Roscommon knock out Inishowen 26.01.12
Oscar Traynor Inter-league trophy

Defensive errors costly as Inishowen’s bid for Oscar Traynor success is derailed Inishowen...1 (McDermott 51) Roscommon...3 (Killackey, 10, 53, Lynch 27) Damian Dowds at Maginn Park. Photos: Herbie Barr Inishowen were left to rue a series of defensive errors that saw them eliminated from the Oscar Traynor Inter-League trophy at the hands of the Roscommon League on Sunday. The Connacht side were 3-1 winners, but Inishowen made life almost impossible for themselves and should have prevented most of those goal chances falling Roscommon’s way. Inishowen hadn’t played a competitive game since November when they were 6-1 winners against Donegal, while Roscommon played the Mayo League a fortnight ago. And the match sharpness that bestowed on Roscommon marked them apart from the home side who looked every bit as rusty as a team that hadn’t played together in three months. Individually, the players may be performing well with their clubs, but collectively they looked ill at ease with passes falling a yard too short or too long, and the final ball in the attacking third of the field going awry. A slicker, sharper Roscommon side took full advantage of Inishowen mistakes and punished them mercilessly. First half goals from Colm Killackey and Liam Lynch gave Roscommon a 2-0 lead at half time. Inishowen pulled one back early in the second half, but Roscommon responded emphatically with Killackey netting his second goal almost immediately to restore the two goal cushion. Roscommon were able to comfortably soak up Inishowen’s attacks for the remainder of the game and deservedly took the spoils. Inishowen were first to threaten when Jason Devlin cut in from the left and squared the ball to Terence Doherty who fired over the top from 12 yards. Roscommon’s Aidan Dooley was put through by Martin Lennon in the fourth minute, but Inishowen keeper Martin McLaughlin came smartly off his line, diving at Dooley’s feet to claim the ball. It was a brave save from the young Glengad keeper, but he was powerless to prevent Roscommon’s tenth minute opener. Impressive left winger Ronan Curran threaded a ball into the penalty area that Inishowen centre half Gerard McEleney misjudged. Colm Killackey was onto the ball as quick as a flash and chipped the ball over the advancing McLaughlin and into the net.

Colm Killackey was onto the ball as quick as a flash and chipped the ball over the advancing McLaughlin and into the net. Anthony Doherty and Nigel McMonagle saw goalbound efforts cleared away by Roscommon centre half John Tierney and McEleney went close with a powerful header from a Jason Devlin corner drawing a fine save from keeper Aidan Fallon in the 16th minute. A strong wind favoured the Roscommon side in the first half and their second goal, in the 26th minute, came when a long goal kick wasn’t dealt with by the Inishowen defence and goalscorer Killackey turned provider sliding the ball across the 18 yard line and his strike partner Liam Lynch hit an unstoppable volley to the top right corner.

Aileach’s James Gillespie limped out of the game shortly afterwards after a crude challenge, but replacement Conor McLaughlin slotted in well in the right back role. Terence Doherty and Anthony Shivvy both shot off target before Roscommon sprung the offside trap and keeper McLaughlin again coming off his line to cut out a 38th minute through ball for Killackey and Roscommon took a 2-0 lead into dressing room at half time. The visitors might have had a penalty early in the second half when central midfielder David Cullen burst forward from the centre circle all the way to the opposing penalty area where he was knocked over, but referee Charlie Doherty ignored the loud calls from the Roscommon contingent for a spot kick.

And when Patrick McDermott finished to the net to bring Inishowen back into it just moments later, it seemed momentum might swing to the home side – what might have been 3-0 down was now a slender 2-1 deficit. McDermott was one of Inishowen’s best performers on the day and the goal, which came after a long McEleney free kick went over the top of the Roscommon defence, was just reward for a fine individual performance. But another mistake in the Inishowen rearguard saw a cross from the left evade the centre halves and with the Roscommon players queuing up inside the area Killackey was again on hand to drive his second, and his team’s third, to the net eight minutes into the second half.

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