Pádraig Pearses 1-20 Four Roads 1-13
Daniel Glynn’s accuracy from general play and frees helped Pádraig Pearses end their 30-year famine in the Roscommon SH final at Athleague.
The Pearses centre-forward contributed 0-15, including five from play, over the hour as Pearses put the disappointment of losing their last eight finals behind them.
Shane Naughton’s four sumptuous points from play took some off the scoring burden off Glynn as Pearses opened up a 0-11 to 0-7 interval advantage.
Full-forward James Fitzmaurice goaled four minutes into the second half to hint at a Four Roads recovery. But when substitute Oisín Kelly availed of some hesitant Four Roads defending to flick Glynn's 45th minute free to the net, Pearses were on their way.
Resolute Pearses defending kept Four Roads at bay, and it was fitting that Glynn bisected the posts in spectacular fashion in injury time to confirm his side’s first championship success since 1987.
PÁDRAIG PEARSES: P Dolan; K Daly, K Feehily, E Costello; D Loughnane, P Dolan, E Cogavin; T Seale, M. Donoghue; G Downey, D Glynn (0-15, 0-5f), S Naughton (0-4); A Finnerty, C Kelly, D Staunton (0-1). Subs: O Kelly (1-0) for Finnerty (h-t), T Cogavin for Downey (54 mins), J Donoghue for Daly (54 mins), B Fallon for P Dolan (59 mins), D Dolan for Seale (60 mins).
FOUR ROADS: D Dowd; Cormac Coyle, M McLoughlin, C Dowd; S Curley, M Kelly, J Mulry; J Moran, D Dolan (0-3, 0-1 65); S Beirne, J Coyne (0-6, 0-4f), P Kelly (0-2); E Rogerson, J Fitzmaurice (1-0), N Fallon (0-1). Subs: Conor Coyle for McLoughlin (h-t), J Rogerson for Cormac Coyle (h-t), B Mulry (0-1) for Beirne (47 mins), A Lawlor for E. Rogerson (54 mins), C Dolan for Moran (57 mins).
Referee: K McGeeney.