Relief as Clann secure senior status in tense battle
Roscommon SFC relegation play-off: Clann na nGael 1-17 St Faithleach’s 1-12
Matt Scally
Clann na nGael survive. That was the upshot of this relegation play-off but with 15 minutes to go at a saturated Kiltoom last Friday evening, the spectre of intermediate football was looming large over Clann.
A strong first-half showing, aided by the elements, had seen them take a 1-8 to 0-5 lead into the break but with St Faithleach’s to have the comfort of the strong breeze at their back for the second 30, the big question around the South Roscommon ground naturally was “would six points be enough?”.
Faithleach’s emerged from the half-time dressing rooms in rampant mood and intent on overturning the deficit. Clann would have hoped to keep their opponents at arm’s length but seldom is that the way these games turn out.
And when Ciaráin Murtagh rifled the ball to the net after just three minutes into the second half, it was very much game on.
By the 40th minute, Murtagh had the teams level courtesy of a single and a massive two-pointer that drew huge cheers from the Faithleach’s supporters. And when the same player edged them into the lead on 42, those same supporters were sensing a famous victory.
Ultan Harney, superb throughout, stopped the rot for Clann with a much-needed score but when Connell Kennelly and Diarmuid Murtagh put the Ballyleague outfit two points to the good with 15 to play, the dreaded trap door was very much in sight for Clann.
Enter Paul McManus with his third point of the game, a crucial one that Clann desperately needed, and when Emmet Kenny fired over a minute later under big pressure from Faithleach’s defenders, Clann had found the oxygen they needed.
An eye-catching score from David Rooney gave Faithleach’s the lead one more time in the 49th minute but that would be their last score.
Clann substitute Tom Sheehan levelled matters up for the fifth time before a Ciaran Lennon free gave them the lead for the first time since the 42nd minute. From there, Clann sprinted for home.
A David Connaughton point, sandwiched between two more from Paul McManus, saw Declan O’Flaherty’s charges take control and with time running out, Lennon tapped over the insurance score following an admittedly questionable breach decision.
Earlier in the evening, all the elements looked in place for a St Faithleach’s ambush but a quick, fisted goal from Harney after just four minutes had helped to settle any nerves the Clann supporters were almost certainly feeling beforehand.
In fact they should have added to that with at least two more goals but found Michael O’Donnell in no humour to let them run away with things - the Faithleach’s netminder denying both Josh Lennon and Paul McManus in quick succession soon after Harney’s goal.
With the game up and running, David McManus and Ciaráin Murtagh traded scores as did Jack Murray and full back Darra Pettit. Diarmuid Murtagh and Ciaran Lennon did likewise to leave just two between the sides by the 22nd minute.
But the rest of the half belonged to Clann who, helped by both the wind and midfield dominance, looked to stretch their lead by as much as possible.
A second goal looked in the cards on 23 but Ciaran Lennon’s powerful shot cleared the crossbar. A massive two-pointer from Harney, switching between full forward and midfield throughout the game, gave Clann some breathing space and although Ciaráin Murtagh kept Faithleach’s in touch, another Lennon free and a booming two-pointer from Paul McManus saw Clann take that six-point lead into the break.
For 15 minutes of a frantic second half, Murtagh threatened to drag his side to safety on his own but in the end Clann had too much quality.
Player of the match: Paul McManus (Clann na nGael). In truth, a toss up between McManus and Ultan Harney. Harney, clearly playing through the pain barrier again, showed exactly the type of leadership required for such a high-stakes game. His early goal set the tone but it was McManus who grabbed the game by the throat down the stretch at a time when things were looking very hairy for Clann. Three timely scores in the final 15 minutes, added to an equally crucial two-pointer, went a long way towards helping Clann maintain senior status. For St Faithleach’s, goalkeeper Michael O’Donnell produced three fine saves in the first half. Centre back Connell Kennelly put in a fine shift and, only for Ciaráin Murtagh, it might not have been a contest at all.
Talking point: It was a fixture that neither side (both semi-finalists last year) would ever have expected to be in at the start of the year. For Clann it’s sweet relief while Faithleach’s must regroup at the intermediate grade for 2027.
Scorers - Clann: U. Harney 1-3 (1tp); P. McManus 0-5 (1tp); C. Lennon 0-4 (3 frees); E. Kenny, D. McManus, T. Sheehan, D. Connaughton and D. Pettit 0-1 each. St Faithleach’s: C. Murtagh 1-6 (1tp, 0-2f); D. Murtagh 0-3; C. Kennelly, D. Rooney and J. Murray 0-1 each.
Clann na nGael - Sean Kelly; Shane Gavin, Darra Pettit, Michael Harrington; Feargal Lennon, Patrick Gavin, David Connaughton; Ultan Harney, Alan McManus; Emmet Kenny, David McManus, Oisin O’Flaherty; Josh Lennon, Ciaran Lennon, Paul McManus. Subs: Tom Sheehan for J. Lennon (half-time), Tom Lennon for Harrington (45 mins), Graham Pettit for P. McManus (60).
St Faithleach’s - Michael O’Donnell; Karl Nerney, Paddy Farrell, Kevin Farrell; Darren Nerney, Connell Kennelly, Daniel McDermott; Colm Mangan, Michael Dunne; Adrian Murtagh, Jonathan Hussey, Jack Murray; Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciaráin Murtagh, David Rooney. Subs: Anthony Cox for McDermott (51 mins), James Browne for Hussey (52), Martin Reynolds for A. Murtagh (58).
Referee - Dermot McDermott.