All-Ireland SFC: Roscommon overcome Cavan

All-Ireland SFC Group Two

Roscommon 3-20 Cavan 1-20

By Ian Cooney at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith played key roles as Roscommon overcame Cavan in an entertaining shootout at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park to qualify for next weekend’s preliminary quarter-finals.

Murtagh kicked 1-6 in a Player of the Match display, while Smith, an injury doubt beforehand, picked his moments to have a major influence in a contest that produced 44 scores in front of 3,962 spectators.

It was Roscommon’s first championship win in over a year and just their second victory in league or championship this season, but manager Davy Burke will be delighted with how his key players stepped over the plate to see off a gutsy Cavan side that were led magnificently by Gerard Smith and Cormac O’Reilly, who kicked nine points from play between them.

In the end, goals proved crucial and the green flags provided by Diarmuid Murtagh, Brian Stack and Enda Smith swung the pendulum in Roscommon’s favour.

Dara McVeety’s goal at the three-quarter stage left just a point between the teams, but Roscommon held their nerve to reach the last 12.

The sides were level at 0-4 apiece after 13 minutes. Diarmuid Murtagh (2), Conor Cox (free) and Enda Smith were on target for Davy Burke’s men, while Cormac O’Reilly, Gerard Smith, Oisín Kiernan and James Smith split the posts for Cavan.

Rapid-fire scores from Diarmuid Murtagh, Shane Cunnane and Daire Cregg pushed Roscommon back in front before Ryan O’Neill pared back the margin to just two points.

The crucial score of the half arrived in the 21st minute when Diarmuid Murtagh’s effort for a point crept in under the head of Cavan goalkeeper, Gary O’Rourke, and into the net.

The sides continued to trade scores, with Ultan Harney, Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh, an audacious free with the outside of his left foot, and Donie Smith finding the target for the primrose and blue.

But Cavan remained in touch with points from O’Rourke, a ’45 after Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll denied Jason McLoughlin, Cian Madden, Oisín Brady (free) and a brace by the excellent Smith to trail by 1-11 to 0-10 at the break.

Roscommon missed a few chances at the start of the second half to leave Cavan in the game. But Enda Smith took responsibility to puncture a huge hole through the opposition’s defence and square possession for Brian Stack to palm into the net to give the Rossies a 2-11 to 0-12 lead after 40 minutes.

Both sides were in the mood to kick points for fun, but Cavan were right back in it when substitute Dara McVeety fastened himself to Luke Fortune’s crossfield pass to direct the ball beyond Carroll.

The Cavan rebellion was quashed quickly as Enda Smith bundled the ball over the line at the second attempt to regain control for the Connacht side.

Ciarán Lennon and Andrew Glennon kicked points for Roscommon after being introduced, while Diarmuid Murtagh, brought his tally to 1-6 for the evening as the Rossies cemented their place in next weekend’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals.

Scorers for Roscommon: Diarmuid Murtagh 1-6 (2fs), Enda Smith 1-1, Daire Cregg 0-4 (0-1m), Conor Cox 0-4 (1f, 1m), Brian Stack 1-0, Shane Cunnane 0-1, Ultan Harney 0-1, Donie Smith 0-1, Ciarán Lennon 0-1, Andrew Glennon 0-1

Scorers for Cavan: Gerard Smith 0-5, Cormac O’Reilly 0-4, Oisín Brady 0-3 (3fs), Dara McVeety 1-0, Darragh Lovett 0-2, Gary O’Rourke 0-1 (0-1 ’45), Oisín Kiernan 0-1, Ryan O’Neill 0-1, Cian Madden 0-1, James Smith 0-1, Conor Madden 0-1

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Niall Higgins, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Robbie Dolan; David Murray, Brian Stack, Eoin McCormack; Dylan Ruane, Shane Cunnane; Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh, Enda Smith; Conor Cox, Ultan Harney, Donie Smith.

Subs: Ronan Daly for Ruane (40), Ciarán Lennon for Harney (45), Andrew Glennon for Donie Smith (53), Niall Daly for Dolan (62), Adam McDermott for Diarmuid Murtagh (65).

Cavan: Gary O’Rourke; Luke Fortune, Brian O’Connell, Jason McLoughlin; Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Oisín Kiernan (Castlerahan); Ciarán Brady, Ryan Donohoe; Ryan O’Neill, Cian Madden, Gerard Smith; Oisín Brady, James Smith, Cormac O’Reilly.

Subs: Tiarnan Madden for Donohoe (23), Darragh Lovett for O’Neill (half-time), Dara McVeety for Kiernan (49), Conor Madden for Cian Madden (53), Oisín Kiernan (Denn) for Faulkner (55).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).