On a windy day in Dr. Hyde Park there was nothing to separate Roscommon and Galway after a tight and cagey contest.
“Yeah it was a very tough game” admitted Roscommon boss Davy Burke. “You know usually when you're with a strong wind it's obviously a big advantage”.
“But, you know it’s not only impossible to score on both ends but you're honest with you so look it is what it is we're both off the ground” added Burke.
It took six minutes for the first score of the game, from the boot of Galways Robert Finnerty. Conor Cox came on as a first-half substitute after ten minutes, making an instant impact with Roscommons first score a minute later.
Galway regained their advantage again on 14 minutes before Conor Cox and Daire Cregg both scored in quick succession. Roscommon took a one-point lead after 19 minutes.
The teams, traded two points each, with Ruaidrí Fallon and Conor Cox both picking up points for the hosts. This left the score five points to four in favour of Roscommon after 26 minutes.
Conor Cox extended Roscommon’s lead on 36 minutes with a well-taken point from play. 60 seconds later, Cox converted an impressive score to give Roscommon a half-time lead of seven points to four.
“You have to adapt it like you need to run and power the second-half” explained Burke of the conditions.
“You need to run with power that's why Keith Doyle obviously came on” Burke explained. “We needed to try break it up. We weren't going to let Conroy run amuck, there so I thought we did okay in that regard”.
“It’s tough been hemmed in. I thought we got out and done well. It’s a pity we couldn't nick it but then I suppose again we could have”.
Galway got the first two points of the second-half reducing Roscommons lead to just one. However, substitute Ben O’Carroll marked his return to the Roscommon team with a well-taken point on 47 minutes. Just four minutes later Diarmuid Murtagh converted what ended up being Roscommons last score of the game.
Galway managed to yet again cut The Rossies lead to just one point before Donie Smith saw red due to an off the ball incident on the hour mark.
Paul Conroy was the man who levelled the scores for Galway with an impressive point in additional time.
The result leaves Davy Burkes men with one point after two games in Division One. They will make the journey to Croke Park in two week’s time to face Dublin who are also winless.
“Yeah it gets easier doesn't it!” joked Burke. uh yeah heading to Croker and you look at it and Dublin have no point on the board.”
“I'm sure it'll be 50-50 again as there’s 10 points left in this division for us. you know we'll be going for every one of them”.
