AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final
Pádraig Pearses 2-10
Tir Chonaill Gaels 0-8
Roscommon champions Pádraig Pearses are into the Connacht club senior final at their first attempt and after this very impressive win their have negotiated two potentially tricky hurdles to reach the decider. Now they must plan for a joust with the all-conquering Corofin side on Sunday week next.
After giving Clann na nGael a fright in last year’s championship, Pearses were wary of the challenge they might face from Tir Chonaill Gaels but they coped very well. Pat Flanagan’s men got away to a good start and never looked back, winning comfortably in the end.
A big crowd travelled to London to support the new Roscommon champions and points from Paul Carey, Davy Murray and Lorcan Daly got them up and running.
Indeed, it took the home side almost 20 minutes to get their first score (from Liam Gavagan) but Pearses were always in control. The Roscommon side got their first three-pointer just before the half-time break when Hubert Darcy raced through for a fine goal, and at half-time Pearses led by seven.
On the resumption, a Conor Payne point made it an eight-point gap before the home side enjoyed their best period of the game with points from Liam Gavagan, Eoin Mageean and Brian Mullins.
But Pearses sealed the win with a fine goal shortly after that. A brilliant pass from Ronan Daly was seized by Conor Payne and he made no mistake from close range. Further points from Ronan Daly and Paul Carey kept Pearses ticking over and they freewheeled to the finish. Best for an impressive Woodmount side were Davy Murray, Mark Richardson, Hubert Darcy, Ronan Daly and Conor Payne.
Looking ahead, and the next challenge for the Roscommon champions could not be any tougher as they prepare to face a Corofin side who are going for three All-Ireland titles in a row.
However, Pearses will be going into the game as underdogs and that will suit them fine. Already they have taken to the Connacht club championship like a duck to water. They will relish the challenge of Tuam Stadium on Sunday week.
Pádraig Pearses: P Whelan, S Carty, A Butler, M Richardson, G Downey, D Murray (0-1), R Daly (0-3), N Carty, C Daly (0-1), P Carey (0-2), L Daly (0-1), N Daly, E Kelly, H Darcy (1-1), C Payne (1-1). Subs: T Dolan for Whelan, J Kelly for Richardson, A Feehily for Carey, S Fahy for L Daly, S Downey for N Daly, T Butler for E Kelly, M Feehily for Payne.
Tir Chonaill Gaels: G McEvoy, M McWilliams, P Butler, D O’Donnell, M McCoy, M Moynihan, A McGarvey, A McDermott (0-1), B Mullin, K Rafferty (0-1), A Askin, A Murtagh, B McGarvey, L Gavaghan (0-5), L Gallagher Subs: G Magee for O’Donnell, P O’Connor for McCoy, R Kearney for Rafferty, E Mageean (0-1) for Askin, K Clarke for Murtagh, B Friel for McGarvey.
Referee: James Molloy
