Smith the hero as he leads Roscommon to victory

ROSCOMMON cornerforward Donie Smith proved to be the hero at Cusack Park in Ennis yesterday, helping himself to nine points in a victory over Clare in round five of the Allianz Football League. Played in front of a crowd of 1,643, this game’s turning point came in the eighth minute of the second half, when Clare wingback Ciaran Russell was sent off on a straight red card for what the referee indicated as a ‘striking action’. Clare grabbed the opener, David Tubridy raising a green flag in the third minute. By the 17th minute they held a two-point lead, 1-2 to 0-3. But then the Rossies hit a purple patch, scoring an unanswered 1-4, in a four-minute spell. Ciarán Murtagh kicked three points, Donie Smith grabbed one and Diarmuid Murtagh found the net, leaving them 1-7 to 1-2 ahead. But Clare rallied and went in just two behind (1-9 to 1-7) at the half-time break. Eoin Cleary narrowed the gap from a free early in the second half before Smith kicked Roscommon’s first point of the half. Down to 14 men, Clare struggled. With 10 minutes remaining they trailed by 1-14 to 1-11 only for the visitors to score a second goal through substitute Cathal Cregg. It gave the Rossies breathing space and even though Clare replied five minutes later with a Gary Brennan goal, Kevin McStay’s charges closed out the game with four late points. Roscommon selector Liam McHale admitted that the sending off had a bearing on the outcome, by saying: ‘We were bit worried about this game. We had a good win against Louth but we knew this would be a big challenge. ‘We won by seven but I think the sending off was the major pivotal point.’ He went on to add: ‘We have put ourselves in a good position with the win today. We are delighted the way the last three weeks have gone. ‘We have two games now — Cork and Cavan, two top-class teams, but we’re really looking forward to it.’ ROSCOMMON: J Featherston, S McDermott, J McManus (F Lennon 25), P Domican, R Daly, D Murray (B Stack 48), N Daly (E Smith h/t), T O’Rourke (I Kilbride 64), C Compton, C Murtagh, N Kilroy, C Devaney (Capt.), D Smith, C Lennon (C Cregg 56), D Murtagh (S Kiloran 67). Scorers: D Smith 0-9 (2f), C Murtagh 0-6 (4f), D Murtagh 1-1 (1f), C Gregg 1-1, C Devaney 0-2. CLARE: K Roche, C O’Dea, C Brennan, E Collins (G O’Brien 53), C Russell, A Fitzgerald, P Lillis (S Malone 59), G Brennan (Capt.), C O’Connor, S Collins (C Ó hAinifein (65), E Cleary, K Malone, S O’Donoghue, K Sexton D Bohannon 63), D Tubridy (C Finucane 65). Scorers: D Tubridy 1-3 (0-3f), E Cleary 0-5 (3f), G Brennan 1-0, K Sexton 0-2, P Lillis, S O’Donoghue 0-1. Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).