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Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Walsh goal decisive as Roscommon minors claim final GAA honours of 2020 in biblical conditions

Amid Storm Bella, Roscommon held Sligo scoreless for 55 minutes and fended off a late fightback to claim provincial honours.

SHANE WALSHโ€™S 44TH-MINUTE goal proved decisive for the Roscommon minors as they overcame Sligo 1-5 to 1-2 to win the Connacht Minor Football Championship at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan, Co. Mayo.

The gameโ€™s low scoring was to be expected in biblical weather conditions, Storm Bella heaving and spluttering down on the last GAA final of 2020 as Emmet Durney boys won their first minor title in eight years โ€” or a first since 2017 at the U17 age grade.

Sligo, who were chasing their first minor title since 1968, might have felt at times as though they were waiting just as long for a score: they didnโ€™t register for a full 55 minutes before a late surge that saw them finish three points short.

roscommon-players-celebrates-at-the-final-whistle The Rossies celebrate at the final whistle. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

With the wind and rain on their backs, Roscommon opened up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead at the turnaround, Oisรญn Cregg, skipper Eoin Colleran and Conor Hand (x2) firing over to give their side a commanding lead in the conditions.

The Rossies fended Sligo off in the third quarter, maintaining their healthy advantage until the imperious Hand fed Walsh for the defining goal after Sligo lost possession in their half-back line.

Hand added his third point before Roscommon ostensibly declared at 1-5, eight points to the good. Canice Mulligan and substitute Simon McKeon finally replied for Sligo with minutes remaining and when Dylan Walshโ€™s 59th-minute free found its way to the net, they sniffed a chance.

But Roscommon held firm to claim provincial honours, the last of their kind on the GAA calendar after what has been a difficult and remarkable year.

eoin-colleran-lifts-the-trophy Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Roscommon: D. Farrell; M. Sugrue, C. Keogh, L. Walsh; C. Neary, A. McManus, E. Ward; O. Cregg (0-1), J. Greene; S. Walsh (1-0), R. Conlon, C. Hand (0-3); A. Shannon, E. Colleran (0-1f), D. Gately. Subs: T. Lennon for Shannon (HT), B. Nugent for Gately (39โ€ฒ), D. Coleman for McManus (55โ€ฒ), D. Oโ€™Beirne for Ward (60โ€ฒ).

Sligo: J. Lundy; L. Casserly, R. Kelly, J. Kiernan; R. Chambers, C. Oโ€™Reilly, M. Heraghty; D. Oโ€™Boyle, B.Byrne; D. Foy, L. Marren, C. Mulligan (0-1); D. Walsh (1-0f), C. Oates, A. Gallagher. Subs: S. McKeon (0-1) for Kiernan (43โ€ฒ), B. Duffy for Oates (47โ€ฒ), C. Mitchell for Byrne (50โ€ฒ), T. Langan for Kelly (55โ€ฒ).

Referee: P. Guckian (Leitrim).

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    Mute Declan Snow
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:04 PM

    Surely he shouldnโ€™t be admitting this?

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Feb 21st 2019, 1:32 PM

    @Declan Snow: 100% should receive a one match ban. For doing it and even more for being so open and proud of it.

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    Mute kev egan
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:05 PM

    Why would you come out and admit doing thisโ€ฆ!!

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    Mute Dan
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:16 PM

    1 1 in Germany with 5 mins to go and every Liverpool player should go down holding their leg.

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    Mute Gary O'Rourke
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    Feb 22nd 2019, 8:23 AM

    @Dan: no point doing that when itโ€™s 3-1 to Bayern you gimp

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    Mute Johnno Byrne
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:08 PM

    Did he also reveal that water is wet? Cue the outrage. Even though every team does it

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Feb 21st 2019, 1:38 PM

    Iv said it before if a players goes down and match has to be stopped, they should have to go off for a minimum period of time say 3 minutes. See how quickly all this would stop.

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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Feb 21st 2019, 5:15 PM

    @Cormac Flanagan: and what about genuine cases? Want the oppositions star striker off for 3 minutes? โ€œAccidentally stand on his toes at a cornerโ€ฆ.

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Feb 21st 2019, 6:58 PM

    @Ted Logan: if itโ€™s genuine then he will require time for treatment anyway. Or be substituted. And if the star striker gets targeted itโ€™s up to the ref/VAR to sort it out.

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:40 PM

    Football players fake injury , shocker

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    Mute Michael
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:21 PM

    That game was like playing fifa being a goal up at the end and just passing about killing time at the same time pissing off the other player

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Feb 21st 2019, 6:20 PM

    Ramos is still a (unt though right?

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    Mute Brian Les
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    Feb 21st 2019, 3:34 PM

    Good thing Bielsa didnโ€™t say this. 200k find incoming

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    Mute Tricksy
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    Feb 21st 2019, 3:05 PM

    Well , thereโ€™s a surprise . He wonโ€™t have any bad feelings so if Liverpool are ahead and develop a lot of cramp ! How does these guys become managers ? A silly admittance . Half time โ€ฆ.. hope next game is better than the anfield one .

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:19 PM

    Kick em out of the competition

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    Mute James Clancy
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    Feb 21st 2019, 1:41 PM

    @Hardly Normal: Harsh.

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Feb 21st 2019, 3:00 PM

    @James Clancy: I know ya but still

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    Mute Noel Lillis
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    Feb 21st 2019, 12:30 PM

    This is worse than Beckham gettin the yellow card

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