Roscommon best of Gaels

Roscommon Gaels gave an unimpressive display when they beat Leitrim champions Melvin Gaels to qualify for the Connacht club football final in a sub-standard semi-final at Hyde Park yesterday.

The sides were level, 0-2 each, after the opening exchanges before Roscommon Gaels enjoyed their best spell with five unanswered points from Fergal O'Donnell, Alan Nolan, Ross Shannon, Liam McNeill and James Comiskey.

Melvin Gaels finished the half strongly, however, and Chris Grogan had to make an excellent save from David McNulty before Gareth Foley and Liam Gilmartin reduced the gap with points.

Although Melvin Gaels, backed by a strong wind, reduced the deficit to a single point within eight minutes of the restart, they recorded seven wides in a 12-minute spell.

Those missed chances were to prove costly and when Alan Nolan ended a 17-minute scoreless spell for Roscommon Gaels midway through the half, the home side booked their place in the provincial final with further points from O'Donnell, Nolan and Shannon.

ROSCOMMON GAELS: C Grogan; B McNeela, M Ryan, P Hoey; C Heneghan (0-1), C McDonald, M Costello; L McNeill (0-1), S O'Donnell; P Noone, F O'Donnell (0-2), M McHale; R Shannon (0-2), A Nolan (0-4, one free), J Comiskey (0-1). Subs: G Kelly for McHale; P Oates for S O'Donnell.

MELVIN GAELS: G Phelan; F McGowan, J Phelan, J Regan; C Regan, J Tiffoney, D Gillespie; D McNulty, A Dolan; A Sheerin, M McCarron (0-1), G Foley (0- 2); L Gilmartin (0-4, from frees), D Branley, S Foley. Sub: J Gallagher for Sheerin.

Referee: C Collins (Mayo).