Kepak Roscommon SHC Semi-Final
Pádraig Pearses 0-14 Oran 1-11
Seamus Duke
Two late points from super-sub Daniel Glynn saw Pearses earn a deserved draw against defending champions Oran in this low-key encounter played in the wind and rain in Athleague on Saturday evening. The draw will have the County Board’s fixtures committee scratching their heads with a hectic schedule on the way over the next few weeks in football and hurling. In truth, both of these sides will welcome the extra match as a chance to do better as the standard of the second semi-final, which followed, was much higher.
There was precious little for the fair-sized crowd to get excited about in the opening half. Oran started the better side and they led by 0-4 to 0-2 with Gearoid Keenan scoring two points for Oran, Eamon Kenny and Johnny Crehan also chipping in with points. Young Daniel Staunton was on target with two frees for Pearses. Two further frees from Staunton added to a super strike from sub Daniel Glynn saw the sides level at 0-5 each by the 26th minute. Jerry Fallon and Daniel Staunton exchanged frees prior to half-time and at that stage it was 0-6 each.
Indeed, it was a wonder that Daniel Glynn had not started the game as he was the dominant influence for Pearses after he came on in the 16th minute. The scores were locked together at 0-9 each after 46 minutes and a draw always looked a strong possibility. Points from Daniel Staunton and a Glynn free edged Pearses ahead after 48 minutes but Gearoid Keenan’s free reduced the gap to one with ten minutes to play.
Then the only goal of the game arrived in the 52nd minute when Gearoid Keenan’s long delivery from 60 metres deceived all and sundry and ended up in the Pearses net. Daniel Glynn and Jerry Fallon exchanged pointed frees to leave two points between the teams with five to play. But man of the match Glynn kept his nerve to score two frees in the 56th and 58th minutes.
It was a contest that neither side deserved to win, and the hope will be that both teams can improve for the reply. They will have to if they want to trouble Four Roads in the final. For Oran Paul Kenny, Johnny Crehan, Thomas Fetherston and Gearoid Keenan were most prominent while for Pearses Daniel Glynn was their stand out performer supported well by Daniel Staunton, Shane Naughton, Thomas Seale and Paul Dolan.
Pádraig Pearses: Pádraig Dolan; Keelan Daly, Karl Feehily, Eoghan Costello; Eoghan Cogavin, Paul Dolan, Jimmy Donoghue; Tomas Seale, T Cogavin; Gavin Downey, Shane Naughton (0-1), Jamie Donoghue; Oisin Kelly, Cathal Kelly, Daniel Staunton (0-6, 4 frees). Subs: Daniel Glynn (0-7, 4 frees) for O Kelly (16), Adam Finnerty for Cogavin (25), Tomas Sweeney for J Donoghue (64).
Oran: Jerry Fallon (0-3, frees); MT McCormack, Padraig Crehan, Kevin Crehan; Darragh McCormack, Paul Kenny (0-1), Hugh Rooney; Johnny Crehan (0-1), Mike Dwyer; Gary Concannon, Thomas Fetherston. Eamon Kenny (0-3, 2 frees); Shane McDermott, David Ryan, Gearoid Keenan (1-4, 2 frees). Subs: Adam Phelan for Ryan (45), Kieran Whyte for Concannon (56).
Referee: John Keane (Galway)
Stat Attack
Wides: Pearses 11 (6 first half), Oran 7 (4 first half)
Red cards: None
Yellow cards: Pearses 1 (Tomas Seale), Oran 0
Scores from play: Pearses 0-6 Oran 1-5
Man of the Match: Daniel Glynn (Pádraig Pearses)
