Ravenous Roscommon devour Leitrim's dreams in Ballinamore

A ravenous and overpowering Roscommon ruthlessly and systematically ended Leitrim’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Eirgrid Connacht U20 Championship before a shocked and disbelieving crowd in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin on Wednesday evening.

With both teams starting the game looking for a place in the semi-finals next week, a buoyant Leitrim approached this game with genuine self-belief that they could reach the knockout stages, evident in the huge turnout of Green & Gold fans but it was the Rossies who delivered all the knockout blows to crush their dreams.

From the first whistle, Roscommon were sharper and more clinical as Leitrim’s U20s seemed somewhat inhibited, a combination perhaps of the occasion and Roscommon’s pressure, meaning they never built up the sort of momentum that has characterised their campaign so far.

Incredibly, Leitrim took the lead with their first score ten minutes in when Ben Guckian’s shot squeezed through the hands of Roscommon keeper Sean Allen and when Paul Honeyman converted a free three minutes later, it appeared as if the lethargy of the opening stages had been well and truly banished and that Leitrim might kick on to a famous victory.

But Roscommon then turned up the heat, out-scoring the home side by 2-5 to 0-2 before the halftime break, killer goals from Niall O’Donnell and Sean McGinley transforming this contest. Leitrim had the wind in the second half but Roscommon were in no mood to let go of their chance to make the final, stretching their lead to ten points by the 50th minute when Paul Honeyman managed to halt their momentum with a fisted goal.

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But if anything that only drove the Rossies on even more as they immediately hit back with a third goal for captain Bobby Nugent while a string of points ensured that they would pass Galway at the top of the table on scoring difference to claim the coveted place in the Connacht Final.

For Leitrim, it was like a slow-moving horror show as turnovers and lethargy meant Andy Moran’s side were never able to truly trouble the visitors, despite the herculean efforts of Barry McNulty who waged what seemed like a one-man war for Leitrim.

The cause wasn’t helped either by the dismissal of Darren Cox, the one player who seemed capable of tying the Roscommon defence in knots, midway through the second half for a second yellow card, a move that meant Roscommon were always able to keep an extra defender back to mind the house.

Self-inflicted handling errors and turnovers meant that Roscommon, admittedly a side who were by far the best Leitrim have faced, finally registered their first win of the competition to seal a place in the final.

Leitrim will now face Mayo in the Philly McGuinness Connacht Minor B Championship next Wednesday, April 24, with a place in the new All-Ireland series at stake for the winner. Mayo were defeated by Sligo in Castlebar, 0-14 to 0-9, with the Yeatsmen sealing a place in the semi-final against Galway. That, if it is possible, only increases the angst for Leitrim fans considering Sligo hit 1-2 in injury time in the previous round to deny Leitrim victory.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Roscommon in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin Ballinamore Picture: Leitrim GAA

Roscommon were quickest out of the blocks, Shane McGinley firing over a free and putting one wide before Ryan Conlon finished a swift counter-attack with a five minute point. Roscommon had the ball in the Leitrim net when Bobby Nugent’s shot was fielded by Brian Cull but referee Jerome Henry correctly judged that the keeper had been forced over the line.

Leitrim had wides from Darren Cox and Jack Foley but they got themselves back into the game when Ben Guckian broke the Rossies’ cover at midfield before offloading to Barry McNulty. The Glencar Manorhamilton man found Jack Casey, despite absorbing a big hit, and the St Mary’s man quickly found Guckian on the run, his low shot somehow squirming through the hands of keeper Sean Allen for a crucial goal.

Three minutes later, a foul on Casey allowed Paul Honeyman to open his account but a fifty and a free from McGinley had the sides level17 minutes in. Roscommon were beginning to flex their strength, Bobby Nugent firing over a mark and McGinley another free after a Leitrim kickout was turned over.

Paul Honeyman stemmed the tide from a free for a pick-up after he had left a free short, and a foul on McNulty allowed the Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins clubman to tie the scores on 23 minutes.

However, Roscommon took complete control before halftime - a high ball into the Leitrim goalmouth was brilliantly flicked by McGinley into the path of Niall O’Donnell, son of former Roscommon star and manager Fergal, and he drilled home before quickly adding a point a minute later.

It got worse when a long ball found Nugent unmarked almost on the endline, he cut towards goal before lobbing a high ball over Cull’s outstretched hands for McGinley to fist to the net and suddenly Roscommon were 2-7 to 1-3 ahead at the break, as McNulty and Honeyman both missed placed balls before halftime.

Leitrim needed a good start before halftime but it was Roscommon who got it, McGinley converting two frees while Darren Cox was carded for a foul on Dan Casey. Barry McNulty (free) and Jack Casey both pointed to wipe out those Roscommon gains but McGinley came back with another free after a clumsy late hit on a Roscommon player delivering a pass.

It got worse for Leitrim when Darren Cox received a second yellow card, meaning Leitrim would finish with 14 players. Ben Guckian curled in a lovely point from the wing after he broke through a tackle but Roscommon replied with points from Nugent and subs Shane Walsh and Ryan Dowling.

Credit Leitrim for not giving up and they got some reward when Jack Foley broke upfield quickly, a pass finding Ben Guckian on the right. He floated the ball across the face of the Roscommon goal for Paul Honeyman to fist the ball to the net, reducing the gap back to seven points.

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Whatever faint hopes there were that there might be a miracle comeback was ruthlessly ended a minute later - Roscommon broke up a Leitrim attack, Rob Heneghan broke and made a lot of ground before absorbing a big hit from a rapidly retreating Arek Oberwan. The Michael Glavey’s clubman, however, got the ball to Bobby Nugent who drilled the ball to the Leitrim net.

That was that and Roscommon would cruise home, sub Rory Carthy, Nugent and Dowling adding the three points that would carry them into the Connacht Final at the expense of Galway.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 1-3, 3f; Ben Guckian 1-1; Barry McNulty (f) & Jack Casey 0-1 each

Team: Brian Cull, Arek Oberwan, Tom Hughes, Eanna McNamara, Michael McBrien, Paddy Keane, Jake Tobin, Jack Foley, Ben Guckian, Darren Cox, Paul Moran, Jack Casey, Jack Tobin, Paul Honeyman, Naoise McManus. Subs: Tom Plunkett for Moran (HT); Joe McGloin for Casey (43); Ryan Cunningham & Killian McGuire for Hughes & McNamara (48); Conor Keegan for Tobin (54)

ROSCOMMON

Scorers: Shane McGinley 1-7, 6f, 1 50; Bobby Nugent 1-3, 1M; Niall O’Donnell 1-1; Ryan Dowling 0-2; Rory Carthy (f), Ryan Conlon & Shane Walsh 0-1 each

Team: Sean Allen, Eden Kerins, Dan Casey, Dan Hagney, James McGreal, Senan Lambe, Eoghan Carthy; Conor Ryan, James Connolly, Bobby Nugent, Rob Heneghan, Rory Hester; Shane McGinley, Ryan Conlon, Niall O’Donnell. Subs: Conor Harley for Hagney (HT); Shane Walsh for Conlon (39); Ethan O’Reilly for McGreal (41); Ryan Dowling for O’Donnell (46); Rory Carthy for Hester (50)

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)