Heartbreak for Dominic’s as Four Roads retain crown

Kepak Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship final

Four Roads 3-12 St Dominic’s 2-11

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Four Roads’ late surge grabbed the Mickey Cunniffe Cup from the grasp of St Dominic’s at Dr Hyde Park last Sunday.

Four Roads have won eight in a row in the past and they have now won their 37th title, but probably none of the previous triumphs was won like this final. The eventual winners played second fiddle to St Dominic’s for the majority of the game, and at no stage was the Tisrara side on top.

But they did enough because St Dominic’s didn’t. The Knockcroghery based side simply went negative in the second half, retreating and attempting to hold onto what they had for as long as they could. St Dominic’s needed to stick with their game plan, to keep players up high and get those few scores in order to to see out the win after laying the platform in the first half.

Mickey Joe Egan scored two first-half goals for Dominic’s, both assisted by Naos Connaughton. They dominated and should have been further ahead at half-time than their lead of 2-8 to 1-4.

St Dominic's gradually retreated in the second half; they scored just 0-3 against the wind and that simply was their undoing. Yes, Four Roads keeper Noel Fallon scored 0-2 and had a goal disallowed (his puckout went all the way into the Dominic’s net - without anyone touching it). Yes, Adam Donnelly came on and scored 1-1 and, yes, Conor Morris’ goal before half-time was also a crucial moment, but St Dominic’s last quarter collapse was the defining factor in the game.

Four Roads made just the one personal change before throw-in. Cathal Dolan started at midfield, the Roscommon marksman having been left out for the semi-final. But it was St Dominic’s that got off to a whirlwind start.

They had the elements behind them and they had laid the platform for winning what would have been their first senior hurling title in 25 years. After Connell Kennelly was fouled, Naos Connaughton flung over the wind assisted free and they were up and running.

Then Connaughton won a long ball inside and passed off to Mickey Joe Egan, who rattled the back of Noel Fallon’s net. With Egan adding a point and a brace from Jack Lohan, Dominic’s were 1-4 to 0-0 ahead by the 20th minute.

Connaughton and Gavin Staunton added scores before Four Roads finally opened their account, Conor Morris whipping over their opening score in the 21st minute.

Dominic’s were not deterred by Four Roads' response, and they kept the scoreboard ticking. Egan scored his second goal, with Connaughton again involved.

They looked in a winning possession heading for the interval, leading 2-8 to 0-4. But Conor Morris struck for a crucial goal just before the break to give Four Roads a lifeline.

After the turnaround, St Dominic’s did everything right in the third quarter. They defended in numbers, worked off the ball for each other, they continued to dominate possession and were the better team. But the men in blue and white gradually retreated more and more and that invited Four Roads on.

St Dominic’s scored just three times in the second half and although against a strong wind, it was not good enough to win a county title. But still they hurled well enough in general play to be leading in the 51st minute, 2-11 to 2-10.

Conor Morris scored his second goal in the 54th minute; it was fortunate as he got his hurl to a breaking ball to find the net.

In a game that they hadn’t dominated for any period, Four Roads still they had the belief to pull off the win. Adam Donnelly was introduced and he scored 1-1, his goal was the winning of the game to secure yet another title.

And so, Four Roads won their 37th title. It’s more of the same old story as, even when they played second best, they still came out on top.

They will need to improve drastically before meeting Tooreen, the Mayo winners in the Connacht club intermediate championship, but they are Four Roads after all and they could surprise the Mayo winners.

For St Dominic’s, they have to wait at least another year for that elusive title, but it’s not that they have lost a lot of finals and this was their first since 2001. This has been their best year in a while and if they can learn from this loss, they can be back next year and go one step further.

Player of the match: Conor Morris (Four Roads). Morris scored the two most crucial scores in the game, his side’s first-half goal against the elements and their second. Noel Fallon’s long striking when wind assisted was instrumental and Rory Coyle played well. St Dominic’s had the majority of standout displays for the majority of the game despite losing. Michael Byrne, Aidan Hoare, Jack Lohan, Connell Kennelly and Mickey Joe Egan were outstanding

Scorers - Four Roads: C Morris 2-3 (0-1f, 0-1 65), A Donnelly 1-1, C Dolan 0-3 (3f), R Coyle 0-2, N Fallon 0-2 (1f), J Dillon 0-1. St Dominic’s: MJ Egan 2-2 (0-1f), J Lohan, N Connaughton (2f) 0-3 each, G Staunton 0-2, M Miley 0-1 (f).

Four Roads: Noel Fallon, Jimmy Hoey, Darren Fallon, Conor Coyle, Rory Coyle, Jack Donnelly, Tommy Morris, Cathal Dolan, Mickey Lohan, Liam Óg Coyle, Conor Mulry, Brian Lawlor, Conor Morris, Brendan Mulry, Brian Mannion. Subs: Eamon Mulry for Hoey (17), Trevor Fallon for Mannion (25), Adam Donnelly for Lohan (40), James Dillon for C Coyle (50), Brendan Mannion for L Óg Coyle (60).

St Dominic’s: Mark Miley, Mark O’Malley, Mike Feely, Ethan Connaughton, Nathan O’Connor, Michael Byrne, Jason Martin, Aidan Hoare, Seán Kilcline, Colm Lyons, Jack Lohan, Connell Kennelly, Mickey Joe Egan, Naos Connaughton, Gavin Staunton. Subs: Ruairi Kilcline for Lyons (40), John Murray for N Connaughton (53), Barry Killion for Hoare (57), Tommy Foyle for Byrne (injured, 63).

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Padraig Pearses).

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