Heneghan inspires Rossies to dethrone Galway

CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Roscommon 3-21

Galway 2-22

At Dr. Hyde Park

These are heady days for Roscommon football and a first-ever clean sweep of Connacht titles was sealed at a packed Dr. Hyde Park this afternoon (Sunday). The county's Seniors followed in the footsteps of their U-20s and Minors in not only winning provincial honours, but doing so in a thrilling endgame.

Eight unanswered points in the closing nine minutes prised the Nestor Cup from Galway's grasp and ended a seven-year wait for provincial glory in front of an attendance of 22,799.

It all looked so unlikely when Damien Comer broke clear to finish Galway's second goal, as a provincial five in-a-row looked on the cards for Padraic Joyce's side with a 2-22 to 3-13 lead on 61 minutes.

But they would not score again and Roscommon kicked a flurry of late points that included twos from Paul Carey, Daire Cregg and the go-ahead score from captain Diarmuid Murtagh from an advanced free after Galway were penalised 50 metres.

Galway were backed by a significant wind blowing into the graveyard end and started in positive fashion. Robert Finnerty goaled in the second minute and their advantage grew to 1-9 to 0-4 on the back of two-pointers from Paul Conroy, Shane Walsh and Kieran Molloy.

Quickfire goals

But Roscommon stormed back into it with quickfire goals from cousins Darragh and Robert Heneghan as the half-time score stood at 1-14 to 2-8 in Galway's favour with Conroy and Walsh raising further orange flags.

Roscommon rallied in the third quarter. A Conor Ryan two was soon followed by the outstanding Darragh Heneghan racing clear of the defensive cover to net his second and Roscommon's third goal to take a 3-12 to 1-16 lead.

It was thrilling fare and Galway then wrestled back the initiative with Walsh nailing a two-point free and continuing to add to his tally. Comer then broke away to rattle the net as Galway struck for 1-6 in a golden spell with just one Roscommon point in reply to leave six between them with less than ten minutes remaining.

However, there would be a sting in the tail for the men in maroon as Roscommon summoned a driving finish and kicked a string of high-class scores to capture a first Connacht title on home soil since 2001 after a late Walsh attempt at a leveller drifted wide.

They'll bounce into the All-Ireland series and a home fixture with Tyrone in a fortnight. Galway, in contrast, must regroup for the visit of Kildare after letting a winnable match and their provincial crown slip away.

ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll (0-1, 45); Paddy Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Eoin McCormack; Eoin Ward, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe (0-1); Keith Doyle (0-1), Conor Ryan (0-3, one 0-2 score); Dylan Ruane (0-1), Enda Smith, Colm Neary; Darragh Heneghan (2-2), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-7, one 0-2 free, 0-2 frees), Robert Heneghan (1-0). Subs: Daire Cregg (0-3, one 0-2 score, 0-1 free), for R. Heneghan, 46 mins; Ruaidhrí Fallon, for Ward, 51 mins; Paul Carey (0-2, 0-2 score), for Gavin, 56 mins; Conor Hand, for Neary, 62 mins; Shane Cunnane, for Ryan, 64 mins; Cian McKeon, for D. Heneghan inj., 65 mins.

GALWAY: Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Liam Silke, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh (0-1), Kieran Molloy (0-2, one 0-2 score), Seán Kelly (0-2); Paul Conroy (0-4, two 0-2 scores), John Maher; Daniel O'Flaherty, Cillian McDaid, Céin D'Arcy (0-1); Robert Finnerty (1-1), Ryan Roche, Shane Walsh (0-9, two 0-2 scores, one 0-2 free, 0-1 45). Subs: Finnian Ó Laoi, for O’Flaherty, half-time; Damien Comer (1-2), for Roche, 42 mins; Cian Hernon, for Conroy, 51 mins; John Daly, for Molloy, 51 mins; Matthew Tierney, for Finnerty, 60 mins; Shane McGrath, for McDaid, 61 mins.

REFEREE: Sean Hurson.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Darragh Heneghan (Roscommon).