Gaelic Games

McKenna’s influence pivotal as Tyrone produce late comeback to stun Roscommon

Red Hand minors produce a powerful late winning surge to edge home by two points

Roscommon’s Ultan Hanley goes to ground under a challenge from Tyrone’s Cillian McCann during the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final at Croke Park yesterday. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Roscommon’s Ultan Hanley goes to ground under a challenge from Tyrone’s Cillian McCann during the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final at Croke Park yesterday. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Mon Sept 02 2013 - 01:00

TYRONE 1-12 ROSCOMMON 0-13

Conor McKenna was the Red Hand hero as Tyrone delivered a spectacular late salvo to book their place in the All-Ireland minor football final.

The Ulster lads were chasing the game right from the start, but managed to turn it around in the final 10 minutes.

McKenna grabbed a brilliant goal to spark the revival, and fired over two late points to seal a place in the decider against Mayo.

Roscommon squandered a golden goal chance when they were awarded a fourth-minute penalty for Rhys Quinn’s foul on Diarmuid Murtagh, but goalkeeper Sean Fox saved brilliantly from Diarmuid McGann.

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McGann regained his composure to land a couple of well struck free, with Murtagh also on target.

At midfield
Tyrone were repeatedly frustrated by a well-organised Rossies defence in which David Neary and Sean Mullooly were outstanding, but Conor McKenna, from a 45 and with a long range effort that needed confirmation from Hawk-Eye, brought them level.

Cathal Compton’s high fielding at midfield kept the Connacht lads on the attack, and while Henry Walsh fired over a superb point from wide on the right, they were guilty of poor shot selection.

Tyrone had to defend desperately at times, but their use of Frank Burns as a sweeper forced their opponents to shoot from distance.

Roscommon were well placed at the break, ahead by 0-6 to 0-3, and they had held their opponents scoreless for more than 20 minutes when Lee Brennan sparked the comeback with a point.

And in the 39th minute, McKenna set the game alight with a superb goal, smashing a shot past a helpless Shane Mannion to bring his side level.

Roscommon responded immediately with a volley of scores, from wing back Ronan Daly, Murtagh and Ultan Harney.

Sweeper system
Another Murtagh free had the Connacht side ahead by two points going into the final 10 minutes.

But Tyrone had dispensed with their sweeper system and pushed Frank Burns into a more advanced role.

But it was McKenna who seized the game by the scruff of the neck, powering through for a couple of inspirational points.

Substitute Tiarnan Donnelly banged over a free, and Stepehn McGrath also hit the target as the Red Hands began to roar.

They outscored Roscommon by five points to one in the final 10 minutes, with centre back Christopher Morris sealing victory with a late score.

TYRONE: S Fox, C Byrne, R Quinn, C McCann, S Hamill, C Morris (0-1), P McGirr, R Nugent, F Burns, P Donnelly (0-1), C McKenna (1-4, one '45), R McGlone, L Brennan (0-3), D Gallagher, S McGrath (0-1). Subs: D Mulgrew for Gallagher, C McShane (0-1) for Donnelly, T Donnelly (0-1, f) for McGlone, K Coney for Byrne, M Lynn for McGirr.
ROSCOMMON: S Mannion, D Neary, S Mullooly, M Flannery, R Daly (0-2), E McGrath, E Fallon, C Compton (0-1), U Harney (0-1), T O'Rourke (0-1), J Earley, S Farrell, H Walsh (0-1), D McGann (0-3, 3f), D Murtagh (0-4, 3f). Subs: M Murtagh for Earley.
Referee: D O'Mahoney (Tipperary).