Roscommon CBS beat Colman's in Connacht Championship opener

GAA - CONNACHT PPS A CHAMPIONSHIP

St Colman's, Claremorris 0-12

Roscommon CBS 1-13

In Claremorris

REIGNING champions, St Colman’s, were made to pay for an inaccurate first half as they slumped to a four-point defeat at the hands of Roscommon CBS this afternoon.

On a bitterly brisk day where the brown leaves littered the pitch, last year's Hogan Cup finalists took a while to warm to the occasion, and will believe that this was a game left behind.

However, Roscommon CBS showed talent and hunger in abundance when their mettle was tested, and head back home with the victory deservedly in tow.

The Claremorris boys were quick out of the traps, throwing missile after missile at the target. However, they just couldn't hit the mark.

They had hit three off target by the time Roscommon underage player Sam Hannon struck a free between the sticks after four minutes.

Then, Colmans almost had a goal. A fine ball in by Cathal Tierney found Jack Comer, who offloaded around the back to David Hurley.

The Claremorris clubman let fly, but his effort clattered off the woodwork.

That wasn't to rattle the Rossies, though, as Christian Donlon, Seamus Hussey, and Roscommon Gaels player Hannon bisected the uprights to leave four in it with the second quarter on the horizon.

The men in red were throwing the kitchen sink at raising a white, green, or orange flag, but whether it was efforts being snatched at or moves breaking down, they couldn't get near actually registering a score.

Roscommon CBS, meanwhile, were putting the squeeze on and dominating kickouts.

The wastefulness of Colmans was epitomised by the fact that they had just as many shots as the away side, but nothing to show for it.

Then, they clicked and found a bit of a groove. Tierney surged from the centre to boom over a mighty effort, breaking the deadlock at long last.

The midfield tide was turning, and Tierney's partner in the middle of the battlefield, Dara Flanagan, boomed over from a similar distance.

After Evan Flanagan opened his account, Colman's had gone from no scores in 20 minutes to three in three, and were within touching distance.

They were level soon after when a free brought forward for dissent was converted. However, Hannon put over a free at the other end to hand the visitors a slim advantage at the break.

Christian Donlon and Hannon tried to widen the gap, but the Colman’s contingent weren’t for letting up. Thanks to Jake Mullin, Aaron O’Dea, and Jack Comer, it was level again.

Donlon almost breached David Walshe’s net, but Seán Halleran showed impressively to get back and deflect the ball behind.

Adam Killian struck a mighty effort, before Tom Biesty got on the end of a ball across the goal to raise the game’s first green flag.

The Rossies were soaring at that stage, and the hosts were in the thick of it when Colin Murray’s single had them five down.

However, with the school emptying and students swarming for lunch time, they rolled up their sleeves.

Evan Heneghan’s free set in chain a whirlwind few minutes, and his booming accompanying two-pointer, coupled with white flags from Conor Monaghan and Dara Flanagan, had the game delicately poised going down the home stretch.

With their backs to the wall, though, the white-clad troops came alive.

Sam Hannon and Colin Murray pointed, while Donlon notched his third to widen the gap.

A second goal was almost on the menu. Hannon sprayed the ball into Donlon, who toe-poked the ball past Walshe.

Hurley got back to keep it out, but referee John Glavey signaled for a penalty. Walshe got down to save the spot-kick, but that was merely a footnote.

Soon after, the full-time whistle sounded, condemning Colman’s to defeat.

A full report will be carried in Tuesday's edition of The Mayo News.