The Pádraig Pearses emerged victorious in the Roscommon SFC Final, securing a 1-11 to 1-9 win against the Roscommon Gaels. This marks their third victory in the Fahey Cup tournament within a six-year span. The match, beleaguered by the adverse conditions of Storm Ashley, was held at the sodden and wind-stricken Dr Hyde Park.
Despite the grim weather, both teams delivered an engrossing game, with the Pearses having to summon all their strength to regain their advantage after the Gaels managed to narrow down a six-point lead to only one, with a mere five minutes left in the game.
Nonetheless, the Pearses, coached by Frank Canning, stayed composed amid the Gaels’ rally, clinching their third championship since their initial win in 2019 with late scores from Paul Carey and substitute Jack Nevin.
Stand-out performances came from Eoin Colleran, whose 1-3 tally stole the limelight given his leadership role in guiding the Roscommon minor footballers to provincial success in 2020, as well as Paul Carey, and the Daly siblings – Niall, Ronan, and Conor. Their experience was evident in managing the game’s tempo and, crucially, retaining possession, thereby setting the stage for their triumph.
The Pearses managed to establish a solid lead on the scoreboard, with key strategies determined by Niall Daly and Niall Carty. Following an initial exchange of points between Niall Daly and Peter Gillooly, the Pearses soon took control.
Having been set up perfectly by Colleran, Ronan Daly kicked straight through the posts, followed by Colleran combining forces with David Murray to take the Pearses to a 0-3 to 0-1 lead within the first 12 minutes.
The Pearses’ supremacy persisted, thanks to a crucial turnover by Declan Kenny on Senan Lambe which set up Adam McGreal for a point. Pearses’ dominant start was sealed by a goal following a superb interception by Carey and a missed save by Gaels’ goalkeeper James Fetherstone, which saw Colleran slot the loose ball into the back of the net.
In the 20th minute of the match, it appeared that Roscommon Gaels could be left in the dust, when a sudden opportunity arose. Mark Healy’s failed attempt at a point, repelled by Pearses’ goalie Paul Whelan, was captured by John McGuinness who then propelled the ball into the net.
Despite Gaels’ momentary victory, Pearses responded by reestablishing their dominance. Noteworthy contributions from Carey, who secured a couple of frees, and Colleran, with another point from the game, allowed Pearses to lead 1-7 to Gaels’ 1-1 as they switched ends.
Stumbling blocks appeared for Roscommon as defender Cathal Dineen was shown a black card a mere five minutes before the interval, in tandem with the worsening weather, making their path forward daunting.
In the third quarter, both teams equally added two points to their scores; on one side McGuinness and Mark Purcell provided for Gaels, on the other, Carey and Colleran scored for Pearses.
However, against all odds, the Gaels found their spirit which fueled a remarkable rally. Points added by Rory Carthy, Purcell, Ryan Conlon, and the commendable McGuinness in a span of five minutes reduced Pearses’ lead to just one point, making the score 1-9 to 1-8, with only five minutes of the game left.
Yet, the Pearses managed to silence the Gaels’ resurgence using their extensive experience, and secured their win as champions with additional late points from Carey and Nevin, the latter receiving a black card near the end of the match. This confirmed the Pearses’ position in the Connacht club championship quarter-final against either Corofin or Moycullen, scheduled for early November.
In this Roscommon Gaels match, J Fetherstone was the goalkeeper, supported by defenders C Dineen, J Connolly, E Carthy, and S Lambe. J McManus and T Lambe also showed their defensive skills, while M Purcell led the midfield producing 0-3, 2f. Alongside him, M Healy demonstrated commendable team-work. J McGuinness, scoring 1-2, as well as S Oates and R Conlon, adding 0-1 to the score, were active in the forward lineup. C Connolly, P Gillooly, and R Walsh were also significant contributors to the team’s performance. Gillooly and Dineen were replaced in the 37th and 42nd minute by K Kilcline and C Grogan, respectively. In a subsequent substitution in the 49th minute, R Carthy came on the field for Walsh scoring 0-2, 2f. Oates was replaced by R Gleeson in the 54th minute. The match was officiated by D Lyons from Castlerea St Kevin’s.