Roscommon SHC Final: Four Roads break St. Dominic's hearts again
Four Roads captain, Tommy Morris, lifts the cup. Photo by Bernie O'Farrell courtesy of Roscommon GAA
Kepak Roscommon Senior Hurling Final
Four Roads 1-14 St. Dominic’s 2-10
By Ian Cooney at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park
Four Roads broke St. Dominic’s hearts for the second time in three years, thanks to substitute Oisín Finneran winning point in the third minute of injury time.
It took all the reigning champions’ grit and determination to snatch victory from the jaws from defeat as Micheál Kelly’s side won their fifth title on the bounce and 39th Roscommon senior hurling crown overall.
St. Dominic’s, who were looking to end a 27-year famine, hit the front in the 61st minute through wing-back Nathan O’Connor but Four Roads showed why they’re never beaten with late points from Brian Mannion and Finneran as the winners’ bench made an impact.
A poor-quality final was influenced by a strong breeze blowing straight down the field into the scoreboard end of the Hyde.
Four Roads had the advantage of the elements in the opening half but both teams were guilty of giving away possession too easily.
Conor Morris hit five points for the defending champions in the opening 30 minutes — a haul that included two frees, two ‘65s and a point from play.
The Donnelly brothers — Adam and Jack — Trevor Fallon and two excellent efforts from play made up Four Roads’ first-half total.
Mickey Joe Egan (free), Jack Lohan, Gavin Staunton and Ethan Connaughton split the posts for Dominic’s as they trailed 0-10 to 0-04 at half time — not an unassailable lead given the strength of the breeze.
The major talking of the half came in injury time when Mark Miley, who had already denied Four Roads captain Tommy Morris, saved Conor Morris’ penalty to give St. Dominic’s further encouragement.
Initially, St. Dominic’s struggled to make any inroads with the wind now behind them. But when Naos Connaughton grabbed Mark Miley’s free and squeezed his effort inside the post for a goal in the 39th minute, Dominic’s were back in business.
A straight red card for full-back Michael Feeley in the 43rd minute for a high tackle on Cormac Mulry was a blow for Martin “Thady” Beirne’s charges, but points by Egan (free), Colm Lyons and Connaughton (free) edged their side in front for the first time as the game hit the home stretch.
But Four Roads manager Micheál Kelly turned to his bench, and they made a desired impact.
David Mannion netted a superb individual goal with four minutes remaining, only for Jack Lohan to raise a second green flag for Dominic’s to bring the sides level.
O’Connor looked to have won it for Dominic’s, but Four Roads kept their cool, thanks to the equaliser from Mannion and the winner from Finneran to retain the Mickey Cunniffe Cup once more.
Scorers for Four Roads: Conor Morris 0-7 (0-3f, 0-3 ‘65), David Mannion 1-0, Liam Óg Coyle 0-2, Adam Donnelly 0-1, Jack Donnelly 0-1, Trevor Fallon 0-1, Brian Mannion 0-1, Oisín Finneran 0-1.
Scorers for St. Dominic’s: Mickey Joe Egan 0-4 (0-3f), Naos Connaughton 1-1 (0-1f), Jack Lohan 1-1, Gavin Staunton 0-1, Ethan O’Connor 0-1, Colm Lyons 0-1, Nathan O’Connor 0-1.
Four Roads: Noel Fallon; Johnny Meares, Gavin Meares, Jimmy Hoey; Rory Coyle, James Dillon, James Cunniffe; Tommy Morris, Jack Donnelly; Conor Morris, Conor Mulry, Trevor Fallon; Liam Óg Coyle, Cormac Mulry, Adam Donnelly. Subs: Eoghan Morris for Trevor Fallon (41), Adam Kenny for Cunniffe (41), Oisín Finneran for Conor Mulry (43), Brian Mannion for Johnny Meares (54), David Mannion for Cormac Mulry (54).
St. Dominic’s: Mark Miley; Michael Moran, Michael Feeley, Fergal Hoare; Nathan O’Connor, Micheál Byrne, Pauric Halpin; Ronan Kilcline, Ethan Connaughton; Colm Lyons, Connell Kennelly, Gavin Staunton; Mikey Joe Egan, Naos Connaughton, Jack Lohan. Subs: John Murray for Lyons (48), Jason Martin for Kilcline (54 mins), Noel Watson for Kennelly (54 mins), Seán Kilcline for Ethan Connaughton (57).
Referee: Aaron Clogher (Pádraig Pearses).
