Kepak Roscommon SHC Semi-Final replay: Four Roads 1-14 Pádraig Pearses 0-14
It was probably inevitable that having got away with an unlikely draw in the first semi-final that Four Roads would complete the job in the replay and that’s what happened in Athleague on Saturday and now the quest for nine senior titles in a row will see the champions play Oran in the final on Sunday week.
This was another hard fought encounter between the neighbours but Four Roads just found that little bit extra when they needed to get over the line in the final 20 minutes.
It was score for score until Johnny Coyne scored an opportunist goal in the 20th minute but with Thomas Sweeney accurate from frees and Gavin Downey and Cathal Kelly playing well, Pearses were level at half-time. Pearses 0-9 Four Roads 1-6.
Early second half points from Conor Mulry, Cathal Dolan and Tomas Lennon set up Four Roads and although Pearses battled away they could never get back on level terms. Three more points from Johnny Coyne (a free) Michael Donoghue and Noel Fallon saw the champions five up with ten minutes to play. Cathal Kelly and Tomas Sweeney (both frees) with late points for Pearses reduced the margin but Four Roads had done enough.
Four Roads: D Dowd; C Dowd, M McLoughlin, J Rogerson; S Curley (0-1), M Kelly, C Coyle; C Dolan (0-3), J Moran (0-1); J Donnelly, J Lawlor, C Mulry (0-1); E Rogerson, J Coyne (1-3), D Dolan (0-2). Subs: B Lawlor for E Rogerson, T Lennon (0-1) for Donnelly, N Fallon (0-1) for D Dolan, M Donoghue (0-1) for J Lawlor, T Treacy for C Dolan.
Pádraig Pearses: P Dolan; D Dolan, P Dolan, A Naughton; E Cogavin, C Kelly (0-2), M Donoghue; S Naughton (0-1), G Downey (0-2); D Glynn (0-1), A Sweeney, D Sweeney; T Seale (0-2), A Finnerty (0-1), T Sweeney (0-5). Subs: L Feehily for D Sweeney, K Fehily for A Sweeney. Referee: Kevin McGeeney.
