Galway U21s beaten by Roscommon

Roscommon are on course for a three in-a-row of Connacht U21 football championship titles after they saw off 14-man Galway by 1-16 to 2-10 in last night’s quarter-final at Kiltoom. The home side started brightly and led by 1-1 to 0-2 on the quarter hour mark thanks to a goal from as Diarmuid Murtagh penalty after the Tribesmen had Michael Daly sent-off for a second bookable offence. Gerry Fahy’s charges responded well though with scores from Eamon Brannigan, Paul Mannion and Peter Cooke, however they trailed by 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Substitute Joseph Donnellan goaled for Galway on the resumption but with Murtagh, Cathal Callinan and Hubert Darcy in fine scoring form, the Rossies soon resumed control. The hosts had stretched their lead to six by the time the visitors, who used up all their substitutes, were reduced to 13-men following the dismissal of Donnellan on a black card. Ruairi Greene netted the Tribesmen’s second major on the stroke of full-time but it proved to be too little, too late. Roscommon will now face Sligo for a place in next month’s provincial showpiece against either Leitrim or Mayo.

Galway – T O’Malley; L Burke, O Canney, R Greene (1-0); K Molloy, E Tierney (0-1), B Shaughnessy; M Daly, P Cooke (0-5, 2f, 2’45); J Lyons, E Brannigan (0-2), P Mannion (0-1f); A O Laoi, E Finnerty, C Mannion. Subs: C McWalter (0-1) for J Lyons, J Donnellan (1-0) for E Finnerty, C O Braonain for B Shaughnessy, S A Kelly for O Canney, M Reddington for A O Laoi, K Nally for C O Braonain.

Roscommon – S Mannion; J Connnaughton (0-1), S Mullooly, F Lennon (0-2); R Daly, E McGrath, B Stack; T O’Rourke, C Compton (0-2); K Farrell (0-1), H Walsh (0-1f), B Kelly; D Murtagh (1-2, 1-0pen, 0-1f), H Darcy (0-2), C Callinan (0-4). Subs: K Beirne for E McGrath, A Lyons (0-1) for B Kelly, R Raftery for C Callinan, K Smith for H Darcy.

Referee – J Henry.