Roscommon Gaels powered in the Roscommon SFC quarter-finals with a convincing 16-point win over Tulsk Lord Edwards.
Two first-half goals set Gaels on course to victory having led 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time. The game went away from Tulsk after Ryan Larkin’s 35th minute red card.
Tulsk needed something from the game to progress to the knock-out stage and to be fair they took it to Gaels early-on in Tarmonbarry. Daniel Connolly with the opening point inside two minutes.
However, Gaels took control early doors. Frees from Richard Walsh and Peter Gillooly set the scene after eight minutes.
Gillooly finished a good team move to the net on 10 minutes for the game’s opening goal. Tulsk responded with two Thomas O’Rourke points (1f) leaving it a three-point game inside 20 minutes.
Richard Walsh landed Gaels second goal on 23 minutes after good work from Mark Healy, effectively putting the task beyond Tulsk. A converted Walsh free and Ryan Larkin’s score from play saw Gaels lead 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time.
Gaels picked up where they left off after half-time. A Mark Purcell free and Cian Connelly from play made it an eight point game four minutes after the restart.
Ryan Larkin saw the line a minute later for a second yellow card, effectively ended the game as a contest.
However, Tulsk stayed with it. Daniel Connolly from play and three Thomas O’Rourke frees cancelled out Gaels scores through Walsh (f) and two from Gillooly (1f).
Gaels March On
Then Gaels let loose scoring six unanswered points from 49 minutes to 56. Cian Connell, Mark Purcell (‘45), Senan Lambe, Richard Walsh, Kieran Kilcline (m) and Mark Healy’s fisted point making it 2-15 to 0-8 with four minutes remaining.
James Egan sent over Tulsk’s ninth point of the day with two minutes remaining, however Gaels weren’t done. Gillooly 0-2 (1f), Ryan Conlon and Cian Coonnelly sealing the 2-19 to nine point win.
The win means Roscommon Gaels win group A and with Oran beating Castlerea St. Kevin’s, Tulsk must face the relegation playoff. Oran take second place and a quarter-final place, while Castlerea enter the preliminary quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, St. Brigids ran in five goal to secure top spot in group B with a 100% record. Brigid’s beating Western Gaels 5-15 to six points.
While, Michael Glavey’s took second spot in group B with a 3-6 to 1-8 win over St. Faithleachs. Faithleachs will enter the preliminary quarter-final while Western Gaels enter the relegation play-off.
