Connacht U-20 Football Championship U-20s are held on the first day of their title defence
Defending champions Sligo denied a home win as Rossies land an equaliser in stoppage time
Connacht U-20 Football C’ship Round Two
Sligo
Roscommon
S0-9 0-9
LIGO could have won, equally they could have lost so the home draw with Roscommon at Markievicz Park on Wednesday evening of last week was a fair outcome in round two of the Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship.
The hosts looked to be creeping over the line with a one-point win, 0-9 to 0-8, but Roscommon’s Bobby Nugent landed the equalising point with a converted free in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Nugent’s successful kick came two minutes after he missed a free – from further out – as Roscommon ended up drawing for the second successive fixture.
Sligo will have required a major improvement for their third round tie away to Galway last night, Wednesday, with two more round-robin games to come – next Wednesday’s hosting of Leitrim (Markievicz Park, 6.30pm) and then a trip to Castlebar to face Mayo on Wednesday, April 17 (Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, 7.30pm).
The Paul Henry-managed
Sligo went into last Wednesday’s fixture as the team to beat. Not only had Sligo won the last two provincial titles in this age group, the starting XV for the Rossies featured 10 players who started last year’s All-Ireland U-20 decider against Kildare at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Sligo started as favourites, having defeated Roscommon in the last two U-20 campaigns (semi-final in 2022 and quarter-final in 2023), and Sligo had the edge when these players were at U-17 level in 2021 when Sligo beat Roscommon to win the Connacht GAA Minor Football Championship title.
Breeze-assisted Sligo started strongly and Eli Rooney had contributed two points by the fifth minute. Ross Doherty was getting on a lot of ball, too. Dylan McLoughlin and Rossa Sloyan set up a goal chance for Conor Walsh but a combination of the full-forward’s miscontrol and Roscommon goalkeeper Sean Allen’s anticipation meant the opportunity never materialised.
Shane McGinley would emerge as one of Roscommon’s better forwards and he was among their scorers as they tied matters, 0-2 to 0-2, by the 14th
The number of Sligo forwards that scored from open play against Roscommon last Wednesday.
STANDINGS
CONNACHT U-20 FOOTBALL C’SHIP
P D F Diff 2 1 32 +4 2 0 34 +5 2 2 25 0 1 1 9 0 1 0 13 -9
TURNING POINT: Sligo’s sluggish second-half. Despite failing to score for the first 19 minutes of the second-half Sligo still almost got a win against Roscommon. But it is worrying for the holders that they were so subdued for almost one third of this fixture.
minute. But Roscommon, who drew with Mayo the previous week, failed to score for the remainder of the first-half as Sligo took over, scoring four unanswered points to lead 0-6 to 0-2 by half-time.
A smart move upfield led to Ross Doherty’s good point after 15 minutes – Dillon Walsh and Ronan Niland were involved – and Sligo were back in front, 0-3 to 0-2.
Midfielder Conor Sheridan was busy, as was James Donlon, who was unlucky that a couple of lengthy deliveries didn’t pick out Eli Rooney, who was covered by several Roscommon players.
Sligo, who only sparkled in spurts, were dangerous when they moved possession quickly as they were forced to be patient with their probing because of Roscommon’s defensive structure.
A brace of outstanding points from wing-back Rossa Sloyan – Sligo’s best player – brought the home crowd to life and Luke Marren’s converted free increased Sligo’s advantage to four points, 0-6 to 0-2.
This interval lead should have been the springboard for second-half dominance but Sligo were in a fuddle for around 19 minutes.
They failed to score as Roscommon, suddenly transformed, shot five points without reply to go 0-7 to 0-6 ahead by the 41st minute.
Sligo were suffering as they struggled with the basics – possession was lost and passes were misplaced. This wasn’t how defending champions were supposed to play.
Then two converted frees – from Eli Rooney and Luke Marren – brought Sligo level, 0-8 apiece, with five minutes of normal time left.
No longer sluggish and energised by Robert O’Kelly-Lynch’s introduction, Sligo went for the winning score.
Dylan McLoughlin’s interception preceded one of Sligo’s best moves when Ronan Niland lofted a fine point after trading passes with James Donlon.
Ronan Niland’s 29th minute score had Sligo ahead again, 0-9 to 0-8, and all they had to do was hold on – or extend their lead – in stoppage time, with at least four minutes of additional time to be played. But such was the tit-for-tat nature of proceedings that it was inevitable that
ON THE ATTACK: Eli Rooney, scored 0-3 for Sligo in their draw with the Rossies.
Roscommon would have a chance to restore parity. It would fall on Bobby Nugent to be the Rossies’ saviour and he was, at the second attempt, after letting Sligo off the hook when he missed a big chance.
Rossa Sloyan
Ethan Carden, Ross Chambers, Conor Johnston, Tommy Ross, Eoin Barrett, Dylan McLoughlin, Rossa Sloyan (0-2), Conor Sheridan, Ross Doherty (0-1), Dillon Walsh, Ronan Niland (0-1), James Donlon, Luke Marren (0-2, 2f), Conor Walsh, Eli Rooney (0-3, 1f)
UNDER PRESSURE: Sligo wing-back Eoin Barrett attempts to get a pass away despite the presence of three Roscommon players during last Wednesday’s Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship round two fixture at Markievicz Park.
Subs used: Robert O’Kelly-Lynch, Rian O’Callaghan, Ciaran Kenny, Ronan O’Hehir, Fintan Campbell
Subs not used: Jamie McCoy (gk), Paul O’Brien, Stephen Rogan, Connor Flynn
Sean Allen, Eden Kerins,
Dan Casey, Tommy Morris, James McGreal, Senan Lambe, Eoghan Carthy (0-1), Conor Ryan (0-1, 1 ‘mark’), Shane Walsh, Rory Hester (0-1), Bobby Nugent (0-1, 1f), Rob Heneghan, Shane McGinley (0-3, 1f, 1 ‘mark’), Rory Carthy (0-2, 2f), Conor Harley Subs used: Ryan Conlon, Dan Hagney, Oisin O’Flaherty, Niall O’Donnell
Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)