Galway 0-13

Roscommon 1-10

DONIE SMITH SHOWED nerves of steel to draw Roscommon level in the Connacht final with a stoppage-time free.

The last time these counties met in the Connacht final back in 1998, it took a replay for Galway to lift the title.

Galway were minutes away from victory in a game played out in desperately poor conditions at Pearse Stadium in Salthill. Roscommon trailed by two heading into the closing stages before a score apiece from Cathal Cregg and Smith somehow dragged the away side back from the brink.

Enda Smith’s first-half goal was all that separated the sides at the break in a half where Roscommon enjoyed the strong breeze. Roscommon led by 1-6 to 0-6, but fell away after half-time.

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The Tribesmen soon asserted their dominance after the restart and kicked three of the first four scores of the half to cancel out Roscommon’s lead.

Roscommon’s attack was very laboured as they struggled to break down Galway’s defensive set-up. A 57th minute point from Damien Comer edged the hosts in front, followed closely by one from Adrian Varley to double their advantage in the closing stages.

That left it up to Cregg and Smith to guarantee another day out for teams next weekend.

Scorers for Galway: D Cummins (0-3); G Sice (0-2 frees), D Comer (0-2 each); B Power (0-1 ’45); J Heaney, G O’Donnell, G Bradshaw, A Varley.

Scorers for Roscommon: E Smith (1-0); C Murtagh (0-1 free), F Cregg (0-1 free), N Daly (0-2 each); D Smith (0-1 free), D O’Malley (0-1 ’45); C Devaney, C Cregg (0-1 each).

Roscommon

1 Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)

2 Sean McDermott (Western Gaels)
3 Sean Mullooly (Strokestown)
4 Niall McInerney (St Brigids)

5 David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
6 Sean Purcell (Boyle)
7 John McManus (Roscommon Gaels)

8 Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
9 Cathal Compton (Strokestown)

10 Fintan Cregg (Elphin)
11 Ciaran Murtagh Captain (St Faithleachs)
12 David Keenan (St Barrys)

13 Conor Devaney (Kilbride)
14 Enda Smith (Boyle)
15 Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)

Subs: D Smith for E Smith (41 mins): U Harney for Compton (49); T Corcorcan for Keenan (60); D Shine for Devaney (65); S Kilbride for F Cregg (66); C Sweeney for Heaney (69).

Galway

1. Bernard Power (Corofin)

2. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
3. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
4. David Wynne (Moycullen)

5. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
6. Liam Silke (Corofin)
7. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars – captain)

8. Paul Conroy (St. James’)
9. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)

10. Gary Sice (Corofin)
11. Damien Comer (Annaghdown)
12. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)

13. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michaels)
14. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
15. Danny Cummins (Claregalway)

Subs: A Varley for Sice (60 mins); P Sweeney for Cummins (65).

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