Minor footballers retain Connacht title after thriller against Galway

Roscommon 3-12 (3-2-8)

Galway 1-17 (1-4-9)

Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Championship Final

Roscommon have retained the Tom Kilcoyne Cup for only the second time in the county’s history after just about keeping the lid on Galway’s second-half comeback at Tuam Stadium on Friday evening.

Shane Moran’s Bravehearts followed the teams of 2011 and 2012 to cement their place in the history books and win a first minor title at the spiritual home of Galway football.

Wing-back Enda Browne was deservedly given the Player of the Match award after a tour-de-force, while Ronan Carr, Jack Lally, captain Tadgh Fallon, Jack Brooks and goalkeeper Zac Mullally also came up with big performances.

Roscommon had a nine-point lead at half time, but Galway — with the aid of four second-half two-pointers — reeled in their opponents.

Indeed the home side had the chance to win it, but Mullally did brilliantly to catch Evan Burke’s attempt for a two-pointer at the death.

The siege was lifted, and referee Shane Corcoran, who made a couple of harsh calls against Roscommon in the second half, blew his final whistle moments later to confirm the young Rossies as champions once again.

With the wind behind, Roscommon exuded confidence and control that Galway struggled to contain.

Oliver Ó Suilleabhain and Mikey Mitchell exchanged points with Joshua Coyne (free) and the brilliant Browne inside the first six minutes.

In the tenth minute, Shane Moran’s side received a huge boost when Jack Brooks’ attempt for a point was fisted to the net by Jayden Concannon.

Bobby Lenehan — with an excellent individual point — and Adam Healy (free) swapped scores before a training ground move yielded Roscommon’s second goal.

Roscommon managed to isolate the middle third where Mullally’s kickout was flicked on by Bobby Lenehan to Browne who rampaged forward before teeing up Joshua Coyne for a second goal.

Galway were making little impact up front, and although Mikey Mitchell (free) and Joey Cullinane added to their tally, a point from Coyne was followed by a couple of two-pointers in the final ten minutes from Jack Lally and Ronan Carr — the latter splitting the posts with the last action of the opening half — to leave the defending champions 2-8 to 0-5 ahead at the change of ends.

But Galway roared out of the traps in the second half. They hit the next six points in a row, which included a couple of two-pointers from Burke (free) and the impressive Ryan Connolly.

The visitors received another major fillip in the 41st minute when Dara Kelleher’s attempt for a point squeezed inside Burke’s left-hand post for a third goal.

For a time, Roscommon regained their control as a well-worked score from Ronan Carr was sandwiched between two scores from Seamie Carthy.

But Galway came again, and Connolly’s second orange flag of the half was followed by another by Burke (his second two-point free).

A free from Adam Healy left just a point between them, and when the otherwise excellent Lally was penalised for delaying a free kick, Burke had the chance to win it.

But Mullally remained coolness personified, and Roscommon had the second half of a possible unprecedented treble in the bag.

Over to you seniors.

ROSCOMMON: Z. Mullally; C. Tighe, T. Fallon, C. Fitzgerald; D. Kelleher (1-0), J. Brooks, E. Browne (0-1); J. Lally (0-2, one 0-2), S. Carthy (0-2); R. Carr (0-3, one 0-2), J. Jennings, B. Lenehan (0-1); C. Nerney, J. Concannon (1-0), J. Coyne (1-3, one free). Subs used: D. Nerney for Fitzgerald (35 mins), C. Cryan for Lenehan (44 mins), J. O’Brien for Jennings (49 mins), S. Duggan for Concannon (53 mins), D. O’Dwyer for Carr (59 mins).

GALWAY: E. Burke (0-4, two 0-2 frees); M. Higgins, E. Gannon, C. Collins; R. Connolly (0-4, two 0-2), O. Ó Suilleabhain (0-1), E. McDonagh; O. Ó Neachtain, D. Kelly; É. Maher, J. Cullinane (0-1), J. Dillon; A. Healy (1-2, two frees), T. Mitchell, M. Mitchell (0-3, one free). Subs used: A. Hanrahan (0-2, one free) for Kelly (half-time), S. Heneghan for M. Mitchell (48 mins), R. Flaherty for T. Mitchell (53 mins).

Referee: S. Corcoran (Mayo).

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