Electric Ireland Connacht MFC Final: Roscommon win thriller

Electric Ireland Connacht MFC Final

Roscommon 3-12 Galway 1-17

By Billy Coss at Tuam Stadium

The second leg of what all involved in Roscommon football hope becomes a first-ever clean sweep of senior, U20 and minor provincial titles in the same season was completed in dramatic fashion as their U17s defeated Galway by the finest of margins in a thrilling Connacht final.

Tuam Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the Primrose and Blue of late. Their U20s turned over holders Mayo in an exhilarating decider that needed extra-time 11 days earlier. And with this victory, their minors have followed suit and also made it back-to-back titles at the grade.

First half goals from Jayden Concannon and Joshua Coyne were followed by a crucial third from Dara Kelleher after the break and placed a sizeable down payment on their win. They led by a game high nine points at half-time and bounced back from Galway's early second half purple patch to re-open an eight-point advantage entering the final quarter.

But buoyed by a well-taken 46th minute goal from Adam Healy and two orange flags apiece from Ryan Connolly (from play) and goalkeeper Evan Burke (frees), Cossie Gilmore's side rallied to within one and were afforded a final chance to grab victory deep in injury-time.

Burke, who has been superb all campaign, took on the responsibility from all of 55 metres and though his effort was well-struck, it fell just inches shy of giving Galway a famous victory and bridging an eight-year gap to their last Connacht title.

Roscommon carried in the favourites' tag after a flawless round-robin campaign and were 2-4 to 0-3 up on 15 minutes. Concannon punched home their opening goal a Jack Brooks effort dropped short. Joshua Coyne then netted at the end of a sweeping move involving Bobby Lenehan and man of the match Enda Browne.

Browne, Lenehan and Coyne (two, one free) accounted for Roscommon's points up to that juncture, with replies for a more wasteful Galway coming from Oliver Ó Suilleabháin, Mikey Mitchell and Healy (free).

The sides would trade two further scores apiece from there to the break. Mitchell (free) and Joey Cullinane were on target for the hosts, but crucially, Roscommon's were both wind-aided two-pointers from Jack Lally and Ronan Carr.

Roscommon went in armed with a 2-8 to 0-5 lead as a result before Galway emerged with greater energy and cut the gap to 2-8 to 0-11 after Aaron Hanrahan (free), Mitchell and two-pointers from Ryan Connolly and Evan Burke ate into the deficit.

In what was perhaps the defining score of the game, Roscommon responded with their third goal on 42 minutes as Browne once again provided the assist and Dara Kelleher's effort found the Galway net. Points from Seamie Carthy and Carr followed to leave it 3-10 to 0-11 to the visitors.

Eight adrift, Galway would produce a storming final quarter that almost salvaged a result. Healy cut in the left corner and held his composure to ignite their revival with a superb 46th minute goal. And although Hanrahan and Carthy traded scores soon after, the Tribesmen moved to within three when Connolly raised his second orange flag.

Roscommon's ace marksman Coyne brought his tally to 1-3 for the evening in the 56th minute to leave four in it before the sizeable crowd in Tuam was treated to a grandstand finish as Galway rallied once more.

Burke converted from beyond the 40-metre arc with another terrific strike and Healy then made it a one-point game before Galway fashioned a last-gasp chance from distance to win the game. Agonisingly for the young men in maroon, Burke's effort from distance fell just short as Roscommon held on to seal a magnificent underage double.

Scorers for Roscommon: Joshua Coyne 1-3 (2fs); Jayden Concannon and Dara Kelleher 1-0; Ronan Carr 0-3 (1tp); Jack Lally (tp) and Seamie Carthy 0-2 each; Enda Browne and Bobby Lenehan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Adam Healy 1-2 (2fs); Ryan Connolly (2tp) and Evan Burke (2tpf) 0-4 each; Mikey Mitchell 0-3 (1f); Aaron Hanrahan 0-2 (1f); Joey Cullinane and Oliver Ó Suilleabháin 0-1 each.

Roscommon: Zac Mullally; Conor Tighe, Tadgh Fallon (captain), Colm Fitzgerald; Dara Kelleher, Jack Brooks, Enda Browne; Jack Lally, Seamie Carthy; Ronan Carr, Jayden Jennings, Bobby Lenehan; Cathal Nerney, Jayden Concannon, Joshua Coyne.

Subs: Daniel Nerney for Fitzgerald (35), Conor Cryan for Lenehan (44), James O’Brien for Jennings (49), Seán Duggan for Concannon (53), Donnchadh O'Dwyer for Carr (59).

Galway: Evan Burke; Mylo Higgins, Evan McDonagh, Ciarán Collins; Oliver Ó Suilleabháin, Eoin Gannon (captain), Jamie Dillon; Oisín Ó Neachtáin, Darragh Kelly; Éanna Maher, Joey Cullinane, Ryan Connolly; Mikey Mitchell, Tiernan Mitchell, Adam Healy.

Subs: Aaron Hanrahan for Kelly (HT), Shane Heneghan for Mikey Mitchell (48), Ruairí Flaherty for Tiernan Mitchell (53).

Referee: Shane Corcoran (Mayo).