Hughes beauty!

Gaels end title famine in style

5th & Mad, East Side, Roscommon SF League Division One (O’Rourke Cup) Final Roscommon Gaels 2-12

Oran 0-13

< SEAMUS DUKE

The headline after this league final played at Dr Hyde Park on Saturday night was that Roscommon Gaels had won their first senior league title since 1994, but most of those in attendance left the ground talking about Richard Hughes’ sensational goal in the second minute of injury-time that sealed the title.

Oran had done well to come back into the game late on and reduce the gap down to just two points in closing minutes.

However, as they committed bodies forward in bid to rescue the game, the Gaels cleared the ball down the stand side, and county player Hughes set off on a run from inside his own half. He dribbled the ball soccer style to the 20-metre line before chipping it over the head of the Oran goalkeeper Shane Regan. It was an outrageous piece of skill and one of the best goals seen in the Hyde in many years.

On a wet and miserable evening, the Gaels played with the help of the elements in the first half and by the 15th minute they led by 0-6 to no score with Ryan Conlon, Rory Carthy and Cian Connolly prominent. Oran had to wait 18 minutes for their first score but they improved before half-time and a couple of Darragh Walsh frees and another from Cormac Regan had reduced arrears to four at the break: Roscommon Gaels 0-8 Oran 0-4.

John McManus and Scott Oates performed well for the Gaels through the centre, and Oran could never bridge the gap between the teams. Points from Darragh Walsh and Ciaran Lawless narrowed the gap to three by the 50th minute.

However, the town team scored a vital goal a minute later when Brian Kelly was on the end of a fine team move. Points from Colin Walsh, Darragh Walsh and Connie Regan narrowed the gap to three with two minutes of normal time left.

John McManus lifted the siege with a Gaels’ point (it should have been a goal) but in injurytime Darragh Walsh and sub Evan Keane reduced the margin to two once again. Then Hughes intervened with that sensational solo goal and it was game over.

It was a hard fought game that never reached any great heights in terms of quality but it will have served as good preparation for both sides ahead of the championship.

For the Gaels, Richard Hughes, Senan Lambe, Scott Oates, John McManus and Ryan Conlon were excellent while for Oran (who were appearing in the first ever senior final) Colin Walsh, Ciaran Lawless, Darragh Walsh and Connie Regan stood out.

Teams and Scorers

Roscommon Gaels: James Fetherstone; Senan Lambe, Richard Hughes (1-1), Ronan Gleeson; James Connolly, Scott Oates, Ciaran O’Reilly; John McManus (0-1), Mark Purcell; Paddy Fannon, Rory Carthy (0-5, 4 frees), Brian Kelly (10); Ryan Conlon (0-2, 1 free), Cian Connolly (02), Richie Walsh (0-1, free). Subs: Cathal Dineen for Fannon (h/t), Kieran Kilcline for Conlon (49), Paul Gleeson for O’Reilly (55), Joey O’Malley for R Gleeson (59).

Oran: Shane Regan; Paul Kenny, Colin Walsh (0-1), Kevin Concannon; Mike Dwyer, Ciaran Lawless (0-1), Mark Gunning; Connie Regan (0-2, frees), Colm Earley; Cormac Regan, Mike Staunton, Shane Walsh; James Fitzpatrick (0-2, frees), Darragh Walsh (0-6, 4 frees), Cathal Kenny. Subs: Jack Casey for P Kenny (22), Charlie Carthy for Earley (39), Evan Keane (0-1) for C Regan (58).