Roscommon 1-17
Down 0-15
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
ROSCOMMON’S FOOTBALL RISING continued as they lifted a league crown for the second successive year in today’s Division 2 final at Croke Park.
A Down team that were inhibited by the first-half dismissal of defender Brendan McArdle were the latest team to fall victim to John Evans Roscommon side.
Ciarán Murtagh’s bullet to the net in the 61st minute sealed their success after substitute Donie Shine touched a high ball down perfectly into the path of the Roscommon centre-forward.
Murtagh finished the game with 1-2 to his credit but man-of-the-match Senan Kilbride also sparkled as he notched 0-4 while Cian Connolly was confident in his place kicking as he finished with 0-5.
The teams were tied at 0-7 apiece at the interval after a tame and tepid opening period. They were locked together at 0-3 apiece by the 22nd minute but the exchanges improved before half-time.
Roscommon upped the ante after half-time as they reeled off four points without reply in the opening six minutes of the second-half. Down fought back, principally through Donal O’Hare and Kevin McKernan, but couldn’t close the gap sufficiently.
Murtagh’s goal put real daylight between the teams while substitutes Shine, Diarmuid Murtagh and Ultan Harney all got on the scoresheet to clinch success for Roscommon.
Scorers for Roscommon: Cian Connolly 0-5 (0-4f), Ciarán Murtagh 1-2 (0-1f), Senan Kilbride 0-4, Ciarán Cafferkey, Donal Smith, Cathal Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Shine (0-1f), Ultan Harney 0-1 each.
Scorers for Down: Donal O’Hare 0-6 (0-4f), Kevin McKernan 0-2, Brendan McArdle, Paul Devlin, Conor Maginn, Conor Laverty, Jerome Johnston (0-1f), Ryan Johnston, Caolan Mooney (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Roscommon
1. Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)
4. Neil Collins (Castlerea St Kevin’s)
3. Niall Carty (Padraig Pearses)
2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
5. Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses)
6. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
7. Ciaran Cafferkey (Western Gaels)
8. Kevin Higgins (Western Gaels)
9. Cathal Shine (Clann na nGael)
12. Ronan Stack (St Brigid’s)
11. Ciarán Murtagh (St Faithleach’s)
10. Donal Smith (Boyle)
22. Cian Connolly (Roscommon Gaels)
14. Senan Kilbride (St Brigid’s)
15. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)
Subs
13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleach’s) for Smith (half-time)
20. Ultan Harney (Clann na nGael) for Cregg (47)
19. Brian Murtagh (St Faithleach’s) for Murray (53)
24. Colin Compton (Strokestown) for Ciarán Murtagh (61)
23. Ian Kilbride (St Brigid’s) for Higgins (67)
Down
1. Stephen Kane (Kilcoo)
3. Luke Howard (Bryansford)
17. Aidan Carr (Clonduff)
5. Darren O’Hagan (Clonduff)
2. Gerard Collins (Downpatrick)
6. Brendan McArdle (Annaclone)
11. Kevin McKernan (Burren)
14. Caolan Mooney (Rostrevor)
8. Peter Turley (Downpatrick)
24. Darragh O’Hanlon (Kilcoo)
10. Conor Maginn (Bryansford)
7. Conall McGovern (Burren)
9. Paul Devlin (Kilcoo)
13. Conor Laverty (Kilcoo)
15. Donal O’Hare (Burren)
Subs
19. Peter Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin) for Turley (half-time)
21. Ryan Johnston (Kilcoo) for Paul Devlin (47)
20. Niall Madine (Saval) for McGovern (59)
18. Arthur McConville (Clonduff) for Maginn (63)
23. Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo) for McKernan (66)
26. Ryan Boyle (Warrenpoint) for Collins (69)
Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)
What on earth is he doing over there?
Ron there is this place that exists beyond the premier league, and its called the rest of the world, Turkey is one of the biggest growing economies in the world and their top clubs are not short of a few bob
He will be like a god over there best of playing there than some mid to low EPL team..
Don’t be so sanctimonious, I am well aware that turkey is a half decent league but a player like RVP shouldn’t be playing there. Not for another few years anyway, I’m sure he won’t be there long to be honest.
Well no other top club wanted him.. Only big team linked was Juventus and that was more likely paper talk..
I’m sure he’s got a hand release clause in his contract and he will be out of there by Christmas and if not next summer. He only just turned 32 and there will be some top team who will take a punt in him. The deal to sell him seemed to go through very quickly and I get the impression United wanted to send him somewhere far away.
He’s obviously still not fit
Deal took 2 weeks + to go through wasn’t like a few hours. He is not the same player mentally as he was , to me his drive and motivation is gone.
Didn’t Van Gaal tell him at end season he would be selling him the deal took as long as any other deal..
let me rephrase, if he was fot he would have started
*fit
Ron I just think we’re too obsessed with the premier league, and I can understand to an extent seeing as how close it is to us, but I’d think we’d benefit if we broadened our soccer horizons beyond the physical pressure cooker of English football, we should be sending some of our best young players to the likes of the Netherlands and Spain to build a more technical culture, it’s a big wide world, imagine if the likes of duff or even Wes hoolihan went to Spain at a young age
anyway I don’t think the Turkish league is all that hectic to be hon, but it’s a damn sight more technical than say English championship and the top 2 or 3 clubs have massive support, loads of money and go far in Europe every year, why shouldn’t rvp play there?
The 15% tax rate for footballers in Turkey also makes it attractive for those in the last few years of their careers.
Lads, you can talk up the Turkish league all you want, but this guy is still good enough to play for a champions leagues club in one of the top 4 leagues. A team with a chance of winning it
nah I really don’t think the likes of Barcelona, Bayern, either of the Madrids would have bought him to be hon, he’ll be a legend in fenerbahce if he stays fit
or gets fit
although as Ferguson used to say to Giggs – you’ll get those injury years back at the end of your career, Keane admits himself he messed his body up by playing through injuries
Ah sour still throwing in you sly sh!t stirring digs hoping your can get a response you Sad little boy.
Jolly, the grown ups are talking.
You better go back to your Lego so
Can’t believe he fell out with Van Gal who though he was God at the World Cup. Robin is amazing player and I’m also surprised he is not playing for a top team. Rooney is still at home! Hmm!
Don’t act so surprised Ron I’m sure you
posted about 20 comments at least when the story broke …
class is permanent
That is some push in the back on the opposing defender!!! He literally ends up on the floor