New York GAA Monaghan leave Roscommon pointless after 2 starts

By Pierce O’Reilly

Monaghan 1-11, Roscommon 1-8

Monaghan and Roscommon came face to face in the final game of the day at Gaelic Park on Sunday and as usual it proved to be another intense and tension-filled Senior "B" affair.

Both sides had lost their opening tie and it was obvious from the off that they were eager not to go down again. Monaghan were the better side over the hour, and with Armagh native and Crossmaglen forward Cathal Short in town for the game, they controlled play in the opening half. Roscommon had their own regular import. Rossa O’Callaghan. back in town and after a hectic dash from JFK earlier in the afternoon. And the elfin midfielder played in heart out.

The clashes were evenly contested in the opening half with and the sides parted at the interval on even terms 0-6 apiece. O’Callaghan, Tim Coakley, Richie Maher and Noel McTiernan hit the Roscommon points, while Garrett Duffy, Short, Hughie O’Sullivan and Declan Corr all hit the target for the Ulstermen.

Monaghan dominated the early exchanges after the restart, and with Sean Carbin rattling the Roscommon net after just three minutes, they never looked back. Sean Carbin, Dan Scott and Louis Breslin added further points to give them their 3-point winning margin.

Roscommon have improved in the last three weeks, but they’re lacking a free-scoring forward or two. Richie Maher, Noel McTiernan and Sean O’Reilly in the second half were impressive, but they need help — and soon.

Monaghan: Joe O’Sulllivan, Barry Doughan, Mickey Art Traynor, Gary Birdy, Louis Breslin 0-1, Paul Rush, Garrett Duffy 0-1, Hughie O’Sullivan 0-1, Rory O’Neill, Dan Scott 0-1, Cathal Short 0-3, Declan Corr 0-1, Brian McKenna, David Ballintine, Sean Carbin 1-0.

Roscommon: Mike Deere, Mark Kelly, Ken Deacon, Gerry Doherty, Rory Menlough, Declan Coyne, David O’Sullivan, Tim Coakley 0-1, Rossa O’Callaghan 0-4, Eddie Flynn, Hugh O’Malley, Sean O’Reilly, Noel McTiernan 0-2, Richie Maher 1-1.