McGinley inspires Roscommon comeback as Sligo now await

Roscommon 3-7 Mayo 1-13

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Shane McGinley’s late free earned Roscommon a draw with Mayo in the first round of the EirGrid Connacht U-20 football championship at Dr Hyde Park last Wednesday evening.

Roscommon were somewhat fortunate to grab a share of the spoils with a thundering last quarter inspired by top scorer Shane McGinley, substitute Oisín O’Flaherty and Senan Lambe. They kicked the last four scores without reply from McGinley (two frees), Bobby Nugent (free) and substitute Ryan Conlon to grab a draw.

Roscommon manager Noel Dunning should be happy enough with the start to the campaign. He used the bench to good effect and some of his players will have better days in games to come. Conor Harley (Pádraig Pearses), Conlon (Roscommon Gaels) and O’Flaherty all made huge impacts after being introduced.

Dunning will know that improvement will be needed to get more results. If they leak early goals again, they might not be so fortunate to get anything from the game.

Reigning Connacht winners Sligo are next at Markievicz Park this evening (Wednesday, 5.15pm) and that should give everyone a little more evidence of where this team stands (see below for Roscommon match-day panel for the Sligo game).

Mayo had the better of the exchanges for the majority of the game. They cut through the Roscommon defence with ease and scored three first-half goals. Niall Hurley, Finbar McLoughlin and Darragh Beirne were the goal scorers.

The visitors’ delight over McLoughlin’s goal hadn’t ended when Beirne was flicking a mistimed pass from Roscommon’s keeper Seán Allen into the net. Things certainly didn’t look good for Roscommon at that stage.

The visitors were 3-3 to 1-2 in the ascendancy in the 18th minute. It had been all too easy for Mayo. It looked like a runaway win on the evening for the men in green and red. We weren’t expecting the thrilling finish that was in store.

Roscommon did respond with a goal of their own in the first quarter. It was fortunate. Oran’s Shane Walsh went for a score from distance, but his attempt dropped short and the sharp Shane McGinley followed it in to palm the ball into the Mayo net. Strokestown’s McGinley was Roscommon’s lone scorer in the first quarter.

Trailing by two goals, Roscommon got some momentum to finish off the half with scores from team captain Bobby Nugent of St Brigid’s. They had shown glimpses of cutting into Mayo’s lead but it wasn’t consistent enough.

Roscommon had a gilt-edged opportunity to score their second goal. Again, it was Lambe doing the heavy work, McGinley the opportunist but Mayo goalie David Dolan brought off a miraculous save. McGinley did convert the resultant 45, leaving Mayo leading 3-3 to 1-6 at half-time.

In the third quarter, Mayo substitute Oisin Cronin kicked a brace of scores and their keeper Dolan kicked a 45. Roscommon responded each time with scores from McGinley and substitute Ryan Conlon. Roscommon were beginning to exert dominance, though those early goals still had Mayo in the ascendancy.

The final quarter was action packed and the small number of spectators were treated to edge of the seat excitement.

Mayo could have put the game to bed in the 50th minute when substitute Brendan Collins missed a gaping goal chance. It was a major let-off for the young Rossies.

Roscommon finished strongly. Clann na nGael’s O’Flaherty was introduced to midfield with 15 minutes left and he took over at midfield which had been dominated by Mayo’s Diarmuid Duffy. Lambe, a member of Dave Burke’s senior squad, was making an impact and drawing fouls and McGinley, Nugent and Conlon kicked the crucial scores to get the draw.

Mayo keeper Dolan was very fortunate that he didn’t receive more than a black card as his high challenge on substitute Ryan Dowling was reckless.

Dolan had kicked a 45 earlier and Mayo did have a long range free to win the game deep in injury time; they turned a shot at goal down with Dolan in the sin bin. Roscommon’s full-back Dan Casey was shown a black card for the foul that led to that late free for Mayo.

Man of the match: Shane McGinley (Roscommon).

Scorers – Roscommon: S McGinley 1-8 (7f,1 45), B Nugent 0-3 (1f), R Conlon 0-2. Mayo: N Hurley 1-2, D Beirne 1-2 (0-2f), F McLoughlin 1-0, O Cronin 0-2, D Dolan 0-1 (45).

Roscommon: Sean Allen, James Brady, Dan Casey, Tommy Morris, James McGreal, David Flanagan, Eoghan Carty, Conor Ryan, Shane Walsh, Dan Hagney, Bobby Nugent, Rory Hester, Shane McGinley, Senan Lambe, Robert Heneghan. Subs: Eden Kerins for Flanagan (28 mins), Ryan Conlon for Hagney (28), Conor Harley for Brady (h-t), Oisín O’Flaherty for Ryan (45), Ryan Dowling for Hester (55).

Mayo: David Dolan, David Slattery, John McMonagle, Lorcan Silke, Jack Mulchrone, Paul Gilmore, Yousif Coghill, Diarmuid Duffy, Conal Dawson, Finbar McLoughlin, Cathal Keaveney, Tom O’Flaherty, Darragh Beirne, Niall Hurley, Darragh Reilly. Subs: Eoin McGreal for Coghill (35 mins), Oisin Cronin for Reilly (36), Tom Lydon for McLoughlin (injured, 46), Brendan Collins for Mulchrone (48), Dylan O’Brien for Dawson (58).

Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).

Roscommon team (vs Sligo, March 27): Sean Allen; Eden Kerins, Daniel Casey, Tommy Morris; James McGreal, Senan Lambe, Eoghan Carthy; Conor Ryan, Shane Walsh; Rory Hester, Bobby Nugent (captain), Robert Heneghan; Shane McGinley, Ryan Dowling, Ryan Conlon. Subs: Conor Morris, James Connolly, David Flanagan, Daniel Hagney, Oisín O’Flaherty, Niall O'Donnell, Rory Carthy, Conor Harley, Adam McGreal.