Connacht SFC quarter-final

Roscommon 5-22 New York 1-10

 

Seamus Duke at Gaelic Park, New York

 

Last weekend will be remembered for a brilliant social gathering of thousands of Roscommon supporters who made their way stateside for this Connacht quarter-final in The Bronx. However, the match itself produced little excitement for the approximate 4,500 crowd that gathered on a beautiful sunny Sunday at Gaelic Park.

The Roscommon team lined up prior to throw-in at Gaelic Park.

Put simply, this was a cakewalk from the throw-in as Roscommon set about their task in a professional and sometimes ruthless manner, especially in the first half. They had the ball in the New York net after only 25 seconds, and while the visitors conceded a goal to the home side in the 2nd minute, Mark Dowd’s men ran riot after that, scoring four more goals before the break to help them to a whopping 19-point lead by the halfway mark.

The second half was a bore-fest as the contest was already long over in competitive terms. The capacity crowd had ample time to chat and plan their after-match celebrations as both teams effectively went through the motions.

Diarmuid Murtagh assesses his options. Photo: Michael Finan

There was one dark cloud for Roscommon though, and it came in the last minute of the first half when Daire Cregg was involved in a clash with New York midfielder Eoghan McElligott. When it broke up, referee Brendan Cawley consulted his linesman and issued a straight red card to the Boyle man. It looked an extremely harsh sanction. The word afterwards was that Cregg was sent off for ‘striking’. Personally, I didn’t see any strike.

If the decision stands, Cregg will miss the Connacht semi-final against Mayo on Sunday week in Castlebar. He would be a massive loss. Hopefully the powers that be will lodge an appeal prior to that huge upcoming fixture.

On a cool day of brilliant sunshine, there was a carnival-like atmosphere as the huge crowd of visiting supporters milled around the venue before the match. The Roscommon team had come on a mission to put the game to bed early and they certainly did that.

Action from Roscommon v New York last Sunday. Photo: Michael Finan

On the throw-in, Senan Lambe powered forward and the move ended with Enda Smith fisting to the net for a goal within 25 seconds. In fairness, New York replied in kind in the second minute when Jack Foley finished a fine team move to the Roscommon net. It was a super response from the home side but that was as good as it got from their point of view as they were completely swamped by a rampant Roscommon.

Senan Lambe was outstanding again, and Paddy Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Dylan Ruane, Darragh Heneghan and Daire Cregg also led the charge as Roscommon swept forward. It looked like they would score every time they attacked.

Action from Roscommon v New York last Sunday. Photo: Michael Finan

Rob Heneghan fisted a second Roscommon goal in the 8th minute following good work from Lambe and Cregg. Further Roscommon goals arrived from Dylan Ruane in the 16th minute, Darragh Heneghan in the 20th minute and Eoin McCormack in the 27th minute. It was clinical stuff from Roscommon as they pulled away into the distance.

Before half-time we had that red card shock with Cregg sidelined in the 34th minute. After that twist, Senan Lambe had time to kick the only two-pointer of the match, meaning Roscommon led 5-11 to 1-4 at half-time.

There is very little to be said about the second half. With the game over as a contest, both sides ran their benches. It was pedestrian stuff as the teams went through the motions in almost total silence, the crowd enjoying the April sunshine. From a Roscommon point of view, management will have been pleased that three subs – Shane Cunnane, Paul Carey and Conor Hand – got on the scoresheet.

Action from Roscommon v New York last Sunday. Photo: Michael Finan

In general, there was much to admire about the way Roscommon played, but it has to be said that New York provided very weak opposition. Conor Carroll kicked two ‘45s. Paddy Gavin had another excellent outing at corner-back, while Ronan Daly and Senan Lambe were outstanding in the half-back line.

If one was to nitpick, the midfield pairing of Keith Doyle and Conor Ryan were less than convincing in the opening 15 minutes when there was a contest, but both players came into the game well after that.

Up front, Darragh Heneghan, Rob Heneghan and Dylan Ruane were the pick of the forwards, while Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith didn’t have to over-extend themselves. In fact Roscommon had 15 different scorers on the day, which is an indication of a super team effort.

Action from Roscommon v New York last Sunday. Photo: Michael Finan

Now that the New York hurdle is out of the way, the serious business of a trip to Castlebar to face Mayo in the Connacht semi-final comes into full view. I wouldn’t say Mark Dowd and his management team learned too much about their team in this lopsided encounter. One thing seems certain: it will be a monumental battle on Sunday, April 26th, and Roscommon will need all their big guns firing that day. Hopefully Daire Cregg will be there too. I think he should be.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll (0-2, 2 ‘45s); Paddy Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Eoin McCormack (1-0); Eoin Ward (0-1), Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe (0-2, 2p); Keith Doyle (0-1), Conor Ryan (0-1); Dylan Ruane (1-1), Enda Smith (1-2), Darragh Heneghan (1-1); Diarmuid Murtagh (0-2, 1 free), Daire Cregg (0-3, 1 free), Rob Heneghan (1-2). Subs: Conor Hand (0-1) for D Heneghan (43), Colm Neary for Lambe (45), Niall Higgins for Gavin (48), Shane Cunnane (0-2) for Doyle (50), Paul Carey (0-1, free) for Murtagh (58).

New York: Joey Grace; Tadhg O’Riordan, Sean Wilson, Cian O’Dea; Jack Foley (0-1), Matthew Queenan, Rob Wharton; Eoghan McElligott, Conal Kennedy; Donal Hunt, Frank O’Reilly (0-4, 2 frees), Tiernan Mathers; Conor Keenan (0-2), Jack McKenna (1-1, one mark), Killian Butler (0-2). Subs: James Walsh for Foley (30), Jack Savage for Mathers (h/t), Shane Brosnan for O’Riordan (h/t), David Naughten for Hunt (52), Jack Kennedy for Keenan (59).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).

 

Stat Attack:

Red cards: Roscommon 1 (Daire Cregg, 34); New York 0

Black cards: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Wides: Roscommon 4 (1, first half); New York 9 (5, first half)

Two-pointers: Roscommon 1 (Senan Lambe);  New York 0

Attendance: Approx. 4,500

Man of the Match: Senan Lambe (Roscommon)

 

Enda Smith was a happy Roscommon player as he reflected on the team’s win over New York while chatting to family, friends and supporters after Sunday’s game at Gaelic Park.

“We are delighted with the performance there today” Enda told People Sport. “We set the tone with those early goals and the contest was kind of  dead after 20 minutes… but it was a challenge for us in the second half when we were down to 14 men and I thought we did well and got the job done.”

Enda Smith, pictured during last Sunday’s Roscommon-New York game. Photo: Michael Finan

Next stop for Roscommon is at MacHale Park later this month.

”Yep, they (Mayo) had a good win against London. MacHale Park is always a great place to play in a big Connacht Championship game. We are really looking forward to that clash on Sunday week now” the former All-Star commented.

Even the experienced Boyle ace was taken aback by the size of the Roscommon following in the Big Apple.

“It’s been a brilliant few days. The whole trip has been unbelievable to be honest. We had a nice balance of training and the match and mingling with the supporters. I think we have ticked all the boxes this weekend. It has been fantastic” he concluded.

 

Dowd: ‘Red card will have to be reviewed’

For people involved in the management of a county team, trips such as the one Roscommon made to New York last week can be very challenging logistically.

Be that as it may, Roscommon manager Mark Dowd was very satisfied – probably relieved too – with his team’s day’s work which resulted in a big win over the Exiles last Sunday.

“I’m very happy to come here, put in a good performance and come out with a win. We got off to a good start and it was great to get those goals early on. It’s been something that we have been working hard on – if we get a goal chance we go for it and take it hopefully.”

With Mayo defeating London on their travels on Saturday, Dowd was beginning to cast his gaze towards that huge semi-final in MacHale Park on Sunday week.

“It’s a massive game. You saw what happened there a few weeks ago in Castlebar (when the home side defeated Roscommon by a big margin in their league encounter) so we know how good Mayo are… we will have to be on top of our game there on Sunday week.”

Roscommon manager Mark Dowd, pictured in Gaelic Park last Sunday. Photo: Michael Finan

A huge talking point after the game in New York was the red card issued to Daire Cregg. Mark Dowd said that when the team management gets a chance to look at it in detail they would explore the possibility of lodging an appeal.

“The incident will definitely have to be reviewed. I certainly didn’t see a punch in it but if there was, then so be it. But if there wasn’t, we will certainly look into it.”

The manager said it was a great weekend for the Roscommon contingent in New York.

“Ah it’s been great. You saw what happened there in Times Square on Saturday (when supporters assembled en masse) and all the Roscommon people that came out. It gave us a lift and it gave the supporters a lift as well. Now that the game is over we will enjoy the rest of the trip” he concluded (speaking on Sunday evening).