Declan Kenny of Pádraig Pearses scored a goal in his team's victory over St. Faithleach's.
Hodson Bay Hotel Group Roscommon SFC semi-finals
PÁDRAIG PEARSES 1-9 ST. FAITHLEACH’S 0-3
ROSCOMMON GAELS 1-19 MICHAEL GLAVEYS 3-9 (after extra-time)
2019 and 2021 county champions Pádraig Pearses will take on a Roscommon Gaels side chasing their first Fahey Cup since 2004 in this year’s Roscommon SFC county final in a fortnight, after they picked up wins in very different styles over the weekend.
The attacking prowess of a St. Faithleach’s side that scored 3-17 in their thrilling quarter-final win over Clann na nGael was considered to be a real threat to Pádraig Pearses in advance of Saturday afternoon’s semi-final clash at Dr. Hyde Park, but the South Roscommon club put on a defensive masterclass, completely locking down the Murtagh brothers en route to a nine-point win.
With a strong breeze at their backs in the opening half, Pearses fired over four points in the first 12 minutes, but St. Faithleach’s successfully slowed the game down and killed the tempo up until the interval, and could arguably have been the happier side of the two with the scoreboard reading 0-6 to 0-1.
Centre back Darren Nerney strode forward to kick a fine score in the fourth minute of the second half and the key moment was two minutes later, when Diarmuid Murtagh’s attempt on goal was denied by a superb block from Niall Daly.
Neither Diarmuid nor Ciaráin Murtagh had any other scoring chances as Pearses took complete control of proceedings from there, monopolising possession and wearing down their opponents until Declan Kenny’s incisive run and precise low finish for the game’s only goal effectively settled the contest with 15 minutes still to play.
It was a completely different type of game in Roscommon town this afternoon where Roscommon Gaels broke Michael Glaveys’ hearts with a sensational finish, picking off three stoppage time scores to send the game to extra-time and deny Glaveys a first county final appearance since 1996.
Even then, Robert Heneghan’s goal at the start of extra time seemed to put the West Roscommon club into the driving seat, but the Gaels rattled off the next four points in a row before Peter Gillooly’s goal in the 79th minute clinched their win.
Mark Dowd’s charges, who won their 11th and most recent senior title in 2004, were the dominant side in the early exchanges, with Ryan Conlon racking up the scores. However Cathal Heneghan’s intercept and finish was a lifeline for Glaveys, who trailed by 0-8 to 1-4 at half-time and kicked on to lead by four points when Andy Glennon palmed in their second goal.
It was still 2-9 to 0-12 going into stoppage time two points from Tim Lambe, including a sensational equaliser with the last kick, either side of a superb Mark Purcell free into the wind, handed the initiative back to a Gaels team that found more energy and power in overtime.
