Result
All-Ireland senior football Super 8s
Tyrone 4-24 Roscommon 2-12
******************
Kevin McStay and Mickey Harte took their sides into action in Croke Park.
Result
All-Ireland senior football Super 8s
Tyrone 4-24 Roscommon 2-12
******************
Afternoon all and welcome along to Croke Park as a new era in the All-Ireland senior football championship finally begins.
There’s been plenty heated debate about the merits and flaws of the Super 8s system, now we get to see it in action with this weekend’s first round of games.
It’s Roscommon against Tyrone in the first encounter, throw-in here at Croke Park is 5pm.
Let’s get stuck into some team news. Two changes for Roscommon from last week’s win over Armagh. Fintan Cregg and Cathal Compton are named to start, Peter Domican and Sean McDermott are selected on the bench.
1. Colm Lavin (Éire Óg)
2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
3. John McManus (Roscommon Gaels)
4. Niall McInerney (St Brigid’s)
5. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
6. Fintan Cregg (Elphin)
7. Conor Devaney (Kilbride – captain)
8. Tadgh O’Rourke (Tulsk Lord Edwards)
9. Enda Smith (Boyle)
10. Ciaráin Murtagh (St. Faithleach’s)
11. Niall Kilroy (Fuerty)
12. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)
13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St. Faithleach’s)
14. Cathal Compton (Strokestown)
15. Donie Smith (Boyle)
Same again for Tyrone, the starting side that dismantled Cork last Saturday are given the vote of confidence by Mickey Harte.
1. Niall Morgan (Clonoe)
2. Padraig Hampsey (Coalisland)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Michael McKernan (Coalisland)
5. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)
6. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)
7. Peter Harte (Errigal Chiaran)
8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
21. Cathal McCarron (Athy)
10. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick)
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
13. Cathal McShane (Eoghan Ruadh)
14. Richard Donnelly (Trillick)
15. Connor McAliskey (Clonoe)
Roscommon are the only beaten provincial finalist to have made it to this stage, succeeding last weekend as Laois, Fermanagh and Cork faltered in Round 4. That second-half slump cost Roscommon in the Connacht final but in a sparkling and open game last Saturday in Portlaoise, they defeated Armagh 2-22 to 1-19.
For Tyrone, it’s been a circuitous route to this juncture after that Ulster setback against Monaghan. They have seen off Meath, Carlow, Cavan and Cork to book a spot in the Super 8s. The biggest scare was against Meath when they needed extra-time but there’s been some emphatic wins since then, particularly when cruising past Cork last Saturday.
Roscommon 0-3 Tyrone 0-1
Really good stuff from the Murtagh brothers against a packed Tyrone rearguard. Captain Ciaráin makes ground and then pops a handpass out to Diarmuid who curls over a lovely point. Then they win the kickout through Enda Smith, he is fouled later in the move and Ciaráin converts the free.
Tyrone 1-3 Roscommon 0-4
A bad error by Roscommon and Tyrone make them pay. Roscommon in possession around the middle when Enda Smith attempts a crossfield pass that is intercepted. Tyrone counter quickly, Roscommon can’t get the ball back and the move culminates in Sludden drilling home the first goal of the game.
Tyrone 1-7 Roscommon 0-6
And Tyrone are being clinical at the other end. A first score of the day for Omagh’s Conor Meyler. Then a shot from Donie Smith for a point drops dangerously underneath the crossbar but Niall Morgan does superbly to punch clear under pressure. Tyrone move forward once more and Cathal McShane points. Suddenly it’s a four-point game, a nice lead for Tyrone before half-time.
And Tyrone go in at the break clear by seven. That last point captured the difference between the teams, Richard Donnelly clipping over a point after Roscommon gave away the ball cheaply at the other end. That’s six points without reply now for Tyrone, no Roscommon score since the 24th minute. They’ve plenty to sort at half-time. We’ll have a breather and be back for the second-half action.
Tyrone 2-14 Roscommon 1-9
And that looks like it’ll be a huge score! Tyrone quell that period of Roscommon resistance by pouncing for a goal. Fintan Cregg had a shot from distance at one end that looped short into the arms of Niall Morgan. It’s another swift counter-attack from Tyrone and when Cathal McShane popped a pass inside, Meyler was all alone to roll a shot home for their second goal.
Tyrone 3-20 Roscommon 2-9
Plenty action there. First Roscommon gain some respite when Ciaráin Murtagh produces a lovely finish past Niall Morgan for their second goal. But the joy is short lived as Tyrone go down the other end and Hugh Pat McGeary is grounded by Enda Smith. David Gough judges it to be illegal, awards the penalty and Peter Harte slams a shot into the bottom corner. Richard Donnelly tacks on a point and it’s a 14-point game here.
Tyrone 3-22 Roscommon 2-10
The life is long gone out of this contest. Mattie Donnelly and Mark Bradley with Tyrone’s latest scores to confirm their supremacy. Roscommon have whipped off Ciaráin Murtagh and Enda Smith, possibly mindful of the contest coming ahead. Conor Devaney has just notched a score for Roscommon.
So Tyrone off to a flying start in the Super 8s, that’s a hugely impressive total they put up on the board. Dublin a clear step up in class next Saturday but they’ll look forward to welcoming them to Omagh.
For Roscommon, well that was a tough introduction to Group 1. The match ran away from them in the second half and the challenges only increase from here.
That’s all from us for the first game, thanks for joining in. You can keep track of the action between Dublin and Donegal here, Kevin O’Brien is keeping tabs on that one.
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