St Dominic's survive second half rally to reach last four

Picture the scene! We were approaching the end of the three minutes of allotted injury time in this Roscommon IFC quarter-final tie at Tulsk on Saturday evening last. 2009 county finalists St. Dominic's were clinging to a one-point lead over North county rivals Boyle. The town team had forced a foul courtesy of Darren O'Connor about 30 metres out and directly in front of goal. Up stepped Cian Smith for what looked like a reasonably (for him) scorable shot, but instead the No 14 sent a short ball to advancing wing-back Sean Purcell. However, the latter's parting shot swung right of the upright and narrowly wide. The final whistle immediately sounded - Dominic's were into the last four of the championship while a visibly distraught Boyle almost universally collapsed to the ground as the Knockcroghery squad collectively celebrated their narrow avoidance of a replay and consequent progress. Yes, indeed - it was as nail-biting as that at the conclusion of this quarter-final in the sylvan surroundings of the compact Tulsk Lord Edwards headquarters on an evening perfect for football. But it was all so different in the opening half of a match which fell into the 'game of two halves' category. Darren Owens' St Dominic's charges made the short journey up the N61 buoyed by earlier group victories over Shannon Gaels and St Michael's and it didn't take them long to assert their authority against Gary Wynne's Maroons, still smarting from that loss to St. Brigid's second squad last time out. Boyle made the ideal start when Darren O'Connor pointed within 39 seconds of throw-in, but the few hundred spectators were subsequently treated to an almost peerless display of defensive attributes, combined with total midfield dominance and sharp attacking prowess, all combining to real off five unanswered points and assume cruise control for wind-assisted St. Dominic's. Inter-county star Michael Finneran laid down an early marker with a series of superlative fetches in the centre of the park, while wing-back Niall Byrne and Liam Murray dovetailed to perfection with their attacking colleagues. Liam surged forward to equalise that early Boyle point two minutes later, while a foul on Conor Fallon was punished on four minutes by an splendidly flighted free by Paul Dolan which gave Dominic's a lead they would not surrender in this quarter-final. Another fine bit of link play, involving the outstanding Niall Byrne and full-forward Ultan Kelly, saw the number 14 bisect the uprights with a slick 10th-minute point, but a dangerous Boyle foray produced a fine save by 'keeper Mark Miley from full-forward Cian Smith. Conor Fallon's pointed free, which was promptly followed by another from play by Niall Byrne ensured that, as the second quarter dawned, a rampant Dominic's led by 0-5 to 0-1. The Knockcroghery brigade, playing some beautiful football, were fully deserving at their lead at this stage, but a beleaguered Boyle broke a 17-minute scoring moratorium when midfielder Aaron O'Connor shot a good point. Further fabulous fielding by Michael Finneran was a prelude to wing-back Liam Murray scoring his second point from play for Dominic's, but Cian Smith slotted over Boyle's third point following a foul on the hard grafting Lochlainn Conboy. Just when it appeared that the maroons were battling their way back into contention, it was fitting that the towering presence of midfielder Michael Finneran should initiate the move which would give his team a major boost as half-time approached. He sent wing-back Niall Byrne on yet another forward foray, whose cross was brilliantly despatched to the Boyle net by centre-forward Tomas Gilleran. Six points adrift (1-6 to 0-3) at the break, could Boyle stage a second half rally? Boyle blaze back The town team made a telling substitution at half-time when introducing teenager Donal Smith (he will be eligible for minor grade again next year) to their attack, and also benefited by the move of his brother Cian from full-forward to midfield. Manager Gary Wynne obviously laid it on the line at the break, as his charges emerged a transformed team. Donal Smith pointed a free inside the opening minute but while they proceeded to lay siege to the Dominic's citadel, the scores were slow in coming. The ball was in the Dominic's net four minutes in but the referee had earlier blown for a square ball. Michael Finneran and centre-back Aidan Weir were seen to particular effect in clearing their lines for St. Dominic's, but the goal Boyle so badly needed came in the 41st minute. Again, it was appropriate that the Smith brothers, Cian and super-sub Donal, should be involved in its execution, which led to corner-forward Lochlainn Conboy applying the coup-de-grace. With inter-county stalwarts David Casey and Sean Purcell in the half-back line, together with corner-back Brian Supple and goalie Tadhg Lowe, now performing heroically in defence, previous gaps in this sector were sealed off. Dominic's would not score from play in this half, but were themselves repulsing a re-invigorated Boyle as they strove to amass a winning total. Again it was minor star Donal Smith who showed his forward colleagues the way when making it a one point game in the 48th minute, but crucially they could not draw level or take the lead at this vital stage of play. Dominic's, who had now not scored for 24 minutes, hit an absolutely priceless point in the 50th minute when, after Michael Finneran drew the free, Paul Dolan made no mistake from the placed ball. Back came the North county men and with David Casey now a tower of strength, they won a close-in free which Cian Smith (52nd minute) sent over the bar to once more, reducing the margin to a minimum. However, in the eleventh minute remaining, including three added minutes at the end, the quarter-final would produce no further scores. A vital statistic in that second half was that Boyle hit six wides to their opponents one (3 wide, each on the first half) and in the final analysis, it was the ability of St. Dominic's to take a greater proportion of their chances when in the ascendancy in the opening half, which ultimately saw them over the winning line. ST. DOMINIC'S: Mark Miley, Andy Grady, David Corcoran, Anthony Naughton, Niall Byrne (0-1), Aidan Weir, Liam Murray (0-2), Michael Finneran, Adrian Brennan, Tom Gately, Tomas Gilleran (1-0), Niall Naughton, Paul Dolan (0-2 frees), Ultan Kelly (0-1) and Conor Fallon (0-1 free). Subs: Ciaran Hunt for Niall Naughton (48), Daniel Byrne for Anthony Naughton (55) and Barry Mugan for Gilleran (60). BOYLE: Tadgh Lowe, Brian Supple, Kieran Supple, Cian Beirne, Sean Purcell, David Casey, Aaron Sharkey Aaron O'Connor (0-1), Ciaran Cox, Rory O'Donoghue, Mark O'Connor, Kyle McLoughlin, Darren O'Connor (0-1), Cian Smith (0-2 frees) and Lochlainn Conroy (1-0). Subs: Liam Conroy for O'Donoghue (28), Donal Smith (0-2, 0-1 free) for Mark O'Connor (H/T), Cillian Cox for Beirne (39), David Callaghan for Conboy (55). My man of the match Michael Finneran (St. Dominic's). REFEREE: Marty Parker (St. Faithleach's), who issued three yellow cards, two to St. Dominic's, during the game.