First thoughts must go to Roscommon after their protracted attempt to win the Connacht title ended with the concession of a most unfortunate extra-time goal at Hyde Park on Saturday evening. Even the most ardent Galway supporter could offer sympathy to Roscommon goalkeeper Derek Thompson after he was instrumental in conceding the goal which finally clinched Galway's place in the All-Ireland semi-final against Derry. Roscommon had been outplayed in the opening half, as Galway's Kevin Walsh and Sean O Domhnaill out-played and out-thought Gerry Keane and Tom Ryan, but Roscommon clung on grimly and were only a point adrift at half-time. Galway looked the better team generally and Michael Donnellan, Jarlath Fallon, Derek Savage and Niall Finnegan kept up the pressure, but they lacked the finish.

The Galway defence was under some considerable pressure at times and only Gary Fahy and n Sean Og de Paor seemed on top of their games. De Paor was the mainstay of the Galway defence throughout, and his resilience was what really proved the difference between the sides. The match started at a fierce pace, with Fallon at centre forward and Donnellan and Joyce switching wings for Galway. Donnellan was given a roving role and it was not unusual for him to be playing behind the midfield, where he gained a lot of possession and made good use of it.

Fallon, too, was in a lively mood, but the Roscommon defence held firm under pressure with Damien Donlon in good form at full back. They did have some problems at half back, however.

Roscommon, too, had their chances and Galway goalkeeper Martin McNamara was under severe pressure when a long drive by Fergal O'Donnell found Lorcan Dowd coming in from the wing. He got a touch which almost deflected the ball past the vigilant McNamara. At the other end a poor clearance also might have resulted in a goal, but this time it was Thompson's turn for heroics as the Galway attack bore down.

Half-time arrived with only a point between the sides and the second half continued in much the same pattern.

The half was every bit as tight and lively as in the first. Whatever the game lacked in finesse was made up for in genuine effort. The ball was being contested vigorously in all areas of the field and while the tackles were coming from all sides, a sensible approach by the players and referee Seamus Prior allowed the near-capacity crowd of close on 30,000 to enjoy a fast-moving game in near-perfect conditions.

The pitch was in immaculate shape and the ball ran truly for the players and there was never more than two points between the teams. Roscommon were two points clear (0-10 to 0-8) in the 21st minute of the second half, but Galway managed to score three points without reply to edge in front 0-11 to 0-10 with only two minutes remaining.

Eddie Lohan had kept Roscommon in the match with his accurate free-taking and, with 70 minutes up, he was fouled. He went for the equalising point, and undaunted by the nerve-wracking situation, gleefully swung the ball over the bar from about 40 yards out to force extra-time. Roscommon, who had to play two matches to beat Sligo, now found that they would have to play two matches and a half if they were to beat Galway. In spite of tiring limbs, however, neither side wilted in the first period of extra time.

Galway, inspired largely by Donnellan and Fallon managed to earn a two-point lead at the break in extra-time (0-16 to 0-14).

Disaster struck for Roscommon within two minutes of the restart. Thompson seemed to have the situation under control as he gathered the ball on his line and dashed forward with the intention of finding a colleague. However, as the Galway forwards closed in, he hesitated, lost control of the ball and Donnellan booted it, first-time, to the net to open up a five-point lead. To Roscommon's eternal credit, they refused to buckle. When they forced a 45 at the other end, Lohan drove it over the bar and two minutes later he pointed another free to reduce the lead to a goal. Roscommon were now hunting for yet another life-line and another replay and Dineen cut the lead to two points. However, Donnellan, fittingly, had the last word just before the end with a point. Of considerable concern to Galway was the fact that their big midfielder Kevin Walsh was carried off on a stretcher just before the end with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.

But it was Roscommon who were really feeling the pain after 310 minutes of hectic championship football.

This has, probably, been the most fiercely contested Connacht championship for many years and hopes are high in the province that this could be a signal for a revival. Certainly Galway will have benefited greatly from the fact that their victories over Mayo and Roscommon will have prepared them well for their clash with Derry later this month.