Eirgrid Connacht U-20 Football Championship quarter-final

ROSCOMMON 4-16 LEITRIM 0-10

Kevin Egan at Dr. Hyde Park

Since the black card has been introduced to gaelic football, it has probably never been as consequential as it was tonight in Dr. Hyde Park, when Roscommon scored four goals during Gavin Reynolds’ absence and turned what was a highly competitive local derby into a home landslide in the opening game of the 2021 Eirgrid Connacht U-20 football championship.

Reynolds could have no argument with the decision and was probably fortunate not to concede a penalty into the bargain, but when Daire Cregg chipped over the resultant free, the goals weren’t long in coming. With the very next play, Leitrim won the kickout but were turned over at midfield and Adam McDermott was able to finish the move with a good low finish.

McDermott could have had a second with the last play of the first half, as he attempted to palm Ben O’Carroll’s pass over the Leitrim goal-line. Seán Reynolds made a great recovery to dive and save, but he couldn’t hold onto possession and O’Carroll was able to force the ball over the line from close range.

Less than twenty seconds after the second half began, Roscommon had their third goal, Darragh Heneghan the scorer after good work from Ronan Garvin and Keith Doyle set up the opportunity. Remarkably, Roscommon made it four goals in succession two minutes later through James Fitzpatrick, and by the time Gavin Reynolds came back on the field, his team had conceded 4-2 in total.

Leitrim were much improved once they were back up to their full complement, and Tom Prior in particular stood out with some excellent scores, but by then Roscommon manager Liam Tully had used his bench and taken the chance to rest some of his key players, with one eye on a contest against Sligo in eight days’ time.

It was all a remarkable turnaround from the early exchanges, where the sides were very evenly matched and it was only some inaccuracy on the part of the Leitrim forwards that prevented the visiting side from building a lead.

Captain Paul Keaney led by example from midfield and in general, Leitrim’s physicality and power was a big factor on a wet pitch with rain alternating from light to heavy at different times.

A very sharp Roscommon attack seemed capable of kicking scores, with O’Carroll, McDermott and man of the match Daire Cregg all very impressive in front of the posts. But despite this they struggled to shake Leitrim off, even though Leitrim were guilty of seven wides in the first half.

Roscommon’s 0-7 to 0-2 lead was cut down to 0-9 to 0-6, but it was all about to change in the 30th minute. Gavin Reynolds was robbed in possession by Daire Cregg, and the Leitrim midfield man’s attempt to make up for his error as he chased down Ben O’Carroll prove to be a decisive turning point.

Scorers for Roscommon: Daire Cregg 0-9 (0-5f), Adam McDermott 1-3, Ben O’Carroll 1-2 (0-1f), James Fitzpatrick 1-1, Darragh Heneghan 1-0, Keith Doyle 0-1.

Scorers for Leitrim: Paul Keaney (0-2f) & Tom Prior 0-3 each, Oisín Bohan 0-2f, Barry McWeeney & Patrick McKenna 0-1 each.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Connor Lohan, Colin Walsh, Dylan Gaughan; Patrick Gavin, Tomás Crean, Cian Glennon; Keith Doyle, Ronan Garvin; Darragh Heneghan, Daire Cregg, Robbie Dolan; Ben O’Carroll, Adam McDermott, James Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Jason Doory for McDermott (38), Jack Lohan for Crean (38), Evan Corcoran for Heneghan (42), Enda Crawley for Garvin (45), Brian O’Hara Duggan for Glennon (51).

Leitrim: Seán Reynolds; Patrick McKenna, Eoin McLoughlin, Niall Keegan; Radek Oberwan, Jack Flynn, Tom Gilheaney; Paul Keaney, Gavin Reynolds; David O’Connell, Adam Reynolds, Colin Moran; Barry McWeeney, Tom Prior, Oisín Bohan.

Subs: Shane McGloin for Gilheaney (11, blood), Matthew Earley for S Reynolds (31), Kevin Brady for O’Connell (35), Oisín Niblock for Oberwan (37), Shane McGloin for Keegan (40), Senan Harte for McWeeney (45).

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)