Sports O’Halloran resigns after Hyde horror show

Dismal defeat consigns hurlers to relegation battle

Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A (Round 2)

Louth 2-16

Roscommon 0-15

< SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon’s hurling management team, headed by manager Francis O’Halloran, decided to step down following this very disappointing seven point loss to Louth at Dr Hyde Park last Sunday.

It means Roscommon must now find a new manager as they prepare for a battle to avoid relegation to Division 3B.

In a statement on Monday morning, O’Halloran seemed to pin much of the blame for his resignation on members of the playing squad. Claiming the commitment and effort of his backroom team hadn’t been matched by that of the players, the Clare native clearly felt there was little use in pressing on with the county’s hurlers.

The fact is that O’Halloran and his backroom team have been deprived of many of Roscommon’s key players in recent weeks. The question remains, however, as to whether his successor will have any success in coaxing those players back to the ranks of the Primrose and Blue.

As for the game itself, unfancied Louth dominated from the first puck and when Ryan Walsh rose to flick the ball beyond Enda Lawless in the 13th minute, hapless Roscommon already knew they were in real trouble.

Louth pressed on in the first half and substitute Conor Murphy blasted home their second goal to send them in at the break with a 2-10 to 0-7 advantage.

The hosts struggled all over the field last Sunday but Conor Mulry was the one shining light on what was one of Roscommon hurling’s very dark days. His three excellent points from play provided a faint glimmer of hope until Eoin Fitzgerald received his marching orders following two yellow cards in two minutes just before halftime.

It must be said that Roscommon were much improved after the break with substitute Mickey Joe Egan, Brendan Mulry and Conor Mulry particularly lively. But by then Louth had done enough and late points from Liam Molloy and Mark Gahan put the gloss on an impressive win.

Roscommon now travel to face Fermanagh in their next match and it remains to be seen whether they’ll have a new manager in place to lead them north.

Louth: Ricky McKeon; Adam Plunkett, Danny Morgan, Ben Goss Kiernan; Conall Shaw (0-1, free), Sean Hodgins (0-1), James McDonnell; Peter Fortune, Sean Kerrisk (0-1); Liam Molloy (0-2), Stephen Stafford, Mark Gahan (05, 4 frees); Andrew Macklin (0-2), Ryan Walsh (1-1), Padraig Fallon (0-1).

Subs: Conor Murphy (1-2) for Macklin (18), Aaron McGuinness for Goss Kiernan (44), Jack Murray for Fallon (71).

Roscommon: Enda Lawless; Thomas Fleming, James Dillon, Eamon Mulry; Padraig Brennan, Conor Cosgrove, Mark Ward; Darragh Finn (0-1), Jack Dowling (0-2); Conor Mulry (0-5), Brendan Mulry, Joe Brennan; Eamon Flanagan, Paddy Fallon (0-1, free), Eoin Fitzgerald (0-1).

Subs: Darragh Mullen for Cosgrove (28), Mickey Joe Egan (0-5, 4 frees, 1 ’65), for Flanagan (h/t), Michael Brennan for Fallon (h/t), Jack Naughton for P Brennan (48), Gearoid Egan for E Mulry (55).

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)