Eirgrid Connacht U21 Football Championship Semi-Final

Sligo            1-13

Roscommon 0-13

At Kiltoom

Sligo booked a place in this year’s Eirgrid Connacht U-21 Final as they out played the home side in the second half. Paul Taylor’s side who trailed at the break 6-4 after a good start from the Yeat’s men where they led 3-2 after 19 minutes of play but four points on the spin for Roscommon from Hubert Darcy and Cian McKeon had the home side in control at half-time. Previous to Roscommon’s dominance Sligo came close to getting a goal when Geevagh’s Jodie O’Reilly had a great chance of a goal but Shane Mannion the Roscommon net minder pulled off a great save and ensured his goal was intact on that occasion but O’Reilly would get his goal after 46 minutes. 

Sligo got the opening point of the second half from Paddy O’Connor from a free but the home side were soon back two points in front with an excellent free from Mannion the goalkeeper coming up from his goals. Sligo would take control of the match as Captain and man of the match Darragh Cummins would kick four super points from distance for Sligo as they went 10-8 in front. Taylor’s side cut open Roscommon for the key score which proved to be the difference in the end. A super team move as Kyle Cawley played the ball across to O’Reilly who showed great desire to flick ball past the on-rushing Shane Mannion for the only goal of the match. McKeon and Darcy kept Roscommon in touch with frees but Sligo always looked in control of the match.

SLIGO: Daniel Cafferkey; Eddie McGuinness, Luke Nicholson, Michael Gordon; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, Paul McNamara, Sean Power; Darragh Cummins (0-4), Paul Kilcoyne; Alan McLoughlin, Liam Gaughan (0-1), Stephen Connolly (0-1); Kyle Cawley, Paddy O’Connor (0-4, 4f), Jodie O’Reilly (1-1).

Subs: Sean Carrabine (0-1) for Stephen Connolly (37), Jason Perry (0-1) for Alan McLoughlin (45), Nathan Mullen for Eddie McGuinness (55), Finnian Cawley for Paul Kilcoyne, Kevin Banks for Jodie O’Reilly (64). Michael Clarke for Jason Perry (bc) (65),

ROSCOMMON: Shane Mannion (0-1, 45); Jack Connaughton, Keelan Beirne, Mark Richardson; Sean Conroy, Aengus Lyons, Lorcan Daly; Gearoid Keenan, Hubert Darcy (0-5, 5f); Brian Stack, John Gannon (0-1), Conor Payne; Brian Kelly (0-1), Cian McKeon (0-4, 3f), Jamie Fahy (0-1).

Subs James Fetherston for Gearoid Keenan (37), Cathal Callinan for Jamie Fahy (37), Aengus Brogan for John Gannon (43), Tom Butler for Conor Payne (48), David Connaughton for Lorcan Daly (52).

Referee: J Henry (Mayo).