Roscommon Gaels ended Padraig Pearses’ defence of the Roscommon senior football crown with a five–point victory over the reigning champions at Dr. Hyde Park.
Pearses led 1-3 to 0-5 at half-time before a strong second-half display saw Gaels win 1-11 to 1-6.
Pat Flanagan’s men made a blistering start and Jack Tumulty’s goal on seven minutes saw Pat Flanagan’s men led 1-2 to no score.
Five points on the trot saw Roscommon Gaels level the game on 26 minutes before an injury-time point from Conor Daly gave Pearses a one-point buffer at the break.
Cian Connolly found the net within 60 seconds of the restart and a further point from Scott Oates saw Gaels open up a three-point gap on 37 minutes.
Two minutes later, Hubert Darcy replied for Pearses but the reigning champions subsequently went 20 minutes without scoring.
Gaels capitalized by hitting five successive points before Paul Carey eventually ended Pearses’ barren spell one minute from time.
Pearses managed another injury-time point but still fell short in the end. Roscommon Gaels will now play either Oran or Strokestown in the semi-finals.
