Connacht SFC: Roscommon too strong for New York
Dylan Ruane of Roscommon celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between New York and Roscommon at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Connacht Senior Football Championship quarter-final
Roscommon 5-22 New York 1-10
By Mike Finnerty at Gaelic Park
The Roscommon footballers cruised into a provincial semi-final clash with Mayo as they romped to a record victory over New York at Gaelic Park on Sunday.
However, a first half red card for Daire Cregg overshadowed Mark Dowd’s maiden championship victory as Roscommon manager.
Cregg’s dismissal was the one of the major talking points from a disappointingly one-sided Connacht SFC quarter-final as Roscommon marked their return to New York for the first time in ten years in style.
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.
All Star attacker Enda Smith netted after just 90 seconds to give Roscommon a dream start and, although New York’s Jack McKenna hit back with a goal at the other end three minutes later, that was as good as it got the homeside.
Roscommon attacked with real intent at every opportunity and a second goal from championship debutant Rob Heneghan in the seventh minute saw the floodgates open.
Further goals followed from Darragh Heneghan, Dylan Ruane and Eoin McCormack before the break to leave Roscommon 19 points ahead at the break — 5-11 to 1-4.
The winners were rampant all through that opening half with their pace and power causing New York’s over-worked defence plenty of problems.
They attacked from all angles with the likes of the aforementioned Daire Cregg (3), Conor Ryan and Eoin Ward all picking off points with goalkeeper Conor Carroll also landing two 45s into the wind.
Everything seemed to be going to plan for Mark Dowd and company before referee Brendan Cawley showed Cregg a red card in the 35th minute after an off-the-ball incident involving New York defender Seán Wilson.
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).
Mark Dowd had started 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.
New York will have to go back to the drawing board after this heavy defeat but the likes of Matthew Queenan, Eoghan McElligott, Frank O’Reilly and Killian Butler all had their moments.
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.
Roscommon scorers: Enda Smith 1-2, Robert Heneghan 1-2, Dylan Ruane 1-1, Darragh Heneghan 1-1, Eoin McCormack 1-0, Daire Cregg 0-3 (1f), Diarmuid Murtagh 0-2 (1f), Keith Doyle 0-2, Senan Lambe 0-2 (tp), Shane Cunnane 0-2, Conor Carroll 0-2 (2 45s), Eoin Ward 0-1, Conor Ryan 0-1, Paul Carey 0-1 (f).
New York scorers: Frank O’Reilly 0-5 (2fs), Jack McKenna 1-1, Killian Butler 0-2, Jack Foley 0-1, Conor Keenan 0-1.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Patrick Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Eoin McCormack; Eoin Ward, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe; Keith Doyle, Conor Ryan; Dylan Ruane, Enda Smith, Darragh Heneghan; Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg, Robert Heneghan. Subs used: Conor Hand for D Heneghan (42); Colm Neary for Lambe (42); Niall Higgins for Gavin (48); Shane Cunnane for Doyle (50); Paul Carey (0-1, 1f) for Murtagh (60).
New York: Joey Grace; Tadgh O’Riordan, Seán Wilson, Cian O’Dea; Jack Foley, Matthew Queenan, Rob Wharton; Eoghan McElligott, Conall Kennedy; Donal Hunt, Frank O’Reilly, Tiarnan Mathers; Conor Keenan, Jack McKenna, Killian Butler. Subs used: James Walsh for Foley (30); Shane Brosnan for O’Riordan (HT); Jack Savage for Mathers (HT); Oisin Mathers for Hunt (52); Jack Kennedy for Keenan (60).
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
