Roscommon top of the table as late surge sinks Galway
GAA: Allianz Football League Division One
Roscommon 0-9 Galway 0-8
Roscommon are top of the Allianz Football League Division One table after making it two wins from two games with their victory over Galway yesterday (Sunday).
The Rossies came from behind to defeat their Connacht rivals at Pearse Stadium, scoring five unanswered points to claim victory by the minimum margin.
It was a victory that prompted great celebrations among the Roscommon supporters and management as the visitors reversed the result of last year's Connacht final.
Substitute Ben O’Carroll - man of the match in the previous Sunday's win over Tyrone - contributed two points off the bench, while another sub, Richard Hughes, kicked the winner in the fifth minute of added time.
Ciarán Lennon of Clann na nGael also got on the scoresheet, while the Daly brothers (Niall and Conor), Brian Stack (St Brigid's) and Eoin McCormack (St Dominic's) were part of the Roscommon defence.
Galway led 0-8 to 0-4 with 19 minutes remaining, but Roscommon finished strongly just as they had done against Tyrone. The Tribesman were 0-5 to 0-3 in front at the interval after a low scoring first half.
On a disappointing day for Galway, the sight of key forward Damien Comer being stretchered off with a leg injury early on was an additional concern for Padraic Joyce.
Roscommon are the only team in Division 1 with maximum points from two games. They are one point ahead of Armagh, who played out a thrilling draw with Mayo (0-17 each) at a packed Athletic Grounds yesterday.
In advance of the league campaign, Roscommon were seen as likely to face a battle to stay up - but Davy Burke's charges are certainly defying those expectations so far.
Scorers - Roscommon: D Murtagh 0-3 (1f), B O’Carroll 0-2, C Lennon, D Cregg, C Murtagh and R Hughes 0-1 each. Galway: D Conneely 0-3 (3f), C McDaid, M Tierney, D McHugh, I Burke, and J Heaney 0-1 each.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Conor Hussey, Conor Daly, Eoin McCormack; Niall Daly, Brian Stack, Dylan Ruane; Tadhg O’Rourke, Keith Doyle; Enda Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciarán Lennon; Daire Cregg, Conor Cox, Robbie Dolan. Subs: Ciaráin Murtagh for Cox (H-T), Ben O’Carroll for Ruane (47 mins), David Murray for McCormack (47), Richard Hughes for Doyle (51), Colin Walsh for Murray (65-68, temp.), Paul Carey for D Murtagh (70+2).
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Jack Glynn, Eoghan Kelly, Neil Mulcahy; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Seán Kelly; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Paul Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Peter Cooke; Johnny Heaney, Damien Comer, Eoin Finnerty. Subs: Dessie Conneely for Comer (10 mins), Ian Burke for P Kelly (H-T), Owen Gallagher for Finnerty (51), Cathal Sweeney for Cooke (55), Matthew Barrett for Heaney (64).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).