Resurgent Roscommon

A rip-roaring display from joint table-toppers Roscommon at Drogheda last Sunday - easily their best performance away from home for many a day - had the twofold effect of adding to Wee County woes and of consolidating the Rossies" bid for promotion. This was a high tempo confrontation before an estimated 2,500 attendance (the majority of whom were sporting Primrose and Blue colours), at the splendidly manicured and compact Boyneside venue. With Eamonn McEnaney"s men having a big win over Limerick in their opening home game (1-14 to 0-6), before suffering narrow 1-point losses to Down and Offaly, in subsequent away encounters, Roscommon were aware of a likely Louth resurgence at Drogheda. But, as events would pan out, they came ready, willing and able, to surmount the best that the Reds could throw at them. In accomplishing their latest challenge, they displayed oodles of courage, determination and a huge work ethic, combined with a skill level that left their supporters and mentors in happy mood as they faced the long journey homewards. Once again, however, we witnessed some baffling refereeing decisions. Full-forward Senan Kilbride had a justifiable case for a penalty waved aside by the Leitrim official, who also awarded a dubious penalty to the home team in the 58th minute, despite Michael Finneran being blatantly fouled, having made a superb catch on his own goal-line. These, and other inconsistencies, threatened to detract from the quality of the game and, for the second successive week, one must again appeal for a serious look to be taken at the uniform interpretation of playing rules and this whole 'yellow card' fiasco. Fergal O"Donnell and his management team will look back on this Wee County conquest as the continuation of a most encouraging work in progress. Five changes were made to the line-out as listed on the programme with each one working a treat. Corner-back Ronan Brady gave a splendid display throughout, the Elphin player staking a claim for a permanent starting berth, while David Keenan, sited at centre-back instead of David Casey, played arguably his finest game in a Roscommon jersey, his positional play and insatiable appetite for work breaking up many opposing attacks, while keeping his direct opponent scoreless. Michael Finneran, introduced for corner-forward Fintan Cregg, but deployed at midfield from the start, combined with the outstanding Brian Higgins to give his team a decided pull in this vital sector, while wing-back Paul Kelly and Johnny Dunning both acquitted themselves with distinction on the Drogheda surface. Super Shine If a team needed inspiration when aided by the significant first-half breeze, it was provided by the majestic Donal Shine. Operating at right half-forward, the Clann na nGael sharpshooter-par-excellence shot four glorious first-half points, three from play and one from a '45', completing a most rewarding afternoon with another fine effort from play 14 minutes into the second half. It was indeed a highly meritorious afternoon for a Roscommon attack who, in their previous Sunday"s encounter against Longford, depended almost entirely on placed balls for scores. On this occasion, each of their starting forward formation (Karol Mannion was sited at centre-forward from the off "though listed at No. 8) scored from play. Ger Heneghan, who was playing really well before falling foul of the notorious yellow card rule in the 24th minute, was involved in many forward forays, scoring a delightful 23rd minute point on the run. With team captain Gary Cox leading by example, allied to Sean Kilbride, Johnny Dunning and (2nd half) Karol Mannion all finding the target, in addition to scorer-in-chief Donal Shine, it was a bountiful afternoon for a sector who gave their answer to any perceived criticism following the Longford derby clash. However, all could have gone without the reward it so richly deserved but for the last quarter heroics of goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey. The Castlerea custodian pulled off a stupendous full-length save from a Darren Clarke penalty kick (58th minute), albeit dubiously awarded, while also coming to the rescue, one minute into injury-time, when effecting another spellbinding block from a late Louth attack, led by corner-back John O"Brien. Louth, who started minus the influential JP Rooney (he came on late in the game) badly needed to get back on winning ways following those Newry and Tullamore reverses. They never got their noses in front on their home ground throughout, and were clearly unsettled by the barnstorming opening of their Connacht rivals. Having reduced a half-time deficit (0-8 to 0-4) to two points (0-9 to 0-7) 10 minutes into the second half, they failed to get any nearer on the scoreboard to the end. Nine wides, when wind-assisted following the change of ends, most certainly didn"t help their cause, and the statistic of their starting forward formation only scoring one second-half point from play tells its own story. They now find themselves propping up the table (on 2 points with Limerick) following three straight defeats, and are in serious danger of relinquishing Division 3 status. Their best players on Sunday were goalie Stuart Reynolds who bravely kept his citadel intact, defenders John O"Brien and Gerard Hoey, midfielder Brian White (his side"s top scorer on the day), but, in an attack closely marshalled by a par-plus Roscommon defence, only Derek Crilly and Darren Clarke provided constant threat. Scoring Sequence With a definite sign of spring in the air, and in conditions ideal for football, it was Roscommon who were sprightly out of the traps, with Donal Shine opening the scoring with a fine second minute point. It took a goal-line block by Louth corner back Dessie Finnegan to prevent an early Johnny Dunning goal, but it was the on-form Shine who placed Gary Cox for Roscommon"s second point in the 4th minute. Centre-back Padraig Rath was prominent in the build-up for Louth"s opening point (9th minute), when full-forward Shane Lennon was on target. Evidence, however, was emerging that the home rearguard were coming under increasing pressure, encapsulated by a series of lethal Ros" attacks. Gary Cox, Ger Heneghan, Senan Kilbride, and Donal Shine were causing mayhem in the Louth defence, with all involved in a golden spell which realised a trio of points courtesy of Shine (2, 1 '45') and Cox. Senan Kilbride forced a good save from Louth custodian Stuart Reynolds, but a brace of points, courtesy of Darren Clarke and Derek Crilly, boosted the home side. It proved but a temporary respite, as, led with aplomb by the mercurial Brian Higgins at midfield, Ros" roared back with three further points from Ger Heneghan, Donal Shine and the lively Johnny Dunning, Louth"s solitary reply being a point from midfielder and their best player, Brian White. Heneghan, subsequently, saw yellow, replaced by Fintan Cregg, while Louth sub Michael Fanning created perhaps a record by lasting only 75 seconds before being yellow carded and dismissed. At half-time, Ros" were well worth their 0-8 to 0-4 lead. Now wind assisted, Louth resumed briskly, with Geoffrey Claffey pulling off a great save from John O"Brien, while a trio of points, courtesy of Darren Clarke (free), Derek Crilly and a hotly disputed Brian White free, as against an excellent Senan Kilbride effort, succeeded in reducing the Reds" arrears to two points. Roscommon strongly responded when Donal Shine and Karol Mannion (punched effort) restored the 4-point gap. Brian White added his second Louth point from play, just prior to that terrible injustice perpetrated on a clearly fouled Michael Finneran, and an incredulous penalty award, magnificently saved by flying custodian Geoffrey Claffey. Following Brian White"s wide from the subsequent '45', Karol Mannion lofted over a brilliant Roscommon point. Another White free was negatived by a 66th minute Senan Kilbride point, but the combined efforts of a Roscommon defence, superbly marshalled by Ronan Brady and David Keenan, in particular, and inspired by the heroics of Geoffrey Claffey between the posts, ensured that the points were heading to west. Sub. Peter McGinnitty had a late, late Louth point, but Roscommon were worthy winners on the day, final score 0-13 to 0-10. Next Up The forthcoming weekend is certainly a busy one for Roscommon football. The county U21s play Mayo in the semi-final of the Connacht FC at Charlestown on Saturday (2.30pm), while the senior team face a NFL Division 3 top of the table clash against Tipperary at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday (also 2.30pm). SCORERS - Roscommon: D Shine (0-5, 0-1 '45'), G Cox (0-2), S Kilbride (0-2), K Mannion (0-2), G Heneghan (0-1), J Dunning (0-1). Louth - B White (0-4, 2f), D Clarke (0-2, 1f), D Crilly (0-2), Shane Lennon (0-1), Peter McGinnitty (0-1). ROSCOMMON: Geoffrey Claffey, Ronan Brady, John Nolan, Enda Barrett, Seánie McDermott, David Keenan, Paul Kelly, Michael Finneran, Brian Higgins, Donal Shine, Karol Mannion, Gary Cox (capt), Johnny Dunning, Senan Kilbride, Ger Heneghan. Subs: Fintan Cregg for Heneghan (yellow-carded, 24), Seán Purcell for Barrett (33), Pádraig Duignan for Purcell (60), Damien Keenehan for Cregg (62), Derek Connellan for Shine (66). LOUTH: Stuart Reynolds, Dessie Finneran, Colin Goss, John O"Brien, Raymond Finnegan, Pádraig Rath, Gerard Hoey, Ronan Carroll, Brian White, Adrian Reid, Patrick Keenan, Derek Crilly, David Reid, Shane Lennon, Darren Clarke. Subs: Michael Fanning for Goss (26), Peter McGinnitty for Fanning (yellow card, 27), Padraic Smith for David Reid (h-t), Aaron Hoey for Lennon (54), J.P. Rooney for Adrian Reid (62). REFEREE: Frank Flynn (Leitrim).