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Roscommon People Friday 17 February 2017
Allianz NFL Division One: Donegal 0-16 Roscommon 2-9
game of fine margins sway in that sector where the inspirational Michael Murphy dominated. Up front, Enda Smith, Conor Devaney and Fintan Cregg played well and it was a strange decision of take off Cregg who was giving the Donegal defence plenty of problems while he was on the field. Roscommon missed a number of goal chances throughout the game and while it is encouraging to see those chances being made, a little more composure is required. But it is only right that we mention the 66th minute goal from Conor Devaney. The new Dr Hyde Park pitch may have just reopened last Sunday but it is doubtful that there will be a better goal seen at the famous old ground for a long time to come. It was a truly magnificent effort. I know that it is scant consolation given the narrow defeat, but it was a goal fit to grace any game. It is a pity that it was not a forerunner to a famous win. Michael Murphy was a colossus for Donegal (as usual), he patrolled the area from the half-back line to the full-forward line and he seldom took the wrong option. Ciaran Thompson (first half), Martin O’Reilly,
Eoin McHugh and Ryan McHugh were also prominent for Rory Gallagher’s men. This was a vital win for them. Roscommon now face a very difficult trip to Castlebar to face a rejuvenated Mayo on Saturday week. There are two ways of looking at this clash: Mayo will be under less pressure now that they have gone to The Kingdom and come back with the two points. However, they will be anxious to put down a marker for later in the summer and they will definitely be targeting this clash with Roscommon for another two points. Meanwhile, Roscommon have plenty of positives to take out of this defeat but the reality is that it is another two points gone and now we are going to have to win at least one game on our travels in addition to our two remaining home games now to stay up in Division One. It certainly won’t be easy. The new pitch is a magnificent facility and was praised by all and sundry. It was great to see a big crowd too and despite the Siberian type temperatures, there was an excellent atmosphere and it was a very enjoyable game to watch.
Key Moments Seamus Duke 1st half The sides shared six points in the opening 15 minutes with Michael Murphy (free), Ciaran Thompson and Paddy McBrearty (free) on target for Donegal while Fintan Cregg, Ciaráin Murtagh (free) and Enda Smith were on target for Roscommon. Donegal goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley made a good save after 18 minutes following good link-up play from the Smith brothers. In the 23rd minute, Donegal tried a short kick-out but Ciaráin Murtagh intercepted and fed Enda Smith whose effort struck the post but Murtagh followed up to fist the ball to the net. Kevin Higgins blazed a goal chance over the bar in the 25th minute after bursting through the Donegal defence. Michael Murphy completed the first half scoring in the 34th minute with a 25 metre free to leave Donegal just three points behind at the break.
Half-time review
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Thomas Fetherston moves possession forward for Roscommon. Pic: Andrew Fox
Frank McGlynn holds onto possession as he weaves his way through the tackles of Shane Killoran and Thomas Corcoran. Picture: Andrew Fox
The game in quotes
“I have just told the players in the dressing room to put this behind them very quickly because we have proven again today that we are well capable of playing at this level. We just have to get a bit cuter and streetwise and we missed some chances and at this level you have to take them.” – Kevin McStay
“Size was a bit of a problem for us as well and you saw (Michael) Murphy out there today. He is a marvellous player and he is hard to deal with. We are really disappointed I have to say. Turnovers were again a factor and they broke very fast when we gave the ball away.” – Kevin McStay
“Our never-say-die attitude was pleasing today. When you are a manager you want to see your team give absolutely everything and I thought we saw that from Donegal today.” - Rory Gallagher
“We had number of setbacks throughout the game but we ground out a very important win” – Rory Gallagher
“Onwards and upwards and it’s Mayo away in two weeks and we will work hard ahead of that. Our fitness levels are improving all the time and we are getting a little bit cuter. These are all serious games and that’s the next one.” – Kevin McStay “I am very satisfied with how we are going. We made some mistakes sure but this is a young team and the way we fought back today, the goal we scored, and the way we took the game to Donegal was a great sign for the future.” – Kevin McStay
DIVISION ONE AT A GLANCE
Stat Attack
Dublin 0-10 Tyrone 1-7
Wides: Donegal 8 (3 first half ), Roscommon 11 (5 first half )
Having been correct in all four predictions the previous week, I got all four wrong last weekend! Dublin’s unbeaten record looked like it was over for long periods at Croke Park against an impressive Tyrone side but Dean Rock’s super free taking saved the day for the Dubs who also missed a penalty.
Mayo 0-15 Kerry 1-10 A super win for Mayo who could have been ten points
down at half-time as Kerry missed at least three clear goal chances. But Mayo came good after the break and with Andy Moran in scintillating form, Stephen Rochford’s men pulled off a great win against all the odds.
Monaghan 0-7 Cavan 0-7
Red cards: Donegal none, Roscommon none. Black cards: Donegal 1 (Darach O’Connor), Roscommon none Yellow cards: Donegal 3 (Jason McGee, Paul Brennan, Michael Murphy), Roscommon 1 (Fintan Cregg) Frees awarded: Donegal 20 (9 first half ) Roscommon 23 (13 first half )
A drab draw at Clones as the neighbours ground it Scores from play: Donegal 0-13 Roscommon 2-7 out. Cavan missed a few late Man of the Match: Michael Murphy (Donegal) chances but Gearoid McKiernan’s point for Cavan with 12 minutes to go settled a Senan Murtagh and Daniel Neary pictured in Dr. Hyde Crowd: 7,000 Park on Sunday last. Picture: Andrew Fox very poor game.
At half-time a three point lead did not look enough and the worrying trend of Donegal being able to break at pace running at the Roscommon defence was something that was on the minds of the Roscommon management and fans at half-time.
2nd half Donegal points from Ciaran Thompson, Eoin Ban Gallagher, Paddy McBrearty, and Jamie Brennan saw the sides level at 1-8 to 0-11 by the 45th minute. Ciaran Thompson was through on goal in the 44th minute but Niall McInerney made a magnificent block to deny Donegal a certain goal. In the 49th minute Conor Devaney fired wide from 15 metres following a brilliant Roscommon move. Four unanswered points from Martin O’Reilly (3) and Eoin McHugh between the 52nd and 62nd minutes Donegal three ahead. Conor Devaney levelled it with a spectacular goal, firing past Mark Anthony McGinley into the top corner from 15 metres. In the third minute of injury-time John McManus off-loaded to Ronan Stack who was in on goal. Stack’s goalbound effort was blocked when a point may have been the better option. Donegal swept downfield and Eoin McHugh pointed from 30 metres to give his side the lead just before the final whistle.
Full-time review Roscommon will be very disappointed to come away from Sunday’s game empty handed following a brave display. The tests will get tougher now and a trip to Castlebar on Saturday week is next on the list.