Kepak Roscommon SHC Final
Four Roads 3-12 St Dominic’s 2-11
For 50 minutes of this County Senior Hurling final at Dr Hyde Park last Sunday the desired fairytale outcome looked like it would become a reality for St Dominic’s. They had played most of the hurling up to then. They were still leading by five points (2-10 to 1-8) and were coping with the best Four Roads had to offer. A first title in 25 years was certainly still on the cards.
Then the pattern of the game changed. The champions emptied their bench, remained patient, and finished strongly. ‘Man of the match’ Conor Morris struck home his second goal of the game, and the writing was on the wall for the challengers after that. In addition, two of St Dominic’s talismen – Micheal Byrne and Naos Connaughton – had to retire injured late on, and when sub Adam Donnelly blasted home an injury-time goal for the champions, Dominic’s were beaten after a brave effort that just fell short.
It was an error-strewn final but one that was always interesting. The conditions were a major factor. The gale-force wind blew towards the town end of the field and it was a huge advantage to the respective teams when in their favour. St Dominic’s had it in the opening half – and they made it pay. They played some great stuff, and at one stage led by a whopping 11 points. But 1-2 scored by Four Roads in the last five minutes of the half was to prove crucial in the final analysis.
Another major factor in this final was the massive puck-outs that both goalkeepers were able to hit when the wind was at their backs. Noel Fallon in particular hit some prodigious pucks, one of which went straight into the Dominic’s net in the 8th minute of the second half. However the goal was mysteriously disallowed.
St Dominic’s played with the wind in the opening period. They were excellent during this phase of the game. Naos Connaughton pointed a 40-metre free after two minutes and then Mickey Joe Egan struck home a quite brilliant goal in the third minute, following a great sideline cut from Aidan Hoare.
The St Dominic’s half-back line of Nathan O’Connor, Micheal Byrne and Jason Martin were dealing with any threat posed by Four Roads while further downfield the scores were piling up for the Knockcroghery men.
Gavin Staunton scored two excellent points, and by the time Mickey Joe Egan swept home another well-taken goal in the 25th minute, the Knockcroghery men led by 11 points (2-7 to 0-2). The only scores that Four Roads had on the board at that stage came from the stick of Conor Morris (a free).
Significantly, the champions produced a scoring burst before the half-time whistle, a flurry that was to prove so important in the long run. First Rory Coyle pointed, then Morris swept a first-time delivery past Mark Miley in the 30th minute. When the same player pointed a free in injury-time it left the score at the break at St Dominic’s 2-8 Four Roads 1-4.
The expected Four Roads onslaught didn’t materialise in the third quarter, and although St Dominic’s scoring rate slowed considerably, they were coping well with their opponents. With just 10 minutes left they were still five to the good. But Four Roads got a grip around the centre and they assumed control gradually.
Naos Connaughton went off with a nasty looking hand injury on 52 minutes and then two minutes later Morris was on target again when his shot was deflected into the net by a St Dominic’s defender, and now there were only two between the sides.
Scores from sub Adam Donnelly, and a pointed free from Morris levelled the game with 57 minutes gone. A massive free from over 100 metres out from Noel Fallon gave Four Roads the lead for the first time, but as the game slipped into five minutes of injury-time, Mickey Joe Egan levelled the scores with a pointed free from 45 metres.
St Dominic’s were still in the hunt, but the momentum was now with Four Roads. Sub Adam Donnelly connected with Rory Coyle’s sideline cut in the second minute of injury-time for a crucial third goal to put his team three to the good. James Dillon scored the insurance point two minutes later and a three-in-a-row had been secured. It was a heartbreaking defeat for a brave St Dominic’s side. So near and yet so far.
Best for Four Roads on the day were goalkeeper Noel Fallon, Conor Coyle, Rory Coyle, Conor Mulry, substitute and match-winner Adam Donnelly and man of the match Conor Morris, who notched 2-5.
For St Dominic’s, the aforementioned half-back line trio of Nathan O’Connor, Micheal Byrne and Jason Martin were excellent, while Jack Lohan, Gavin Staunton and Mickey Joe Egan were also very prominent.
Four Roads: Noel Fallon (0-2, 1 free); Jimmy Hoey, Darren Fallon (0-1), Conor Coyle; Rory Coyle (0-2), Jack Donnelly, Tommy Morris; Liam Og Coyle, Mikey Lohan; Cathal Dolan (0-1), Conor Mulry, Brian Lawlor; Conor Morris (2-5, 4 frees), Brendan Mulry, Brian Mannion. Subs: Eamon Mulry for T Morris (24), Trevor Fallon for B Mannion (27), Adam Donnelly (1-1) for Lohan (42), Jamie Kelly for C Coyle (55), Brian Mannion for L Og Coyle (60).
St Dominic’s: Mark Miley (0-1); Mark O’Malley, Mike Feeley, Ethan Connaughton; Nathan O’Connor, Micheal Byrne, Jason Martin; Aidan Hoare, Sean Kilcline; Colm Lyons, Jack Lohan (0-3), Connell Kennelly; Mickey Joe Egan (2-2, 1 free), Naos Connaughton (0-3, frees), Gavin Staunton (0-2). Subs: Ruairi Kilcline for Lyons (40), John Murray for Connaughton (52), Rory Dempsey for O’Connor (55), Barry Killion for Hoare (55), Tommy Doyle for Byrne (59).
Referee: Aaron Clogher.
Stat Attack
Wides: Four Roads 11 (4, first half); St Dominic’s 9 (6, first half)
Red cards: 0
Yellow cards: 0
Scores from play: Four Roads 3-7; St Dominic’s 2-7
Attendance: 1,500 (approx.)
Man of the Match: Conor Morris (Four Roads)
‘A painful defeat’
It was a crestfallen St Dominic’s manager Martin ‘Thady’ Beirne that stood with his players and looked on as the Mickey Cunniffe Cup was presented to Four Roads captain Conor Coyle.
The manager rued what he felt was a missed opportunity for his team.
“It’s a painful defeat. The wind was very strong out there and we knew that we would have our backs to the wall in the second half.
“We also had a bit of bad luck losing Naos (Connaughton) and Micheal (Byrne) with injuries late in the second half. They (Four Roads) had the rub of the green and we conceded soft goals”.
Beirne felt that St Dominic’s were the best team for most of the game.
“We were the best team in the first half and although we had the wind we played all the hurling and we didn’t give them a sniff of it at that stage. Look, we are down now but we will be back”.
‘Thrilled’ Wade looks to Connacht campaign
Four Roads manager Kerril Wade was a very happy man after the final whistle as he relished his team’s comeback win.
“The wind was a major factor. We felt at half-time that if we moved the ball a bit better that we would get back into it and our cleverness and experience was crucial. I’m delighted for the players”.
The Sarsfields club man said that it took a major effort from the entire panel to deliver a third title in a row for Four Roads.
“I told the players that it would take 20 men to win this title here today. The five lads who came in off the bench all chipped in with their performances too. The last 15 minutes, we were very good… and up to that I thought we were only so-so”.
The manager says that Four Roads are now looking forward to the Connacht Club Championship.
“We are county champions. That’s three in a row and now we are looking forward to the Connacht series. They are a super bunch of lads. They are all proud Four Roads men. We are thrilled”.
‘We knew at half-time we weren’t beaten’
The unanimous choice for ‘Man of the match’ in last Sunday’s Roscommon Senior Hurling final was Four Roads corner-forward Conor Morris.
Morris, who scored 2-5 in his side’s win, told the Roscommon People that there was no panic in the Four Roads dressing room at half-time (when they trailed by seven) as they knew they had what it took to come back.
“It’s a fantastic win for us. We knew at half-time that we had the ability to come back. We had the wind and we knew that we were not beaten… if we believed in ourselves we would get the result”.
Conor paid tribute to the service that the attack received, especially in that second half as they reeled in the St Dominic’s lead.
“I was practising the frees during the week and I wasn’t sure if I would be playing at all actually. But the ball coming in was brilliant and the lads out the field were super. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“It’s our 37th title. We have been here before and we can always come back. We are not done yet. We will be back (to challenge) for the four-in-a-row”.
‘We got goals at the right time’
Four Roads target man Brendan Mulry said the very strong wind during Sunday’s final made it very difficult to play.
“Conditions were very tough out there with the wind blowing into the town end. The goal we got before half-time was crucial and we felt we were in it at that stage.
“We got goals at just the right time but it’s hard luck on Dominic’s. We had a bit of luck there at the end and we came out the right side of it. The subs that came off the bench all did well for us… we wouldn’t have won it without them”.
