Allianz Football League Division One
Roscommon 2-20 Donegal 0-20
Displaying huge reserves of character, will to win and sheer determination – particularly in the second half – Roscommon footballers battled to a tremendous six-point win against Donegal in what was a pulsating league game played at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park last Sunday.
It has been a campaign to remember for Roscommon so far. The wins against Monaghan, Armagh and Galway were all memorable, but this victory was on another level for several reasons.
Donegal, last year’s All-Ireland finalists and currently the form team in the country, came to Roscommon to win. They fielded almost a full team. The torrential hail and sleet showers blowing towards the graveyard end of Dr Hyde Park made conditions almost unplayable at times. When Roscommon went in leading at half-time by 11 points – having played with the wind – there was general agreement that the margin probably wouldn’t be enough to see them over the line.
Twice in the second half Mark Dowd’s men battled against all odds to stop Donegal in their tracks. When Jimmy McGuinness’ side narrowed the gap to two by the 48th minute, Roscommon came up with vital scores from sub Conor Hand, Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh.
Donegal came again, and by the 59th minute the margin was down to just one. But Roscommon simply would not be denied and produced one last decisive drive for home. Roscommon players all over the field put their bodies on the line and that late scintillating effort yielded a point from the majestic Enda Smith, a fabulous team goal finished by Hand in the 66th minute, and a Murtagh pointed free in the 68th minute. Roscommon had won by six. What a performance. What a win.
It now means that the Rossies can go to Castlebar for their final league game against Mayo this Sunday in the knowledge that Division One football has been secured for 2027 and that a win would give them an outside chance of a place in the league final. These are exciting times for Roscommon football.
Having won the toss, Roscommon played with the strong wind at their backs in the opening half and as expected they dominated possession. However it has to be said that they missed a number of chances. Enda Smith, who was to go on and play his best game in a Roscommon jersey, kicked a couple of two-pointers in the opening six minutes.
In the 12th minute, Senan Lambe, Paddy Gavin and Dylan Ruane were all involved in an incisive move and Diarmuid Murtagh volleyed the ball to the Donegal net soccer-style for Roscommon’s opening goal.
Senan Lambe, Paddy Gavin, Dylan Ruane, Ronan Daly, Diarmuid Murtagh, Colm Neary and Enda Smith were all playing well as Roscommon added to their tally. In fact they led by 1-13 to 0-3 by the 33rd minute. However, late Donegal points in the half from goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany (a ’45) and Michael Murphy meant that Roscommon led by 11 points at the break, 1-13 to 0-5.
The second half began with a violent hail and sleet shower that lasted about ten minutes. It was so severe that the players were finding trouble seeing what was going on, never mind being able to play constructively. Midst it all, Donegal wasted no time in whittling away Roscommon’s lead.
Sub Shea Malone and Eoghan Ban Gallagher both pointed, and then two-point scores from Malone, Jason McGee and Michael Langan followed. By the 48th minute the margin was down to just two, 1-14 to 0-15.
Roscommon were digging in and the subs Mark Dowd brought on were all making huge contributions. One of those subs, Conor Hand, lofted over a super point in the 50th minute and a minute later Enda Smith burst through the Donegal defence to land another mighty score against the wind. Then Diarmuid Murtagh pointed a 20-metre free and suddenly the margin was out to five again.
But Donegal were not finished. The excellent Finbarr Roarty scored a superb two-pointer, and when Peader Mogan and Jason McGee pointed for the visitors the margin was down to just one (1-17 to 0-19) by the 57th minute.
Senan Lambe (arguably Roscommon’s best player of the league campaign) got forward to point from close-range, but that score was matched down the other end when Jamie Brennan made it 1-18 to 0-20 with seven minutes left.
Dowd and Murtagh give reaction to remarkable win
Roscommon manager Mark Dowd was understandably very happy after a tremendous win against last year’s All-Ireland finalists.
“It was a great win for the team. We were not happy with our performance here the last day against Dublin, and we challenged the players today to come out and give a good display, and all credit to them they did that. The lads that came on as subs also drove us on today as well.”
Dowd said that having missed some chances against Dublin, they had worked hard on their finishing in training.
“We were disappointed to have missed chances the last day but out there today against the wind we scored 1-7 in the second half so that was really great to see.”
The manager said that the 11-point lead at half-time could have been greater.
“We could have had more scores in the first half but I think it sharpened our focus for the second half and although they scored a few two-pointers our scores were vital.”
Dowd said that getting their hands on the ball in the second half was crucial, given the conditions. “They key was to get possession in the third quarter and into the last quarter and we got more control of the game at that stage. It was a good controlled second-half performance and I was very happy with that” he concluded.
Roscommon forward Diarmuid Murtagh gave his reaction to People Sport.
“The conditions were very tough especially at the start of both halves and you know I wouldn’t have been surprised if the referee had stopped the game for a few minutes… but we got through it and we are delighted with the win” the Roscommon captain said after the match.
Diarmuid said that he knew that the 11-point lead that Roscommon had at half-time was not a safe one, given those weather conditions.
“We were hoping that Donegal would not come out and kick three or four two-pointers – and they did just that! They are a great team. But we dug in and won some vital balls around the middle and we got enough scores to keep us ticking over.”
The late goal was crucial. “If you can get a goal against the wind… they are so important” Murtagh noted.
Incredibly, Donegal were not to score again as Roscommon produced one final fierce and determined push in search of victory. In the 64th minute Enda Smith finished off a fine move with a fisted point and with four minutes to go Roscommon scored one of the best team goals seen at Hyde Park for many a long day.
Another sub, Shane Cunnane played a long pass into Diarmuid Murtagh who beat his man and lofted the ball across the square. Conor Hand and Enda Smith were tearing through the middle and it was Hand who got his fist to the ball to send it past Gavin Mulreany. The roof almost lifted off the stand as the Roscommon supporters roared their approval.
To put the icing on the cake, Diarmuid Murtagh finished the scoring, converting a 20-metre free in the 68th minute to seal one of the most memorable victories that Roscommon have had in many years.
Roscommon are becoming a very formidable outfit. To have secured Division One football for next year is a massive achievement. They can now go to Castlebar this Sunday and give it their best without being under any pressure.
All eyes will turn to the championship very shortly. Mark Dowd and his backroom team have done a marvellous job with the team and a win like last Sunday’s will do wonders for the confidence of the players. Roscommon are improving all the time and if that rate of improvement continues it could be an exciting year ahead. Being able to compete with the big guns may not be as far away as we might think.
Full credit to both teams for producing a fantastic contest in such appalling conditions. Once again the pitch at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park has proven its worth. Despite the torrential rain and hail showers, it was in fantastic condition and there was hardly a mark on the surface after the game. Outside Croke Park, it must be one of the best in the country.
Stat Attack
Red cards: 0
Black cards: 0
Yellow cards: Roscommon 2 (Ronan Daly, Daire Cregg); Donegal 2 (Brendan McCole, Michael Murphy)
Wides: Roscommon 7 (6, first half); Donegal 3 (2, first half)
Two-pointers: Roscommon 4 (Enda Smith 2, Keith Doyle, Diarmuid Murtagh); Donegal 4 (Finbarr Roarty, Michael Langan, Jason McGee, Shea Malone)
Attendance: 5689
Man of the Match: Enda Smith (Roscommon)
Around the grounds
Galway remain in the relegation dogfight, despite defeating Monaghan by eight points (1-20 to 2-9) at Inniskeen. The result means that Monaghan are relegated to Division Two.
Armagh staged a dramatic late recovery with two goals and a flurry of points to defeat Dublin by 2-24 to 1-25 in a thrilling game in Croke Park. It gives Armagh a chance of avoiding relegation. They’ll need to beat Kerry this weekend.
Meanwhile in Tralee, Kerry displayed their full range of attacking talents as they hammered Mayo by 2-29 to 0-19.
McGuinness: ‘We have no complaints’
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness was very pragmatic when looking back on his team’s defeat after the game.
“We have no complaints. We didn’t do enough to win the game. That’s the bottom line. We got it back to a couple of points with 20 minutes to go and one point with ten minutes to go with a gale-force wind at our backs.
“If you’re not winning the game in that situation, it’s your own fault, so it’s back to the drawing board for us in many respects.”
He said that his team turned over possession too many times in the second half.
“Every score Roscommon got in the second half was as a result of a turnover or a kickout we didn’t get away. The proof is in the pudding.”
McGuinness concluded: “We’re disappointed, but we’ve had a good campaign up to this point. We’ll take a lot of learning from today and we’ll just move on to the next game now.”
