Padraig Pearses are through to the Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC final after they had four points to spare against Boyle in a high-scoring thriller that went to extra time at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park on Saturday evening.
Pearses led by 1-11 to 0-12 at half-time, with Davy Murray finding the net in the 23rd minute.
Keelan Kelly added a second goal for Pearses shortly after the restart, but Oisin Cregg, who produced a fantastic performance for Boyle, struck his side’s first goal in the 36th minute.
From there to the finish, it was breathtaking stuff, with attacking football of the highest quality from both sides.
Donie Smith’s converted two-point free deep into injury time looked to have won it for Boyle, but Pearses responded immediately. A monster two-pointer from Declan Kenny levelled the contest at 2-18 to 1-21 and sent the game into extra time.
Pearses finally pulled clear in extra time, with Jack Tumulty and substitute Adam McGreal finding the net. McGreal added another goal late on to seal Pearses’ place in the final, despite a late consolation effort from Cathal McKeon for Boyle.
Pearses emerged winners on a final scoreline of 5-22 to 2-27.
Earlier, Ballinameen blitzed Kilglass Gaels in the second half of their King & Moffatt JFC semi-final.
The sides were level at half-time, Ballinameen 1-7 to Kilglass Gaels’ 0-10, but it was one-way traffic after the break as Ballinameen powered to a comprehensive 4-21 to 0-12 victory.
