February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Roscommon’s dangerous corner forward Jason McEvoy took advantage when his marker lost his footing and he punched home the goal after keeper John McGinley stopped his first effort. When Kieran Keaveney added a Roscommon point from a long-range free, Offaly were under the gun.
But instead of panicking, the division table toppers got down to business. Tommy Quaid got Offaly on the board and points from Jason Kelly (2) and Karl Kelly got Offaly back on track. Roscommon’s veteran free taker, Edmund Cleary, can be deadly and he showed that as three of the Connaght side’s next four points came off his trusty left boot.
The last of Cleary’s first-half efforts put the score at 1-5 to 0-5 in Roscommon’s favor with 5 minutes to play before the break. Center forward Jason Kelly sliced one point off the Offaly deficit with his second long free off the ground.
Then James Coughlan took over. First Coughlan scored his second point of the half. Then he got the ball 25 yards from goal and took on his man, leaving him grasping at air before blasting a great goal from a tough angle. Coughlan added another point from Nigel Carney’s set up. Keaveney answered for Roscommon and the score stood at Offaly 1-8, Roscommon 1-6 at the half.
The second half was all Offaly as they raced out to a 1-18 to 1-8 lead before a late Roscommon rally narrowed the gap. James Coughlan was the architect, running through, past, and around a Roscommon defense that simply could not cope with the talented young forward.
But Coughlan was no one-man show. Jason Kelly was a very impressive runningmate, Enda Condren was effective at midfield, and John Fitzpatrick had another stormer from his wingback position.
Brian Delaney did an effective marking job on Roscommon’s dangerous corner forward, Jason McEvoy, after Chris Willis had to leave with a recurring foot injury.
Offaly’s win sets up a much-anticipated match up with rivals Mayo next Sunday with the Senior B championship on the line.
Man of the Match: James Coughlan
Offaly: John McGinley, Chris Willis, Sean Nolan, Mark Dolan, Brian Delaney, Liam Kelly, John Fitzpatrick, Enda Condren, Shane Cunningham (0-1), Tommy Quaid (0-2), Jason Kelly (0-6, 4 frees), Michael Dolan, James Coughlan (1-9, 2 frees, 1 sl), Karl Kelly (0-1). Subs: Dan Leavy, Mike Bryan, Ed Flynn.
Roscommon: Mike Deere, Faichra Colgan, Pauric Carney, Joe Naughton, Declan Coyne, Jamie Sharkey, Mike Conroy, Jonathan Deere, Diarmuid Carney, Kieran Keaveney (0-3, 1 free), John McFadden, Liam Casey, Edmund Cleary (1-3, 3 frees), Ken Cox (0-2), Jason McEvoy (1-1). Sub: Sam Yore (0-1).