Second-half Roscommon revival salvages a draw against Meath
Enda Smith spearheaded Roscommon's revival as Davy Burke's men overturned a five-point interval deficit to keep their chances of progression from Group 2 alive.
A pulsating game between two evenly-matched teams saw both sides spurn chances to win it after Ruairí Kinsella brought the sides level with six minutes remaining.
All of Roscommon's five second-half scores with the wind at their backs came from two-pointers, with Smith kicking three of them, while top scorer Diarmuid Murtagh added another brace.
James Conlon was superb for the visitors in the opening half with 0-6, including a two-pointer, but Smith was his side's hero after the break.
READ MORE
Ruairí Kinsella raised his side's first orange flag with the outside of his right boot in the fifth minute before Eoghan Frayne opened up a three-point gap after the visitors capitalised on a
Roscommon
turnover
But Roscommon wiped out that deficit when Senan Lambe set up Diarmuid Murtagh for a well-taken goal after seven minutes.
Dylan Ruane nudged his side in front after Roscommon worked the ball upfield from goalkeeper Conor Carroll but the excellent James Conlon – who scored 0-5 from play during a productive opening 35 minutes – got off the mark to bring the sides level.
Meath's Jordan Morris and Roscommon's Senan Lambe. Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho
In the 15th minute, Roscommon struck for a second goal when Shane Cunnane found Ben O'Carroll raiding in behind the
Meath
rearguard, and the St Brigid's forward produced an assured finish past Billy Hogan.
Meath began to win the midfield battle, and Roscommon's cause wasn't helped by the loss of Niall Higgins to injury.
Conlon added a couple of rapid-fire points before Daire Cregg replied for the Rossies after Lambe grabbed primary possession in the middle of the park.
But Meath began to flex their muscles, mostly off Roscommon turnovers and their dominance around the middle.
Conlon and Conor Duke sent over a couple of two-pointers in jig time, while Jordan Morris also found the range to open up a 0-12 to 2-3 gap.
Menton arced over the Royals' fourth two-pointer of the half, and Conlon soon added to his tally to stretch his side's buffer to six points.
Cregg grabbed a much-needed score for Roscommon before Morris and Ciaráin Murtagh – a free on the hooter – left it 0-16 to 2-5 in favour of Meath at the change of ends.
Meath's Bryan Menton and Roscommon's Pearse Frost. Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho
The second half was laden with drama as Smith put a missed 41st-minute penalty behind him to lead his side's charge.
Billy Hogan's 46th-minute two-point free from 45 metres, following earlier points from Seán Coffey and Frayne, left Meath 0-20 to 2-9 ahead, but Robbie Brennan's side would only trouble the scoreboard once more.
Diarmuid Murtagh kicked a couple of two-pointers, while Smith added another to leave the Rossies ahead by the bare minimum with nine minutes remaining.
Kinsella restored parity, and it took a last-ditch block from Seán Rafferty to deny Ben O'Carroll after Mathew Costello had hit the post at the other end.
ROSCOMMON:
C Carroll, N Higgins, C Neary, D Murray; R Daly, B Stack, S Lambe (0-0-1); E Nolan, S Cunnane; D Ruane (0-0-1), C Murtagh (0-0-1, 1f), E Smith (0-3-0); D Murtagh (1-2-0), D Cregg (0-0-2), B O'Carroll (1-0-0).
Subs:
P Frost for Higgins (14), D Smith for C Murtagh (49), C McKeon for Ruane (49), K Doyle for Nolan (57), R Fallon for Lambe (64).
MEATH:
B Hogan (0-1-0, 1tpf); S Lavin, S Rafferty, B O'Halloran; D Keogan, S Coffey (0-0-1), C Caulfield; A O'Neill, B Menton (0-1-0); C Duke (0-1-0), R Kinsella (0-1-1), M Costello (0-0-1, 1f); J Morris (0-0-2), J Conlon (0-1-4), E Frayne (0-0-2).
Subs:
C Hickey for Duke (55), K Curtis for Frayne (59), C Gray for Menton (64), J McEntee for Lavin (65), E Harkin for O'Neill (67).
Referee:
P Faloon (Down).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
14 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Hickey the star as Ireland women overcome Norway
Ireland 78 Norway 63 Sarah Hickey led the way as Ireland's women's basketball team took an impressive win over a Norway side 14 places above them in the world rankings. The first quarter of this JYSK Summer Series clash at the National Basketball Arena got off to a lively start, with both sides showing plenty of energy on both ends of the floor. Ireland's Hickey and Micol Torresani of Norway set the tone early before a gutsy play by Sorcha Tiernan saw her hit the floor but nail a three. Ella O'Donnell, who was called up late in place of the injured Bridget Herlihy, extended the lead with a nice inside move as the hosts began to take control. An impressive opening quarter ended with Ireland ahead 23-16. It was a grittier start to the second quarter as both sides got tighter defensively. That switch favoured Ireland more, stretching the lead to 15 by the midpoint of the quarter. Hazel Finn's tenacity proved telling as Norway struggled to match Ireland's intensity. With captain Edel Thornton adding to the barrage, the hosts looked in fine form. A steal and score by Anna Horvig Wikstrøm rallied the visitors late in the quarter but Ireland still led 42-35 at the half. Ireland came out energised to start the second half, with Sorcha Tiernan finding O'Donnell on the fast break to put Ireland 10 in front again. A tighter defensive effort by the hosts made it hard going for Norway at the other end. The response from the visitors simply wasn't there. Ireland entered the final frame with a commanding 67-49 lead. The final quarter felt rather processional. Norway had the odd highlight, including a high pressure three from Maren Mildestvedt, but the result was never in doubt. Ireland took an impressive win that can be built upon. IRELAND: Edel Thornton, Enya Maguire, Kate Hickey, Sarah Hickey, Hazel Finn, Lauryn Homan, Abigail Rafferty, Ella O'Donnell, Annaliese Murphy, Sorcha Tiernan, Kara McCleane, Lorraine Scanlon NORWAY: Stine Austgulen, Synne Jacobsen, Sunniva Sørbye. Severine Uggen, Maren Mildestvedt, Karoline Teigland, Vilde Havnes, Micol Torresani, Anna Horvig Wikstrøm, Aiva Julirud
The 42
18 minutes ago
- The 42
Kate Carey registers 2-3 as Cork triumph against Dublin
Cork 3-11 Dublin 3-2 KATE CAREY finished with an impressive tally of 2-3 at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park in Birr as Cork comprehensively defeated Dublin to claim their 13th ZuCar All-Ireland U18 'A' Ladies Football Championship crown. Aiming to bridge a three-year gap to their last title at this grade, Cork hit the ground running in this encounter with unanswered points from Eabha O'Donovan and Sarah O'Connor. The Leesiders were attacking in waves during the early exchanges, and they rattled the net for the first time in the 11th minute as Ilen Rovers ace Carey drilled a fierce shot beyond the reach of opposition netminder Kalia Behan. While Dublin eventually opened their account when Niadh Mooney cancelled out an earlier effort from Johanna Foskin on 18 minutes, their Munster counterparts reinforced their authority thanks to a brace of points from Carey. Advertisement Although midfielder Lile Tully also split the posts for Dublin, Cork ended the opening period in spectacular style. After O'Donovan (an AIB All-Ireland junior club football championship winner with O'Donovan Rossa in 2023) superbly palmed home for her side's second goal of the contest, Carey clinically bagged another green flag score to ensure Kieran O'Shea's charges held a commanding 3-5 to 0-2 buffer at the interval. Dublin needed a strong start to the second half to give themselves a fighting chance at forging a dramatic comeback, and Declan Patton's outfit were desperately unlucky to see two opportunities at goal rebounding off the crossbar shortly after the restart. Yet Cork continued to possess a potent attacking threat, and their lead was stretched to 15 points when Laura Walsh, Carey and O'Donovan (free) all found the range in a six-minute spell. However, Dublin displayed admirable perseverance throughout the second period and the Leinster champions cut significantly into their deficit when influential St Brigid's star Molly Bourke fired home two goals in as many minutes inside the final quarter. Nevertheless, Cork were still in a strong position to collect the silverware on offer and with Walsh finding the target either side of a well-worked point from Douglas' Aoibhe Sheehan, the outcome was placed beyond doubt long before substitute Rebecca McEvoy secured a consolation goal for Dublin in the final minute of the action. Scorers – Cork: K Carey 2-3, E O'Donovan 1-2 (0-1f), L Walsh 0-3 (1f), J Foskin, S O'Connor, A Sheehan 0-1 each. Dublin: M Bourke 2-0, R McEvoy 1-0, L Tully, N Mooney 0-1 each. CORK: A Toye; O Drummey, A Tobin, A O'Sullivan; R Breen, M McRae, É Walsh; S Cunningham, J Foskin; S O'Connor, L Walsh, A McAuliffe; É O'Donovan, K Carey, A Sheehan. Subs: G Young for Foskin (50), E Burns for Sheehan (52), C Horgan for McAuliffe (55), A Leahy for Carey, S Ni Laoire for O'Sullivan (both 60). DUBLIN: K Behan; K Hayes, T Walsh, A Pollock; C Sone Lenou, H Murphy, K O'Donovan; S McDonnell, L Tully; L Murtagh, M Bourke, C Murphy; N Mooney, Z Flood, G Connolly. Subs: K Mooney for Walsh, R Kirby for Murphy, R McEvoy for Flood (all h-t), C Almeida for McDonnell (42), E Reen for O'Donovan (47). Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).
Irish Examiner
44 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Déise joy at back-to-back after battle with Westmeath
ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies U18C Final: Waterford 5-20 Westmeath 3-10 Waterford clinched their second ZuCar U-18 C All-Ireland title in a row thanks to a stunning display against battling Westmeath in Baltinglass. The Deise held a relatively narrow four-point lead after a pulsating goal-fest of a first half but powered on in the second period, storming to the crown on a fully deserved scoreline of 5-20 to 3-10. Such was the dominance of Fiona Laffan's side in that second 30 minutes, they outscored their classy opponents by 2-10 to 0-4, lethal forwards Treasa Ní Chrotaigh, Abbie Fitzpatrick and Clodagh Power in flying form and boosted by the arrival of the superbly accurate Emma Fitzgerald off the bench after half-time, while centre-back Rebecca Walsh and full-back Deirdre Roche shone in a uncompromising defence. A decent crowd had gathered in a sun-kissed Baltinglass GAA grounds for what promised to be a thriller, and the opening half certainly delivered in that regard. Six goals, some lovely points and football of a very high standard sent Waterford in with a four-point lead at 3-10 to 3-6 after those hectic opening 30 minutes. It was the Leinster champions who hit the ground running early doors, opening up a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after four minutes, Rachel Murphy with the goal and Kate Stuart Trainor causing havoc on the wing. But Waterford were here to play, and white flags from Eimear Campbell, Clodagh Power and team captain Ava Connolly left the minimum between the sides with eight minutes on the clock. The Deise side started bossing matters and by the end of the first quarter they led by 2-6 to 1-2, the goals from Abbie Fitzpatrick and Clodagh Power. This was a free-flowing encounter with strong running from both sides, and it was all in the mix at the break thanks to fine goals from Shannon Breslin and Katie Kilmurray (penalty) who helped Westmeath battle back into contention. However, the introduction of Emma Fitzgerald at the break and her impact from placed balls and the scintillating Deise attack that produced two more goals, the first from Siún Mernin and the second from the outstanding Clodagh Power and a host of points from all over the field left the Waterford side worthy winners after a cracking battle in the Garden County. Scorers – Waterford: C Power 2-6 (4f), A Fitzpatrick 1-2, E Fitzgerald 0-5 (4f), A Connolly 1-1, T Ní Chrotaigh 0-4 (f), S Mernin 1-0, E Campbell 0-1, R Browne 0-1. Westmeath: K Kilmurray 1-6 (1-0pen, 3f), R Murphy 1-0, S Breslin 1-0, K Stuart Trainor 0-2, S O'Sullivan 0-1, E Carey 0-1. WATERFORD: G Corcoran; R Power, D Roche, G Carrigan; S Peters, R Walsh, E Campbell; S Condon, R Browne; C Power, M Kenneally, S Mernin; A Connolly (capt.), T Ní Chrotaigh, A Fitzpatrick. Subs: E Fitzgerald for E Kenneally (h/t), A Butler for Mernin (59), R Fitzgerald for R Power (60), E Curran for Condon (60), M McCusker for Ní Chrotaigh (60+2). WESTMEATH: K Kelly; R Ward, L Brogan, G Shortall; A Barry, M Donohue, Á Bracken; C Butler Clyne, A Keegan (capt.); S O'Sullivan, R Murphy, K Stuart Trainor; O Collins, S Breslin, K Kilmurray. Subs: L Allen for Donohue (29), E Carey for Barry (39), K Hogg for Shorthall (41, inj), N Farrell for Collins (57), A McDonald for Butler Clyne (60+2). Referee: E Cuthbert (Down).
