Allianz Football League Division Two
Roscommon 3-21 (3-3-15) Down 1-20 (1-6-8)
A new era for Gaelic football was unveiled last weekend. At King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park last Sunday, Roscommon began their league campaign with a win over Down after a sometimes chaotic encounter. While there were many reservations about the new rules, there were lots of positives too. The fair-sized crowd present (and the TV audience) were treated to plenty of scores, which is never a bad thing.
The bottom line is that Roscommon have made a successful start to their league campaign with a seven-point victory that arguably looked unlikely until the final quarter. However, attacking class won out in the end, and Roscommon have plenty of that.
This victory was capped by a spectacular goal from Ciaráin Murtagh in the 58th minute when the Down goalkeeper John O’Hare was caught in possession up the field. Debutant Colm Neary made a vital block and when Cian McKeon found the St Faithleach’s star Murtagh hit the empty net with a quite brilliant strike from almost 45 metres out. It was one of the best goals seen in Hyde Park for many a long day and a score that set Roscommon on their way. They never looked back after that.
Down had the benefit of the strong breeze in the opening half. Their ability to kick two-point scores was key as they led by five points at half-time.
It was a game full of incident. Roscommon had the ball in the Down net after only two minutes after a lung-bursting run from Enda Smith ended with the Boyle star shooting low past John O’Hare.
Down were on top at midfield and they took full advantage of the new two-point scoring zone, recording no less than six in the opening half with full-forward Pat Havern leading the way with four. Their goal came in the 15th minute when Ryan McEvoy fisted a long delivery past Conor Carroll.
Roscommon were hanging in though, and when Cian McKeon bundled home a 26th minute goal it reduced the margin to just a point. Indeed the Rossies could have scored a third goal when Diarmuid Murtagh was fouled in the large square in the 28th minute, but Enda Smith’s spot-kick was easily saved by Down goalkeeper O’Hare. As it was, the visitors took a 1-14 to 2-6 lead into the break.
With the aid of the wind in the second half and with Ciaráin Murtagh and Ben O’Carroll in off the bench, Davy Burke’s team were a different prospect altogether. Down did kick the first two points of the half, but once Shane Cunnane scored Roscommon’s first two-pointer of the match in the 41st minute, the home side clicked into top gear.
Ben O’Carroll, Diarmuid Murtagh and Daire Cregg were all excellent as the Roscommon scores began to mount, but it was Ciaráin Murtagh who was a class apart as the home side reeled in the Down men. In the 58th minute came the coup de grace from the brilliant Murtagh that set the Rossies on their way.
After that goal, Roscommon stretched their lead with points from Diarmuid Murtagh (a two-pointer, and two points from play), sub Donie Smith and Daire Cregg. Cregg was back on the field having been shown a black card in the 54th minute for an illegal block.
The opinion of many that the new rules would suit attacking teams and attacking players was certainly borne out in this clash and the big scores put up by both teams bodes well for the future of the game in terms of entertainment for the fans.
Spectators, coaches, players and the media will want to see more of this new game before passing judgement but overall I would say that the changes are positive.
It was an excellent win and a good start to the league for Roscommon. Conor Carroll was excellent in goal and under the new rules the goalkeeper will assume even greater importance.
Colm Neary had a superb debut while Brian Stack and Tim Lambe were also prominent in defence. But it was up front where Roscommon really shone. Enda Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh and Daire Cregg started – and were doing well in attack – but the introduction of Ciaráin Murtagh, Ben O’Carroll and Donie Smith was key to this opening victory.
Now Roscommon move on quickly to Drogheda this Sunday and a clash with the Wee County. On the evidence of what we saw last Sunday, Roscommon can travel with confidence.
Note: During the game and since it too I have been contacted by several people who were not able to distinguish the numbers on the jerseys of the Roscommon players. It was the first occasion on which the team wore the new-style jersey in public, but media (myself included) and fans alike struggled to identify players. It’s not a major issue and one that can be easily remedied. I promised many people that I would raise it this week.
Burke on new rules: ‘At times it’s bedlam!’
It was a breathless Roscommon manager Davy Burke who spoke to the media after his team’s win over Down on Sunday. He first pointed to the chaotic nature of the game.
“It’s mental at times. We spoke yesterday about the new format. We could be five points up or five points down. We played Dublin last week in a challenge and we were three or four points up and a few minutes later we were eight points down. That’s the nature of this game. We were not worried at half-time today… we knew that the likes of Ciaráin Murtagh, Ben O’Carroll, Donie Smith and Senan Lambe would make the difference to push us over the line – and they did”.
The value of two-pointers, and three-pointers too, was crucial according to the Roscommon manager. “The two-pointers are crucial but our three goals were vital too and I think we left a lot out there as well – but we scored 3-21, which is a fair tally”.
The manager said that new format of the game can be very confusing at times.
“At times it’s bedlam out there and there is no point saying anything else. Even the crowd were roaring about the ‘three players up’ at one stage but they (Down) had a man black-carded and you can have just two back in that case. But look, it’s the first day out and we are all learning here”.
Burke says that a big lead can soon be whittled down under the new system.
“You are not emptying the bench if you are six points down now. Even five or six down you are still right in the match with the two-pointers and that can happen in every game”.
He paid tribute to his team’s attacking talent as well. “To rack up 3-21 on a bad day of weather… you have to be happy with that. We missed a penalty too and we were rusty out there at times. We missed a lot of training with bad weather, snow and what have you. We played just three challenge games… that’s all the preparation we had.
“We will kick on now ahead of next Sunday and it will probably be the same thing again but we are looking forward to it” he said.
