Sport

Corcoran steps up for Rossies

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER FINAL Roscommon 1-16 Armagh 0-18 (After extra time): THOMAS CORCORAN impressively held his nerve to …

Mon Aug 01 2011 - 01:00

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER FINAL Roscommon 1-16 Armagh 0-18 (After extra time):THOMAS CORCORAN impressively held his nerve to fire Roscommon into the All-Ireland minor football semi-final with a win over Armagh at Croke Park on Saturday.

The Strokestown teenager landed four pressure frees and, after he curled over in regulation injury-time to force extra-time, he again stepped up in the dying moments of added time to see off a spirited Armagh.

Midfield general Aaron Findon and sharpshooting forwards Ciarán O’Hanlon and Paul McGeown looked like they had Armagh on course for victory, only for Roscommon to battle back.

Centre back John McManus, a son of former Rossies hero Tony, led their resistance with surging runs from the back and after being 0-4 to 0-1 down they led 0-6 to 0-4.

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There was little between two impressive sides and when Donie Smith bundled in a goal in the 52nd minute to go a point up it looked like the Connacht champions had the momentum. But Armagh countered and it was left to Corcoran to force extra-time at 1-11 to 0-14.

Michael McKenna fired the Orchard county clear at 0-18 to 1-13 at the break but Roscommon subs Fintan Sweeney and Kevin Finn clawed them back before Corcoran settled it with his dramatic late kick from 45 metres.

ROSCOMMON: C Lavin; D Murray, R Timothy, S Carty; M Connaughton, J McManus; C Daly (0-3); F Kelly, T Corcoran (0-4, frees); M Healy, D Smith (1-2), E Smith (0-1); L Conlon, E Lannon, S Jordan (0-1). Subs: K Finn (0-3) for Lannon (17 mins), D O'Dowd for Murray (34 mins), F Sweeney (0-2) for Jordan (44 mins), T McKenna for Kelly (53 mins), A Gleeson for E Smith (66 mins), D Brandon for Daly (77 mins).

ARMAGH: D O'Hagan; B McCarron, C Hoey, M Murphy; P Burns (0-1), C White, S Hughes; A Findon, D McQuade (0-1); P Óg Grant, C O'Hanlon (0-3), M McKenna (0-2); C Trainor (0-1), P McGeown (0-5, 0-2 frees), R McShane (0-3). Subs: M Carson (0-1, free) for Grant (half-time), E Rafferty for Hughes (34 mins), C McNally (0-1) for Trainor (53 mins), C Cumiskey for Carson (67 mins), C Gough for McQuade (77 mins).

Referee: C Lane(Cork).