February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
A minute later, he goaled after being set up by Andy O’Connor and Enda Kenny. Then the game entered a barren spell as St. Raymonds registered a number of wides while the referee handed yellow cards to Cyril Donnellan and O’Sullivan. Eventually St. Raymonds got on the score sheet midway through the period with a fine point from their speedy and skillful wing forward Niall Callinan. Gearoid O’Driscoll followed with another after good work by Shay Furlong and CJ Doherty. However Roscommon picked up the pace and John Brennan and Ian O’Reilly picked off two quick points. At the other end John Donahoe was fouled and CJ Doherty pointed the free. Kieran Keaveney entered the fray for Roscommon and scored a fine point. At this stage Roscommon were very much in command with their forwards moving well and a good supply of ball being sent in by the midfield duo of O’Sullivan and Sheridan. In the last ten minutes of the period they ran off five points through Sheridan, O’Reilly, Cleary and Kenny. The latter player was a major thorn in the St. Raymond’s defense. St. Raymonds response was just a single point from Callinan as they trailed 1-9 to 0-4 at the break.
Roscommon got right back to business as Enda Kenny fired over two quick points at the beginning of the second half, while CJ Doherty was on the mark for St. Raymonds. Then the killer blow came for St. Raymonds as goal poacher Aidan Smith was grounded as he headed goalward. Ed Cleary duly dispatched the penalty with clinical precision to the corner of the net.
After another CJ Doherty free, St. Rays trailed by 2-11 to 0-6 midway through the period. A third goal from Enda Kenny after he was well placed by Val Sheridan turned the contest into a rout. Further points from Keaveney and Norman Coyne closed out Roscommon’s account while Callinan, Joe Egan, and John O’Driscoll replied with sporadic scores for St. Rays. Excelling for Roscommon were Declan Coyne, Andy O’Connor, Gary Shine and midfielders Danny O’Sullivan and Val Sheridan. The forwards kept themselves busy with Enda Kenny being sharpest. Brendan Wiley, Shay Furlong, CJ Doherty, Mike Creegan and Callinan, their best player, battled to the end for St. Rays.
Roscommon: J R Stack, Darren Healey, Declan Coyne, Mark Killian, Andy O’Connor, Gary Shine, John Brennan (0-1), Danny O’Sullivan, Val Sheridan(0-2), Ian O’Reilly(0-2), Michael Ryan, Norman Coyne(0-1), Ed Cleary(1-1), Enda Kenny(1-3), Aidan Smith(1-1).
St. Raymonds: Ryan Sullivan, Kieran McKenna, Marty Meehan, Tommy Hoey, Brendan Wiley, Shay Furlong, James Huvane, CJ Doherty(0-4), Cyril Donnellan, Niall Callinan(0-3), Mike Creegan, Gearoid O’Driscoll(0-1), John O’Driscoll(0-1), Joe Egan(0-1), John Donahoe.