CONNACHT SFC FIRST ROUND/Roscommon 0-14 London 0-6:NO SENSATIONAL result ever looked likely at Ruislip yesterday as Roscommon easily qualified for the provincial semi-final.
Full forward Donie Shine was London’s biggest headache on the day after scoring 10 of Roscommon’s 14 points.
After a lacklustre opening quarter Roscommon opened up a two-point through the boot of Shine. However, any early rhythm was interrupted after a long delay in the game occurred when Roscommons Mark O’Carroll was forced off injured, with the match being held up for five minutes.
Shine kicked six points during the first half, while Mannion and Ger Heneghan added a further two. But a mighty free from Paul Geraghty and a point from Derek Hayden left the scores 0-8 to 0-2 at half-time.
London continued to battle away after the break but the visitors pressed on to open up an unassailable 0-12 to 0-5 lead.
When Carlow native Derek Hayden also missed a late penalty it summed up another miserable day for the Exiles.
ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, P Domican, S Ormbsby; S Purcell, C Dineen (0-1), M O’Carroll; M Finneran, K Mannion; D Keenan, P Garvey, C Cregg; J Rogers (0-1), D Shine (0-10, eight frees), G Heneghan (0-1). Subs: R Brady for O’Carroll (inj, two mins), J Dunning (0-1) for C Cregg (53 mins)
LONDON: E Byrne; D Conlan, E O’Cuiv, B Comer; J Niblock, C Beirne, N Tuohy; P Geraghty (0-1, free), S McVeigh (0-2); B Smyth, D Hayden (0-1, free), C McAllion; K Phair, D Horan, E O’Neill (0-2, one free). Subs: R Ormbsby for Beirne, K O’Leary for Smyth (both h/t), N Egan (0-1) for Phair (50 mins), C Eastwood for McAllion (63 mins), J Callery for O’Leary (inj).
Referee: C Reilly (Meath)
