Gillooly leads Gaels in Boyle rout

Game Of The Weekend

Hodson Bay Group SFC (Group A)

Round 1

Roscommon Gaels 6-8

Boyle 2-12

< SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon Gaels produced a ruthless first half of finishing at Abbey Park in Boyle last Saturday evening to swat away the challenge of a shell-shocked home side, and make a big early statement that they will have a major say in the destination of the Fahey Cup in 2023.

In all the years covering the Roscommon club championships, this writer cannot recall any team scoring six goals in one half of a senior football tie but that’s what happened here the Gaels, aided by a first-half hattrick from Peter Gillooly, ripped the Boyle defence to shreds from the very first whistle.

It was only late in the second half that Boyle made any impression on the scoreboard and at that stage the game was long over as a contest.

On a sunny evening, the Gaels set about their task as early as the first minute when Gillooly buried a low shot to the Boyle net with barely 30 seconds gone. Rory Carthy pointed a 9th minute free for the town side and the warning signs were already there for Boyle.

In the 13th minute, the fleet-footed Gillooly twisted and turned before finding the net again to put his side seven points clear. Cian McKeon was by far Boyle’s best player on the day, and he pointed from a free and from play in the 18th and 23rd minutes to get his side off the mark.

But the Gaels were clinical and in the second quarter it looked like every time they went down the field they were going to score a goal. In the 22nd minute, Cian Connolly set up Kieran Kilcline who fisted home number three.

Gillooly was at it again two minutes later with his third goal following a superb run and side step. Then, in first-half injury-time, Kilcline was the provider as Richie Walsh raced in to fist home the fifth goal and just before the break Gillooly did the spadework for John McManus who flicked home, and incredibly at the half way mark it was Roscommon Gaels 6-2 Boyle 0-6.

The Gaels began the new half with points from Rory Carthy and Richie Walsh (both frees) before Boyle awakened from their slumber. In the 34th minute, Daire Cregg blasted home their opening goal at the third attempt to give them some hope, but in truth the outcome had been decided even at that early stage.

By the end of the third quarter, Frankie Dolan’s men were still 15 points up (6-7 to 1-7) and it was damage limitation for Boyle after that. McKeon kept battling away for Cian Smith’s side and in the 54th minute Enda Smith converted a penalty after he himself was fouled. Three late frees from Donie Smith took the bare look off the scoreboard from their point of view

This was a super display from the Gaels who will now be looking at a quarter-final spot when they face Western Gaels in the next round. Senan Lambe had a proverbial stormer of a match all through and he and Cathal Dineen were excellent in defence. Further up the field, Mark Purcell, John McManus, Cian Connolly, Kieran Kilcline, Richie Walsh and Peter Gillooly were outstanding. For a very disappointing Boyle side, who now face a huge game against St Faithleach’s in the next round, only Cian McKeon stood out while there were some flashes of good play from Daire Cregg and Donie Smith. But their problems in defence will have to be ironed out if they are to have any chance of progressing to the business end of the championship this year.

Teams and Scorers: Roscommon Gaels: James Fetherstone; Ronan Gleeson, Senan Lambe, James Connolly; Brian Kelly, Ciaran O’Reilly, Cathal Dineen; Mark Purcell, John

McManus (1-0); Ethan O’Reilly, Cian Connolly, Rory Carthy (0-2, frees); Richie Walsh (1-4, 3 frees), Peter Gillooly (3-2), Kieran Kilcline (1-0). Subs: Ryan Conlon for Carthy (42), Paddy Fannon for R Gleeson (55), Fionn Hoare for O’Reilly (61).

Boyle: Rob Kearney; Daniel Casey, Luke Glennon, Killian Cox; Oisin Cregg, Enda Smith (11), Sean Purcell; Roch Hanmore, Cathal Feely; Dylan East, Tadgh McKenna, Cian McKeon (0-5, 2 frees), Daire Cregg (1-2), Donie Smith (0-4, 4 frees), Luke McGrath. Subs: David Flanagan for Hanmore (h/t), Colin Goldrick for L McGrath (40), Niall O’Donnell for Cox (55), Mark O’Donoghue for East (58).

Referee: Brendan Beirne

Man of the Match: Senan Lambe (Roscommon Gaels)