RDFL men hold their nerve to prevail on penalties
This season’s FAI Oscar Traynor Cup competition kicked off on Sunday last with the Roscommon & District League representative side travelling to Sligo where they faced the Sligo Leitrim League in the provincial semi-final.
The immaculate pitch at Ray MacSharry Park was not affected by the bad weather over the weekend. Roscommon were first out of the blocks forcing a corner after only 3 minutes. Both sides settled quickly and it was now nip and tuck as they chased that elusive opening goal.
With seven minutes remaining to the break a corner taken by Roscommon’s Daire Keenan reached Charles Nevin and his powerful header hit the back of the Sligo Leitrim net, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw SLDSL up the pace but the Roscommon side was up to the challenge with quick tackling and decisive passing. On 58 minutes, Nevin made an amazing run on the right flank and laid off the perfect pass to Keenan whose strike was brilliantly saved by the Sligo Leitrim netminder James McCoy.
At the other end, Sean Coyle made a few good saves, with Keith Murphy, Ronan Morris, Brian Sheeran and Brian Francis having to defend well under pressure for most of the second half.
On 78 minutes, Jason Lyons struck a glorious equaliser for the SLDSL, giving no chance to Roscommon keeper Sean Coyle.
Thomas Hurley, Cian Kelly, Rian Carpenter and Nevin pushed forward at every opportunity but could not break down the Sligo Leitrim defence.
Mark Hannon was leading the charge for the home side with Stephen Fallon and Ibrahim Savage putting in good shifts.
Both sides came close to scoring again in normal time but the game went to extra time despite their best efforts. The visitors’ manager Tony Sullivan and his assistants Kenny O’Beirne, Tommy Naughton and Anto Owens introduced Padraig Martyn, Jack Nevin, Jayden Tumulty and Shane McGrath to boost their side.
The first period of extra time was end to end, with both teams showing superb levels of fitness and commitment. The clearest chance fell to the SLDSL when Lee Lah Hay fired in a devasting cross from the right only to see Ibraham Savage miss from close range.
On 103 minutes, Savage made amends with a sublime touch, giving Sligo Leitrim a 2-1 lead. The joy lasted all of three minutes when Padraig Martyn chipped McCoy to make it 2-2. With both sides having put in a great shift, now the dreaded penalty shoot-out would decide the outcome.
Shootouts are a lottery and on the day the Roscommon and District League side held their nerve after a bad start and with 14 penalty kicks taken, they were 5-4 ahead. Overall, this was a very good game and the winners can now look forward to the provincial final away to either Galway or Mayo on Sunday, November 22.
Roscommon & District League: Sean Coyle, Brian Sheeran, Keith Murphy, Jayden Tumulty, Brian Francis, Ronan Morris, Jack Nevin, Eamon Harney, Rian Carpenter, Stephen Francis, Charles Nevin, Conor Maher, Shane McGrath, Shane Carroll, Padraig Martyn, Tommy Hurley, Cian Kelly, Daire Keenan.