Kristian Healy, London, and Ruaidhrí Fallon, Roscommon, in Connacht SFC action at McGovern Park, Ruislip. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Connacht SFC Quarter-Final
Roscommon 2-26 (2-3-20) London 0-13 (0-2-9)
By Ian Cooney at McGovern Park, Ruislip
Roscommon produced a commanding second-half performance in Ruislip to get their Connacht championship campaign off to a flyer on Saturday afternoon.
Ciaráin Murtagh and Ben O’Carroll were the key men for Davy Burke’s side, hitting 1-12 between them.
There were only three points between the teams at half time, but the Rossies cantered to an emphatic victory by outscoring their hosts, 1-16 to 0-3, after the break.
The visitors made a blistering start to lead by 1-6 to 0-0 after just 13 minutes, despite playing against the elements.
Points from Ruaidhrí Fallon and Enda Smith got the Rossies motoring before O’Carroll and Dylan Ruane combined to allow Diarmuid Murtagh palm the ball into the net.
O’Carroll, Ciaráin Murtagh, Ultan Harney and Cian McKeon tagged on further scores and it looked like it was going to be a stroll in the park for Davy Burke’s men.
But a two-pointer from play by Liam Gallagher — the first one in championship football — finally settled the home side’s nerves, and they began to play.
O’Carroll and Ciarán Diver exchanged scores before London hit a purple patch, hitting seven points without reply, to draw level.
Daniel Clarke’s two-pointer from over 50 metres ignited the scoring glut as Diver, Shay Rafter (2), Eoin Walsh and Diver (free) brought the sides level after 26 minutes.
But Roscommon arrested the home side’s momentum with a brace of points from O’Carroll and Ultan Harney to lead by 1-10 to 0-10 at the break.
With the wind behind them in the second half, Roscommon pushed on with Ciaráin Murtagh and Ben O’Carroll leading the line impressively, while Shane Cunnane and Cathal Heneghan made an impact off the bench.
The Rossies outscored their hosts by 1-16 to 0-3, with Ciaráin Murtagh’s 52nd minute goal leaving the result a foregone conclusion.
A fine individual point by Kristian Healy was sandwiched between a brace of frees by Shay Rafter, but, by the end, Roscommon had 12 different scorers and posted all but one of their scores from play to run out comfortable winners.
Scorers for Roscommon: Ciaráin Murtagh 1-5 (1 tp), B O’Carroll 0-7 (1 tpf), Diarmuid Murtagh 1-1, Cian McKeon 0-3, Enda Smith 0-2, Catha; Heneghan 0-2 (1 tp), Ruaidhrí Fallon 0-1, Ultan Harney 0-1, Eddie Nolan 0-1, Keith Doyle 0-1, Dylan Ruane 0-1, Shane Killoran 0-1
Scorers for London: Shay Rafter 0-4 (2f), Ciarán Diver 0-3 (1f), Liam Gallagher 0-2 (1 tp), Daniel Clarke 0-2 (1 tp), Eoin Walsh 0-1, Kirstian Healy 0-1 each.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, John McManus, David Murray; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Colm Neary, Dylan Ruane; Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle; Ultan Harney, Enda Smith, Ben O’Carroll; Diarmuid Murtagh, Cian McKeon, Ciaráin Murtagh.
Subs: Shane Cunnane for Doyle h-t, Conor Hand for Ruane 46, Cathal Heneghan for Diarmuid Murtagh 54, Senan Lambe for Frost 54, Shane Killoran for Smith 62
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Seán Taylor, Nathan McElwaine; Eoin Walsh, Matt Moynihan, Aidan McLoughlin; Tighe Barry, Liam Gallagher; Joshua Obahor, Daniel Clarke, Kristain Healy; Ciarán Diver, Shay Rafter, Ruairi Rafferty. Subs:
Subs: Ciarán McCarrick for Obahor h-t, Conor McKelvey for Walsh 46, Conor Cox for Barry 55, Oran Hilley for McLoughlin 55, Josh Crowley Holland for Moynihan 62
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).
