Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC quarter-final
Padraig Pearses 0-15 St Brigid’s 0-13 (after extra-time)
Just when you thought that there couldn’t be any more drama last weekend, along came Padraig Pearses to turn the Roscommon Senior Football Championship on its head with this deserved shock win against the Roscommon and Connacht champions St Brigid’s.
It must be said that this wasn’t a great game, but the surprising lack of quality fare was more than made up for in terms of drama as Pearses firstly fought back from three points down late on and then surged to victory in an incident-packed extra-time period.
Pearses were ahead by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time of regulation time – and were good value for that lead too. St Brigid’s were a different side on the restart, sending over six points without reply. With eight minutes left they led by 0-10 to 0-7 and looked set fair for yet another last-four appearance.
Pearses brought on their talisman Niall Daly (who was clearly injured), and the county star inspired his side as they came back in thrilling fashion in the final few minutes with points from the outstanding Paul Carey (free), Niall Carty and Declan Kenny levelling the scores at 0-10 each.
In the subsequent extra-time Pearses were the better side and three Carey points helped them to a 0-13 to 0-11 half-time lead. St Brigid’s reduced the margin to a point with two minutes to go. Then, in an incredible turn of events the champions took a quick free from 25 metres out when faced with a ‘tap over’ opportunity which, if converted, would have levelled the scores. Paul McGrath tried to link up with Conor Hand, but the move went astray and was cleared out for a ’45, which Shane Cunnane drove wide.
To add to St Brigid’s misery, on the kickout Pearses worked the ball downfield and a late Declan Kenny free sealed an impressive win for Sean Canning’s side, who will now face St Faithleach’s in the semi-final.
Padraig Pearses: Paul Whelan; Gavin Downey, Conor Daly (0-1), Conor Lohan; Ronan Daly, Niall Carty (0-1), David Murray (0-1); Conor Ryan (0-2, 2 45s), Caelim Keogh; Conor Harley, Declan Kenny (0-3, 1 free), Lorcan Daly; Eoin Colleran (0-2, 1 free), Paul Carey (0-5, 4 frees), Jack Tumulty. Subs: Sean Canning for L Daly (45), Niall Daly for Lohan (53), Mark Richardson for Downey (55), Emmett Kelly for Colleran (58), Adam McGreal for Tumulty (e/t), Jack Nevin for E Kelly (e/t), Jack Tumulty for Carery (e/t).
St Brigid’s: Cormac Sheehy; Ronan Stack, Brian Stack (0-1), Ruari Smith; Robbie Dolan, Pearse Frost, Ruaidhri Fallon (0-2, 2 marks); Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane (0-2, frees); Conor Hand (0-2), Paul McGrath (0-1), John Cunningham (0-1); Ciaran Sugrue (0-1), Charlie O’Carroll, Bobby Nugent (0-3, 2 frees). Subs: Brian O’Hara-Duggan for O’Carroll (h/t), Sean Trundle for Smith (43), Mark Daly for Cunningham (53), Padraig Kelly for Nugent (59), Niall McInerney for Frost (e/t), Davy Cunniffe for R Stack (e/t), Gearoid Cunniffe for Sugrue (e/t).
Referee: Paddy Neilan.
Man of the Match
Paul Carey
