Roscommon manager Kevin McStay pictured at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday.
By Cian O'Connell
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Roscommon manager Kevin McStay admitted his team just weren't clinical enough during a crucial stage in the third quarter at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday.
Galway kicked four shots from as many attempts, while Roscommon only registered one out of six efforts immediately after the restart when the complexion of the match shifted dramatically.
Having edged four points clear early in the second half Roscommon were pegged back by a determined Galway outfit. "That’s it they just drained us," McStay replied when asked about the series of misses.
Conor Devaney netted a late penalty to steer Roscommon in front, but Galway finished strongly. "Even when we got the penalty you think right here we got, but we followed it up with two chances that just didn’t let us build momentum or kick on," McStay reflected.
"If we had got to three or four (ahead) I’ve no doubt we would have really put it up to Galway because they weren’t playing that well.
"The first half was very flat and was perfection for us, that was exactly what we wanted to do, but the second half wasn’t anything near what we had hoped."
Roscommon manager Kevin McStay before the Connacht Final.
This particular defeat will 'hurt' Roscommon deeply according to McStay. "We’ll be feeling forever this was one … I don’t want to disrespect Galway and say we left it behind, but this was certainly one where we had a great chance to retain our title," McStay admits.
"That’s going to hurt us a bit. But because we’re still alive; it’s not like as champions we were blown away like people thought we would be.
"We fought to the bitter end. They got a few points in garbage time; I wouldn’t worry about that. It was probably a one-point game, really.
McStay is hoping that Roscommon can still earn a place in the All Ireland Quarter-Final round robin series by winning a Round Four Qualifier.
"I have a feeling we’ll react well, because we have to react well," McStay says. "If we don’t react well, lads at the end of their careers start drifting away. Management wonder where are we now and can we build on this?
"We have to get something out of the Championship season. Coming into it back in April, we said we have to win two Championship matches this season.
"If we win two Championship matches this season we’ll be able to reflect on a good season because it means we’re in the Super 8s. We want to be part of it."
