Here’s how the teams will line out:
Roscommon
1. Colm Lavin (Éire Óg)
2. David Murray (Pádraig Pearses)
3. John McManus (Roscommon Gaels)
4. Niall McInerney (St Brigid’s)
5. Sean McDermott (Western Gaels)
6. Sean Mullooly (Strokestown)
7. Conor Devaney (Kilbride)
8. Tadgh O’Rourke (Tulsk)
9. Cathal Compton (Strokestown)
10. Fintan Cregg (Elphin)
11. Ciaráin Murtagh (C) St Faithleach’s
12. Enda Smith (Boyle)
13. Brian Stack (St. Brigid’s)
14. Diarmuid Murtagh (St. Faithleach’s)
15. Niall Kilroy (Fuerty)
Galway
1. Ruairi Lavelle (Renvyle)
2. Cathal Sweeney (Kilanin)
3. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
4. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
5. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
6. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
7. Liam Silke (Corofin)
8. Fiontan O Curraoin (Mícheal Breathnach)
9. Paul Conroy (St James’)
10. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
11. Michael Daly (Mountbellew/Moylough)
12. Johnny Heaney (Killanin)
13. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michaels)
14. Damien Comer (Annaghdown)
15. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin/Clonberne)
Galway 0-0 Roscommon 0-1
1 min – Ciaran Murtagh scores from Roscommon’s second attack of the game. The Rossies are aided by a strong breeze in the opening half.
Galway 0-0 Roscommon 0-2
2 mins – Diarmuid Murtagh adds his name to the scoresheet.
Galway 0-0 Roscommon 0-3
5 mins – Cian Connolly wins a free in front of the posts and Ciaran Murtagh does the business.
Galway 0-1 Roscommon 0-3
8 mins – Shane Walsh swings over a free to get Galway on the board.
Galway 0-1 Roscommon 0-4
9 mins – Murtagh nails another free after he was fouled yet again by Declan Kyne.
Galway 0-1 Roscommon 0-6
11 mins – Superb score by Conor Devanney after a wonderful catch by Smith at midfield. Galway make a mess of the ensuing kick-out and Murtagh converts the free.
Galway 0-2 Roscommon 0-6
13 mins – Shane Walsh pops over Galway’s first from play.
GOAL! Cian Connolly buries a super goal for the Rossies.
Galway 0-2 Roscommon 1-6
14 mins – Is there a major upset on in the Connacht final?
Another wide from Roscommon. The wides are sucking the life out of Kevin McStay’s men but they’re well in control from open play.
Michael Daly cracks a shot off the post after he was played in by Paul Conroy. Roscommon got off the hook there.
Galway 0-2 Roscommon 1-7
31 mins – After a great move Diarmuid Murtagh sends the away side eight in front.
Galway have hit three wides and struck the post in the last few minutes. Roscommon’s tackling has been outstanding today.
Galway 0-3 Roscommon 1-7 – HT
Galway 0-5 Roscommon 1-7 Walsh points another free to bring Galway a point closer to their opponents.
Moments later, Damien Comer slots over another point.
Two changes at half-time to let you know about.
GOAL! Brian Stack scores a brilliant individual effort for Roscommon!
Galway 0-6 Roscommon 2-8
42 mins – Roscommon’s lead is eight after Conroy’s free from distance.
Galway 0-10 Roscommon 2-8
45 mins – Shane Walsh and Conroy hit a score apiece. It’s a four point game.
Galway 0-11 Roscommon 2-8
49 mins – A fine sweeping Galway counter-attack sees Michael Daly split the posts. John McManus picks up a yellow for a late hit on Flynn.
Galway 0-11 Roscommon 2-9
50 mins – Diarmuid Murtagh fires over a free and then hits a bad wide moments later.
Diarmuid Murtagh has gone down with an injury and is being helped off the field. He’s replaced by Donie Smith.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-9
53 mins – Damien Comer sends over a fine score. We have a three point game once again.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-10
54 mins – Connolly nails a really important point for the Rossies.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-11
59 mins – Donie Smith slots over an audacious score from the outside of the left.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-11
64 mins – We’ve had no Galway score for ten minutes. Ian Kilbride hits a wide at the far end.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-12
68 mins – Donie Smith converts a free. Roscommon lead by six.
RED CARD! Cian Connolly picks up a second yellow for a smart foul to slow down a Galway attack.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-13
71 mins - Devaney slots over his second after a lovely flick up. The title is Roscommon’s now.
RED CARD! Paul Conroy is black carded while Micheal Lundy is red carded and Damien Comer picks up a second yellow. Tadgh O’Rourke is also yellow carded.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-14
75 mins – Devanney stretches their lead to eight. This is an incredible result.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-14
76 mins – Killoran stretches the lead to nine once again.
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-14 – FT
Beirne is the most versatile forward we have. He can play anywhere from 4-8 and has an agressif style about him.
I confess to not being a big fan Roux and think Thornbury is the better player at Connacht. The former did play well again Wales.
As much as POM did well in last outings James Ryan needs to be his own man for the Georgia game.
Drop POM and Roux and bring in Baird and Beirne. Both have been part of the Irish setup.
Good player, where do you put him and who is left out? Because we have many players who are close in ability to each other there is a big onus on AF to have a clear vision for Irish rugby on the pitch. That should lead him to putting the different units together based on particular individual skills that are a fit/match for his vision and then guiding the various coaching teams to gel the units as a team. Then he needs to get his message out to the rugby public so we know what he is trying to do. He has to tell us where his trade offs are e.g. because this is my vision it will sacrifice scrum power in the 2nd row for superior jackalling ability at the breakdown ……and so on. Its not difficult if you have the beginning to end vision. Joe had it and thats why he was so successful.
@Michael Murray: Beirne in and O’Mahony out. Simple
@Stuart Quinn: ….everything is simple to the simpleminded
@Michael Murray: why on earth would he tell the rugby public his deep thought process behind various selections and what his intricate game plan is? Essentially highlighting the weaknesses in certain players and the squad to the opposition?
@Finn McCool: ….one of the key components for successful management anywhere and at any level is the ability to bring people with you. To do that you have to inform…..doesn’t have to be minutae but enough so that people get the gist of what you are doing.Try managing without it.
@Stuart Quinn: so you saying play Beirne at 7?
@Chris Mc: No Beirne at 6. Connors or Van der Flier at 7. Conan/Doris/Stander at 8. This covers lineout, jackaling, tackling and ball carrying. Not simpleminded!
@Stuart Quinn: no room for Levy or POM there so not to mention emerging talent ? – not sure we’re ready to let POM drift off into sunset yet given his strong performances at international as a contesting line out jumper or additional own-throw option
@Stuart Quinn: problem with Van der Flier is against the physically bigger teams he lacks that bit of power. V good all the same though
Very talented player a little caught between positions possibly, I see him asa second rower and hope that himself Dillane and roux were tearing absolute strips out of each other this week to get the starting spot/spots up for grabs.
We need serious competition for places to keep the centrally contracted players on their toes. That’s right through the squad. If your only showing up for a battle on game day, its too late.
@whoowhat?: he almost has snookered himself with his versatility from the bench but he’s a quality player. I think for Ireland anyway he should focus on 2nd row, the back row options are too strong. He’s a huge asset to have there