Lannon lays foundation

Roscommon 1-9 Galway 0-6:ROSCOMMON won their first Connacht minor title since 2006 with a clear-cut victory over favourites Galway at wet and windy Hyde Park yesterday.

A goal from full forward Enda Lannon after 22 minutes gave the home team a grip on the match which they never relinquished.

Wing-back Cathal Mulryan put Galway ahead in the first minute but they struggled to find the range subsequently.

Donie Smith slotted the equaliser from a free and, with man-of-the-match Thomas Corcoran and Fintan Kelly dominant at midfield, Roscommon began to take control.

Following two frees from Corcoran they pounced for a crucial goal in the 22nd minute. Mark Healy and Corcoran set Liam Conlon free on the left of the goal and his lofted pass was volleyed to the net from close range by Lannon.

Galway played better against the elements without ever really threatening to get back into contention.

Smith scored an excellent point for Roscommon from 40 metres but Galway spurned another chance in the 35th minute when the ball slipped from Johnny Kelleher’s grasp when he was through.

Galway full-forward Shane Maughan scored a good individual point in the 41st minute. Two minutes later a dipping shot from Conor Rabbitte went over the bar but Smith settled Roscommon with a quick reply from play after good work by Kelly and Corcoran.

Corcoran floated over a 50-metre free on the wind after 45 minutes while Shane Walsh responded with a point from play after a pass from Seán Moran.

Smith notched his fourth point with a well-struck 35-metre free in the 49th minute. Maughan got Galway’s last score from a close-range free following a foul on Rabbitte but Roscommon substitute

Kevin Finn was rewarded for a hard-working display when he scored from play three minutes into injury-time.

ROSCOMMON: C Lavin; D Murray, R Timothy, S Carty; M Connaughton, J McManus, C Daly; F Kelly, T Corcoran (0-4, frees); L Conlon, M Healy, E Smith; D Smith (0-4, 0-2 frees), E Lannon (1-0), S Jordan. Subs: K Finn (0-1) for Lannon (43 mins), E Egan for E Smith (54 mins), F Sweeney for Jordan (59 mins), T McKenna for Conlon (60 mins).

GALWAY: C Gleeson; L Silke, J Shaughnessy, C Cunningham; E Walsh, G Canavan, C Mulryan (0-1); S Geoghegan, S Moran; P Glynn, I Burke, A Nolan; C Rabbitte (0-1), S Maughan (0-3, 0-1 free), S Walsh (0-1). Subs: J Kelleher for Nolan (23 mins), Nolan for Geoghegan (half-time), T Comer for Cunningham (48 mins), C Timon for Mulryan (48 mins), G Kelly for Walsh (52 mins).

Referee: R McBrien (Leitrim).