Alan Conroy goal key as Roscommon minors bounce back with win over Galway

After last week’s defeat to Mayo the home side needed a response, and that’s exactly what the young players wearing they produced against a wasteful Galway side that kicked 12 wides over the hour.

Roscommon made a brisk start and were nourished by Alan Conroy’s well-taken goal after only five minutes.

Midfielder Michael Leahy got Galway off the mark with a point but Roscommon continued to play the more constructive football, with Shay McGuinness an effective target man on the edge of the square.

The Clann na nGael player fisted a point before Colin Murray and Declan Kennedy added further scores to leave it 1-3 to 0-1 in Roscommon’s favour at the end of the first quarter.

Galway finally started to gain some traction around the middle and were rewarded with a couple of frees by Killian Joyce and another by Niall de Paor who had been denied by Roscommon goalkeeper, Patrick Gaynor, earlier in the half.

By the midway mark, Roscommon were three points to the good after another smart score by McGuinness to leave James Duignan’s side 1-4 to 0-4 ahead.

Two quick points from Galway defenders Donnacha Naughton and Cian Rafferty breathed fresh life into the visitors’ challenge but Roscommon settled again through frees from Dean Casey and Dara Curran, before Curran landed an inspiration score to leave four between them at the three quarter-stage.

A goal by Galway substitute David Kilraine was a boost to Galway but points from Keelan Kelly and Cathal Enright left Roscommon within sight of the winning post.

Another Galway substitute Seán O’Callaghan left two between them but Eoin Collins — one of Roscommon’s stars on the evening — kicked what turned out to be the insurance point to seal a famous win for the Rossies.

SCORERS – Roscommon: A Conroy 1-0, S McGuinness, D Curran (1f) 0-2 each, C Murray, D Kennedy, D Casey (1f), S Tighe, C Enright, E Collins 0-1 each. Galway: D Kilraine 1-0, K Joyce 0-2f, M Leahy, N de Paor (1f), D Naughton, C Rafferty, S O’Callaghan 0-1 each

ROSCOMMON: P Gaynor; L Finneran, G Casey, M Connaughton; A Conroy, K Kelly, C Murray; D Devaney, D Kennedy; S McGuinness, E Collins, C Enright; D Curran, S Tighe, D Casey. Subs: J McKeon for Enright (28, b/s), S McDonnell for Tighe (h-t), J McKeon for Conroy (40), C Mulry for Enright (51), S Malec Hannon for McGuinness (54), C Kennedy for Casey (60).

GALWAY: J King; D Naughton, S Martyn, E Forde; C Rafferty, T Proulx, B O’Malley; R McGrath, M Leahy; R Duggan, K Joyce, C Killeen; S Costello, N de Paor, L Dempsey. Subs: D Kilraine for Duggan (h-t), S O’Callaghan for de Paor (50), S Rabbitt for O’Malley (45), J O’Sullivan for Leahy (51), E Cunningham for Naughton (54).

REF: P Lydon (Mayo).