Roscommon Gaels captured their 18th Roscommon senior football title and their third in the last four years following a disappointing decider at Hyde Park yesterday.
A crowd of about 2,000 had to endure a dismal opening half after which the Gaels led 0-3 to 0-2 before the game finally opened up.
Gaels began to find their scoring touch having recorded seven first-half wides and they opened up a five-point gap after 13 minutes of the second half following points from county players Clifford McDonald, Alan Nolan and Fergal O'Donnell as well as two from top scorer Kenneth Hegarty.
Underdogs Kilmore had been forced to line out without their star player Don Connellan but they brought on the Roscommon player for the second half and along with Brendan Bourke he was largely responsible for bringing his side back into the game with a late surge that at one stage brought them to within three points of their opponents.
A great save from Enda Daly kept Pat Caslin from recording the only goal of the game for Kilmore five minutes from time.
Alan Nolan ensured that the Gaels wrapped up the victory with a point two minutes from the end.
ROSCOMMON GAELS: E Daly; J Nolan, B McNeela, C Heneghan; M Ryan, C McDonald (0-2), M Costello; A Nolan (0-2), P Noone (0-1); J McHale (0-1 free), F O'Donnell (0-1), G Kelly (0-1); K Hegarty (0-3), E Sweeney, D Costello (0-1). Subs: R Shannon for McHale; P Oates for D Costello.
KILMORE: A Glancy; S Sharkey, D Carroll, J Sharkey; E Glancy, F Carroll, B Bourke (0-1); P Carroll, G Carroll; Derek Connellan (0-4, frees), E Flood (0-1), K Stritch; G Flood, J Gilchreest, P Caslin (0-1). Subs: O Fitzmaurice for Stritch; S Murray for Gilchreest; Don Connellan (0-1) for E Flood; D Dorr for G Flood.
Referee: B McCormack (St Faithleach's).
Meath captain Trevor Giles missed a penalty for the second time in three Sundays in yesterday's county quarter-final against Kilmainhamwood at Pβirc Tailteann but his side, Skryne, still made the last four.
Walterstown made it through against Cortown, with two of the Cortown players being shown straight red cards. Dunderry had an easy victory over Trim, with Tommy Dowd scoring three points.
Meath SFC quarter-finals: Skryne 1-10 Kilmainhamwood 1-8; Walterstown 0-9, Cortown 0-8; Dunderry 1-10 Trim 1-3.
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