Hannon’s Hotel U-20 Division One FC final
Roscommon Gaels 1-20 Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys 2-3
Seamus Duke in Rockfield
Roscommon Gaels retained their U-20 Championship title in some style in Rockfield last Saturday when they swept aside the challenge of Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys in a game that was a one-sided affair most of the way through.
The town side played some brilliant football throughout and never looked in trouble against a gallant but outclassed amalgamation side.
On a cold, but ideal day for football, the Gaels, powered by Jack Donnelly, Ciaran O’Reilly, Sam Hannon, Ryan Dowling, Tom Beisty and the Carthy brothers Eoghan and Rory, hit the ground running from the throw-in. By the 8th minute they led by 0-7 to no score with both Carthy brothers contributing two-pointers.
Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys came into the game for a brief period at the end of the first quarter. Brian Greene slotted over a fine two-pointer, then in the 14th minute Rob Heneghan scored an opportunist goal to reduce the margin to just two. The Gaels had lost Conor Grogan through injury in that period.
The defending champions were also down to 14 players after Ciaran O’Reilly received a black card for a trip, but any notion that the Gaels might be in trouble evaporated as they re-established their control of the match. The Gaels outscored their opponents by 1-4 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half to forge a nine-point lead by the break.
Their goal came in first-half stoppage time and was a brilliant solo effort from Rory Carthy who was involved in the move all the way up the field before finishing into the top corner. Half-time score: Roscommon Gaels 1-11 Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys 1-2.
Come back here! Oisin Kelly (Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys) has a tug on Finnan Devane’s jersey, which earned Roscommon Gaels a free! Action from last Saturday’s Hannon’s Hotel Roscommon Division One FC final at Rockfield in which Roscommon Gaels defeated Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys by 1-20 to 2-3. Photo: Bernie O’Farrell
Early in the second half Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys thought they were back in the contest when Brian Greene fisted a long delivery to the Gaels’ net, but the goal was ruled out for a ‘square ball’. Niall Heneghan did point a free for the challengers but the Gaels were still very much in control.
Indeed a string of points from Rory Carthy (free), Sam Hannon, Ryan Dowling and Ciaran Mulry extended the Gaels’ lead and by the end of the third quarter they were a massive 1-16 to 1-3 in front.
In the 46th minute Niall Heneghan fisted a long delivery to the Gaels net, but at that stage a goal was of consolation value only, and the winners finished the game with points from Hannon, Dowling, Rory Carthy (free) and Mulry.
It was a very impressive display from Shane Moran’s side who had plenty of great individual performances on the day but none more so than that of Eoghan Carthy, who was magnificent at centre half-back all through. He looks a fantastic prospect for both club and county.
There is no doubt that the Gaels have plenty of talented young players on their books but the challenge now will be to try and turn this underage progress into success at senior level. In 2026 it will have been 22 years since the Fahey Cup resided in the county town. Ending that barren period is the big goal for the club now.
A battling Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys never gave up the ghost, but they were beaten by a much better side on the day. Luke Ruane, Daniel Hagney, Niall Heneghan, Rob Heneghan and Brian Greene had their moments on what was a disappointing day for them.
Roscommon Gaels: Conor Mulry; Finnan Devane, Jack Donnelly, Ciaran O’Reilly; Michael Gillooly, Eoghan Carthy (0-4, 1 tp), Conor Grogan; Rory Carthy (1-6, 1 tp, 1 tpf, 2 frees), Ciaran Mulry (0-2); Liam Naughten, Sam Hannon (0-2), Adam Killion; Tom Beisty (0-1), Ryan Dowling (0-5, 2 ‘45s), John McGuinness. Subs used: Aaron Dolan for Grogan (16), Rory Dunne for Killion (56), Lochlainn Mulry for Naughten (57), Zawyal Khan for Beisty (57), Dylan Carroll for Devane (57).
Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys: James Flynn; Jason Burke, Conor Donnellan, Sean Brehony; Daniel Hagney, Luke Ruane, Jack Greene; Shane Gallagher, Niall Heneghan (1-1); Bradley Lynch, Sean Crawley, Oisin Kelly; Marcus Denning, Rob Heneghan (1-0), Brian Greene (0-2, tp). Subs used: Joseph Noonan for Brehony (27), Cian Carthy for Jack Greene (39), James Fitzmaurice for Lynch (44).
Referee: Dermot McDermott.
Player of the Match
Eoghan Carthy (Roscommon Gaels)
