Roscommon progress to Super 8s after high-scoring thriller against stubborn Armagh
NOT THAT there’s been much competition, but we had a contender for best football game of the summer so far with Roscommon finishing strong to book a place in the Super 8s.
Both management teams committed to open, attacking football all year and, despite the huge prize at stake, they didn’t take a backward step. It resulted in a refreshing contest with loads of quality scores, and mistakes to boot, in sweltering conditions in Portlaoise.
The Rossies had that bit of extra quality but were far from efficient. Enda Smith bagged two goals, but they butchered around four or five other good chances.
Roscommon led 1-11 to 0-12 at the break with Smith scoring the first of his two goals after a smart through pass from Diarmuid Murtagh. It gave the Rossies some traction in the game, because Armagh had made the better start and shot the lights out in the first half.
Andrew Murnin scored 0-4 from play, and he was ably backed up by Rory Grugan and Aidan Forker in a dangerous forward line.
Armagh hit 18 wides against Clare last weekend but nailed nine points here before their first wide 25 minutes in.
Roscommon held firm and Ciaran Murtagh matched anything that was happening down the other end with Cathal Cregg also a huge threat all day at full-forward.
Armagh needed to take every chance but missed a 45th-minute penalty when Rossies keeper Colm Lavin dived low to block Grugan’s shot. Mark Shields’ follow-up went wide, but he made amends a couple of minutes later, beating his man to a high ball and arrowing one into the far corner.
That brought Armagh to within two points and they only trailed by one in the 70th minute before six minutes of injury time. Roscommon cut loose a few times without success but finally nabbed the all-important second goal, Smith bursting through and drilling an unstoppable shot
past Blaine Hughes.
Advancing to the Super 8s was the aim for Roscommon this year, although they will be taking a lot of tired, sore bodies to Croke Park next week to face Tyrone, with Ultan Harney injured in the warm-up and Ciaran Murtagh limping out with 15 minutes to go. O’Rourke; C Devaney, N Kilroy (Fintan Cregg 65), C Murtagh (Finbar Cregg 55); D Smith (C Compton 58), D Murtagh, C Cregg Scorers: E Smith 2-1; C Murtagh (2f), D Murtagh (5f) 0-6; C Cregg, D Smith 0-3; C Devaney, Fintan Cregg, C Compton 0-1. ARmAgh: B Hughes; P Burns, C Mackin (G McParland 52), G McCabe (J McElroy 34); M Shields, B Donaghy (N Rowland 47), R Owens; C Vernon, S Sheridan (R McQuillan 42); R Grugan, J Hall (J Duffy 62), N Grimley; R McShane, A Murnin (K Dyas 65), A Forker Scorers: R Grugan (2f), N Grimley 0-5 (3f, 1 ‘45); A Murnin 0-4; M Shields 1-0, A Forker, J Hall, S Sheridan, G McParland, R McShane 0-1. Yellow cards: G McCabe 9, M Shields 35, P Burns 58, N Rowland 75. Black cards: G McParland 73. Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).