February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
It was a good team effort that saw Roscommon through against a hard-working Tyrone outfit. After Rory Meenan staked Tyrone to a one-point lead, Damien Ward got things rolling for Roscommon after a good set up from Kieran Keaveney. The Roscommon corner forward immediately imposed himself on this match, providing an effective target man and finisher for the Connaght side.
With McEvoy and midfielder Johnathan Deeve leading the way, Roscommon pulled out to a 0-6 to 0-1 lead. Rory McCann, Tyrone’s dangerous full forward, finally broke the Roscommon hegemony, pointing from Paul Kirwin’s pass.
Roscommon’s attack was disrupted when McEvoy had to be called ashore with what was at first thought to be a slight concussion. Rory Meenan added Tyrone’s third point of the match, but Roscommon veteran Edmund Cleary countered with two points.
But the final three tallies of the half went to the Ulster side. McCann’s pointed free started the Tyrone rally. Paul McNamee followed with a point and then the young corner forward did the dirty work to place McCann for the last score of the half as Tyrone drew within 0-9 to 0-6 at the midway mark.
After Kieran Keaveney pointed for Roscommon and David Hanna responded in kind for Tyrone, the match took a Roscommon turn. McEvoy had just checked back into the match when he collided with Tyrone midfielder Darren Flanagan. McEvoy appeared to have lost his footing on the wet turf and slid into Flanagan’s tackle. From referee Phil Sheridan’s vantage point, he likely only saw Flanagan deliver a high, hard hit. Flanagan received the red card and Tyrone faced a 0-10 to 0-7 deficit with 14 players and 18 minutes to play.
Rory Meenan led Tyrone’s spirited efforts, and with 8 minutes remaining Roscommon were clinging to a 0-3 lead. Meenan’s third pointed free of the half made the score 0-14 to 0-11 as Tyrone searched for the storybook ending.
Instead, Roscommon stiffened. Cleary, who was very accurate from frees all match, pointed once each from play and a free. Keaveney and McEvoy sandwiched points around one last Meenan free as Roscommon sealed the deal.
Man of the Match: Jason McEvoy
Roscommon: Mike Deere, Joe Naughton, Padraig Carney, Mike Conroy, Declan Coyne, Jamie Sharkey, Darragh Mahony, Johnathan Deere (0-1), Diarmuid Carney (0-1), Damien Ward (0-2), John McFadden, Edmund Cleary (0-7, 5 frees), Liam Casey (0-1), Kieran Keaveney (0-3, 1 free), Jason McEvoy (0-3). Subs: Rory Durnin, Fintan McKeown.
Tyrone: Shane Sheridan, Liam Briodie, Tim Lynch, Colin Ruth, Paddy McCarron, Noel Lynch, Martin McMahon, Darren Flanagan, Peter Gillespie, Dave Hanna (0-1), Paul Kirwin, Fergus Daly, Paul McNamee (0-1), Rory Meenan (0-6, 4 frees), Rory McCaann (0-4, 2 frees). Sub: Pat McNamee.