Electric Ireland MFC: Gritty Roscommon advance

Electric Ireland MFC Quarter-Final

Roscommon 1-19 (1-2-15) Louth 2-15 (2-3-9)

By Ian Cooney at Kingspan Breffni

Dara Curran’s late point saw Roscommon edge a gripping contest, after extra time, to reach their first All-Ireland minor football semi-final in five years at Kingspan Breffni.

Both sides missed their fair share of chances on a cool evening in Cavan, but despite grabbing two goals in extra time, a brave Louth side were just denied their first appearance in the last four since 1953.

The sides were level, 0-14 apiece, at the end of regulation time, but Roscommon just about held their nerve, even though they did spurn a number of guilt-edged opportunities to make life more comfortable for themselves.

Louth played with the aid of a swirling breeze in an opening half.

Roscommon did well at midfield on their own kickout, while their aggressive press made it difficult for the Louth defence to get out of their own half.

But with Connell Kelly up front, the Wee County were always looking for the space to execute a score, which the Roscommon defence did well to deny them on a few occasions.

Kelly nailed a ’45 to open the scoring after nine minutes. Luke Shally replied for Roscommon but points from play by Kelly and full-forward Jack Martin on the turn edged Johnny Clerkin’s side 0-3 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the first quarter.

A good point by the influential Sam Hannon eroded the deficit, but Kelly judged a 50-metre free to perfection for the game’s first two-pointer.

Dean Casey replied with a free but Andrew O’Reilly’s cultured left boot moved Louth 0-6 to 0-3 ahead after 21 minutes.

But Roscommon forced Louth in a couple of errors, and points from Diarmuid O’Higgins and Casey (free) left the bare minimum between the sides.

A wonderful two-pointer from play by Louth midfielder Cillian McQuillan illustrated the strength of the breeze but Roscommon captain Dara Curran replied instantly to leave his side 0-8 to 0-6 in arrears at the change of ends.

Kelly made little of the breeze to convert a two-point free on the resumption, and Louth continued to keep their noses in front for most of the half, stretching their lead to five points at one stage.

Both sides, especially Roscommon, continued to miss chances as the tension increased.

Despite points from Tom Maguire, Cillian McQuillan, Michael McGlew and substitute Oisín Reidy, a couple of two-pointers from Sam Hannon kept Roscommon in touch before late points from Shay McGuinness and Curran (free) brought the game to extra time.

Louth lost influential midfielder Tom Maguire to a black card just before the full-time whistle, but despite the numerical disadvantage, they made a dream to start to extra time when Michael McGlew found the net after Cian Trimble had denied Jack Martin.

But Roscommon went on to hit a purple patch, aided by Luke Shally’s goal and Diarmuid O’Higgins’ second point of the evening to lead by two points, 1-16 to 1-14, at the change of ends.

Once again, Lough made a dream start to the new half when Martin danced his way along the endline before finding the net.

Luke Shally and Sam Hannon, with his sixth point of the evening, edged Roscommon back in front before Andrew O’Reilly brought the sides level with just five minutes remaining.

Just as penalties loomed, however, Curran showed some neat footwork to engineer the space for a wonderful individual score.

Roscommon had further chances to add to their tally, and they held out for a famous victory.

Scorers for Roscommon: Sam Hannon 0-6 (2 tp), Luke Shally 1-3, Dara Curran 0-4 (2f), Dean Casey 0-2 (2fs), Diarmuid O’Higgins 0-2, John Price 0-1 (1m), Shay McGuinness 0-1.

Scorers for Louth: Connell Kelly 0-6 (2 tpf, 1 ’45) Jack Martin 1-1, Michael McGlew 1-1, Cillian McQuillan 0-3 (1 tp), Andrew O’Reilly 0-2, Tom Maguire 0-1, Oisín Reidy 0-1.

Roscommon: Cian Trimble; Conor Tighe, Diarmuid O’Higgins, David Mannion; Seamus Hussey, Tadhg Rogers, James Cassidy; Alex Oates, Sam Hannon; Christopher Feerick, Dara Curran, Luke Shally; John Price, Shay McGuinness, Dean Casey.

Subs: Seamie Carthy for Cassidy 38, Marc Shally for Luke Shally 38. Tadgh Fallon for Casey 56, Adam Killian for Feerick 56, Luke Shally for Fallon 60, Dean Casey for Price 75

Louth: Senon Connolly; Finn McEneaney, Ciarán Titley, Chris Conlon; Michael McGlew, Tadhg Devaney, Conor Marron; Tom Maguire, Cillian McQuillan; Seán Marron, Andrew O’Reilly, Senan Hoey; Cian Rooney, Jack Martin, Connell Kelly.

Subs: Conal Mannion for Marron h-t, Niall McCreesh for Hoey 38, Oisín Reidy for Rooney 53, Charlie McBride for Mannion 74

Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan).