Narrow defeat for U-21 footballers in opening round of Hastings Cup
 


16.01.10 | Roscommon 2-7 Longford 1-8 | Thomas Kelly reporting from Michael Fay Park
 


Roscommon got their Hastings Cup campaign off to the perfect start on Saturday last at Michael Fay Park, Longford Slashers, defeating a battling Longford side. With the heavy pitch obviously taking its toll, Roscommon looked the fitter but this battle should stand to both sides with Cavan and Leitrim next in the firing line.

For Roscommon centre back James McKague stood out along with Paul O’Grady and Paul Garvey while for Longford Martin Brady and Ronan McGoldrick were to the forefront.  


Roscommon, under the guidance of St. Mel’s College teacher Jimmy Gacquin, looked slick and controlling in the opening quarter with a four point lead opened up inside twenty minutes, Paul Garvey’s well taken goal the difference.

However, despite Roscommon getting an early second half goal through Kevin Dickins, Longford didn’t let the heads drop and dominated the second period.

Roscommon managed to put up a solid resistance with scoring chances limited despite the home sides possession count, while the Rossies took the few chances which came their way, ultimately proving the difference between the sides. 
 

Longford can take heart from such a display with preparation hampered due to weather conditions and injuries. With players such as Kevin Diffley, Aaron Quinn, Willie Crawford, Colm P. Smyth and Colm E. Smyth missing Saturday due to exams and injury, things may not be all bleak for the opening championship game against Wicklow in just over a months time. 
 


Roscommon wasted little time in getting settled in, Paul Garvey hitting the first point of the game after just one minute, the lively wing forward slicing through the Longford defence and firing over.

Roscommon doubled their lead through their other wing forward Brian Murtagh (current Longford Town U-20 player), the number 12 linking up well with Donie Shine to fire over from close range.
 


Longford eventually were to mount an attack and register a score after seven minutes of action, Denis McGoldrick slotting over from close range following neat link up play between Martin Brady, Ronan McGoldrick and Brian Farrell.

Longford pulled level after twelve minutes, Ronan McGoldrick tapping over a close range free following a foul on Paul McKeon, while credit must go to Anthony Watters who made a dispossession in his own half to set up the attack. 
 


Roscommon then got the games first goal after fourteen minutes, danger man Paul Garvey slotting home a fine goal when outsmarting keeper Aiden Gray with a sidestep with credit due to Brian Murtagh who did the donkey work in sending Garvey clean through.

Corner back Paul O’Grady then managed to find himself twenty one yards from goal, and he showed composure to slot over with ease, opening up a four point gap with ten minutes of the first half remaining. 
 


Ronan McGoldrick was next on the scoresheet in the twenty second minute, the impressive full forward played in by Paul McKeon but the Killoe man could only blaze over from ten yards out when a goal seemed a certainty.

Longford then registered their second point on the trot through Paul McKeon, the Colmcille man landing a huge long range free to leave two points between the sides with five minutes remaining.
 

Roscommon almost hit back with a goal through Donie Shine, but Anthony Watters superbly blocked the full forwards effort down.

Shine then kicked the resulting forty five well wide of the posts, the star of the All Ireland winning side have an off day with the boot with several missed opportunities.

Roscommon closed out the half with a fisted point through Darren McCormack, which meant there was a three point gap going into the half time break. 


Roscommon came out of the half time break with all guns blazing and had a goal inside the first minute, Kevin Dickins hammering home from close range following a square ball by Donie Shine. One would have thought this was a sign of things to come, yet it never materialised like this. 
 

It only took Longford two minutes to reply with a goal of their own, Pauric Gill slotting home from six yards for the simplest of goals, Ronan McGoldrick playing the vital final pass after taking possession from the hard working Shane Powell.

Five minutes later and Longford had the gap reduced to just two points, Paul McKeon again on target with a long range effort following a foul on the troublesome Ronan McGoldrick.
 


It was McGoldrick who reduced Longford’s arrears to just a single point with thirty nine minutes on the clock with a fine point on the turn following a great show of power and strength to create space.

Roscommon then hit back for their first score in some eleven minutes, Paul O’Grady again venturing up field and slotting over from close range. 
 


Constant thorn Ronan McGoldrick hit back for Longford with fifteen minutes left on the clock, a placed ball his choice of torment this time round.

McGoldrick then made it two on the trot two minutes later with another free bringing the sides level for the first time. Roscommon replied though with twenty minute on the clock through centre back James McKague, who made a fine run up the pitch while slotting over a fine score.

Roscommon got the games final score right on the thirty minute mark through Alan O’Hara, which sealed a hard fought victory for the Rossies over their near neighbours.
 


ROSCOMMON: Darren O’Malley; James Sharkey, Niall Collins, Paul O’Grady (0-2); Niall Carty, James McKague (0-1), Eamon Bannon; Seamus Collins, Kevin Dickins (1-0); Paul Garvey (1-1), Cathal Shine, Brian Murtagh (0-1); Alan O’Hara (0-1), Donie Shine, Darren McCormack (0-1).
 


LONGFORD: Aiden Gray (Fr. Manning Gaels); Ruairi Barrins (Longford Slashers), Michael Morrissey (Rathcline), Anthony Watters (Clonguish); Kevin Farrell (Cashel), Fergal Battrim (Abbeylara), John Sheridan (Dromard); Martin Brady (Sean Connolly’s), John Keegan (St. Columba’s); Brian Farrell (Mostrim), Denis McGoldrick (Killoe, 0-1), Shane Powell (Ardagh); Paul McKeon (Colmcille, 0-2, both frees), Ronan McGoldrick (Killoe, 0-5, three frees), Pauric Gill (Fr. Manning Gaels, 1-0)
.

SUBS USED:- Bernard Sheridan (Dromard) for F. Battrim (inj, 19 mins), J.J. Matthews (St. Columba’s) for D. McGoldrick (38 mins) and Ronan McEntire (Dromard) for B. Farrell (58 mins).