Cox loosens Galway's grip

Roscommon and Galway fought out a thrilling draw in a hugely entertaining Division 1A derby at Hyde Park on Saturday.

The home side, who led for most of the incident-packed six-goal thriller, looked well beaten six minutes from full time when second-half substitute Padraig Joyce scored Galway's third goal to put the All Ireland champions four points clear.

However, as against Offaly at the same venue two weeks ago, Roscommon displayed admirable determination and the spectacular goal from full forward Jonathan Dunning gave them a life-line as the game entered injury-time, before substitute Gary Cox landed a great equalising point from near the sideline in the last attack of the match.

A draw to a game which had been postponed following the tragic death of Roscommon player Gerry Grogan the previous Sunday was no more than the battling home side deserved, having led for most of the game until Derek Savage put Galway ahead 24 minutes into the second half.

Roscommon's midfielder SΘamus O'Neill reduced the gap to the minimum with his third long-range point, but Padraig Joyce's goal a few minutes later looked to have been decisive until the Connacht champions staged their dramatic fight-back, much to the delight of home supporters in the attendance of over 4,000.

The home side were first into their stride and led 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes. Goals by Roscommon's John Hanley and Galway's Savage left the sides deadlocked at 1-5 each at the break.After the break, the sides again swapped goals. Roscommon's Jonathan Dunning went clean through before Padraig Joyce replied.

Galway went on to dominate the closing stages but failed to anticipate the battling qualities of the home side, who face Westmeath today at the same venue when a win would be a huge step forward towards the knockout stages.

ROSCOMMON: D Thompson; D Gavin, J Whyte, M Raftery; A McPadden, F Grehan, P Noone; S O'Neill (0-3), D Casey; J Tiernan, S Lohan (0-4, three from frees), J Hanley (1-0); N Dineen (0-1, free), J Dunning (2-1), G Egan (0-1). Subs: I Daly for Raftery; G Cox (0-1) for Tiernan; F Carroll for Whyte; R Cox for Casey.

GALWAY: A Keane; M Comer, G Fahey, T Meehan; D Meehan, K Fitzgerald, M Colleran; K Walsh, J Bergin (0-3); M Donnellan, J Fallon (0-2), P Clancy; D Savage (2-)3, M Clancy (0-1), J Donnellan (0-2, from frees). Subs: P Joyce (1-1) for J Donnellan; J Divilly for Comer; K Comer for M Clancy; T Joyce for P Clancy.

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).