Padraig Pearses (Roscommon) 1-8 Mountbellew-Moylough (Galway) 1-7
Mayo referee Jerome Henry had to be escorted off the field at Hyde Park as several Mountbellew-Moylough players and officials remonstrated with him after a controversial finish to this fiery Connacht SFC semi-final.
The Galway champions finished with 13 players and Padraig Pearses with 14, with Mountbellew-Moylough incensed with a number of later decisions which cost them dearly.
In particular, corner-forward Barry McHugh seemed to be fouled as he tried to win a mark in the dying moments with the sides level, but he wasn’t awarded either decision and Padraig Pearses came downfield and landed the winning point.
Sub Tom Butler was the hero for the Roscommon side as he took on responsibility in the fourth minute of injury-time and shot them ahead from about 25 metres.
Now they will advance to a second Connacht final to meet Knockmore of Mayo in January, with Mountbellew-Moylough angered that their hopes of reaching their first provincial decider dashed in such fashion.
But they didn’t do enough in the opening half when they had the wind and only led by 1-3 to 1-2 having had the elements in their favour.
Incessant rain on a dark afternoon make it difficult for both sides and the exchanges were tough throughout as both sides battled the conditions.
The Galway champions, after Hubert Darcy for Pearses and Leo Donnellan for Mountbellew-Moylough exchanged points, struck for the opening goal after seven minutes.
A high ball from out the field by Colin Ryan was met perfectly by Barry McHugh who fisted to the net, but he was then black-carded by referee Henry for some apparent dissent.
The Roscommon champions got back on level terms eight minutes from the break when Paul Carey fisted home a goal after a pass from Niall Carty and then Darcy edged them in front moments later.
Mountbellew-Moylough ended a 21-minute scoreless period when Eoin Finnerty levelled before wing-back Ryan edged them ahead before the break, with Pearses’ corner-back Mark Richardson picking up a black card.
McHugh and Ronan Daly exchanged points after the restart before Mountbellew-Moylough pulled a goal clear after 37 minutes thanks to efforts from Michael Daly and McHugh.
Pearses hit back with three points in eight minutes from Paul Carey and Conor and Ronan Daly to level the match. Gary Sweeney edged Mountbellew in front eleven minutes from time before sub Kelly levelled just after coming on.
Mountbellew were reduced to 14 when Matthew Barrett picked up a second card, while his teammate John Daly and Pearses’ Niall Daly were black-carded in the dying moments just after Butler had landed the winner.
Pearses, managed by former Westmeath boss Pat Flanagan, will now hope to land their first Connacht title after recently winning their second Roscommon crown.
Padraig Pearses: P Whelan; M Richardson, A Butler, G Downey; C Lohan, R Daly (0-2), D Murray; N Daly, C Daly (0-1); L Daly, N Carty, S Carty; C Payne, H Darcy (0-2), P Carey (1-1).
Subs: C Keogh for Downey (31), T Butler (0-1) for Payne (40), E Kelly (0-1) for S Carty (51), S Ryan for Carey (64).
Mountbellew-Moylough: D Boyle; J Foley, C Murray, B Mannion; C Ryan (0-1), J Daly, G Sweeney (0-1); M Daly (0-1), M Barrett; S Moran, P Donnellan, L Donnellan (0-1); B McHugh (1-2, 0-1f), E Finnerty (0-1), P Kelly.
Sub: G Donoghue for P Donnellan (51).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
