Mayo's finest well in control

Newly-crowned Mayo champions Charlestown Sarsfields continued on their merry way with a fully-deserved victory over a disappointing Roscommon Gaels at Charlestown yesterday. They will meet either Annaghdown or St Mary's in the provincial final.

There was little to entertain the crowd of around 2,500 in the opening half as both teams played poorly. The visitors led by 0-4 to 0-3 at the interval, with Kenny Hegarty scoring three points for Roscommon Gaels and Danny Costello notching the best score of the half from near the sideline.

Charlestown were a transformed team on the restart. Kevin Duignan, Dermot, Aidan and Sean Higgins, David Tiernan, Richard Haran and Mark Caffrey were among those to lead the onslaught.

The highly fancied Roscommon Gaels side had no answer as Charlestown swept into a comfortable lead. Five points from the Higgins clan and others from Padraig Horkan, Caffrey, Richard Haran and Ollie Conway saw them cruising home in the closing minutes.

All the Gaels could manage was a single point from Fergus O'Donnell and a goal from a 21 yards free by Alan Nolan in injury time.

Some of their big-name players just did not rise to the occasion.Brian McNeela, Paul Noone, Kenneth Hegarty, Alan Nolan and goalkeeper Enda Daly were among their top players.

But it was Charlestown's day and no one could dispute their right to advance after such a gutsy and motivated second-half display.

CHARLESTOWN: J Casey; E Casey, R Lenehan, R O'Connell; D Healy, K Duignan, D Higgins; D Tiernan, A Higgins; R Haran (0-2), M Caffrey (0-2), P Mulligan; P Horkan (0-1), O Conway (0-1), S Higgins (0-5). Subs: O Gallagher for Horkan, A Mulligan for P Mulligan.

ROSCOMMON GAELS: E Daly; J Nolan, B McNeela, M Costello; M Ryan, C McDonald, P Noone; A Nolan (1-0), P Oates; R Shannon, F O'Donnell (0-1), G Kelly; K Hegarty (0-3), E Sweeney, D Costello (0-1). Subs: E Browne for C McDonald, J McHale for Shannon, B Penny for Kelly.

Referee: E Stenson (Leitrim).

Roscommon champions Four Roads qualified for a Connacht club hurling championship final meeting with newly crowned Galway title holders Clarinbridge when they beat Tubbercurry 3-10 to 1-5 at Athleague yesterday.