Heneghan (57), Jack Duggan for Darragh Heneghan (65), Colm Neary for Ruane (70).
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Darragh McElearney, Darragh Treanor, Ryan McAnespie; Ryan O’Toole, Dessie Ward, Thomas Hughes; Karl Gallagher, Gary Mohan; Ronan Boyle, Micheál Bannigan, Stephen O’Hanlon; Aaron Casey, Andrew Woods, Louis Kelly.
Subs: Micheál McCarville for Kelly (38), Stephen Mooney for McAnespie (45), Oisín McGorman for Hughes (49), Liam McDonald for Mohan (60), Eddie Walsh for Woods (67).
Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone).
