Pearses 1-13 Knockmore 1-11
Pearses have claimed a historic first ever Connacht title after holding off a late rally from Knockmore in a dramatic finish in Ballina.
The Roscommon kingpins were well worth their victory in the end, with Paul Carey turning in a five-star performance at corner-forward, kicking eight points, though they were hanging on at the death, with their Mayo counterparts very nearly forcing extra time.
With three points between the sides in the fourth minute of injury time, the ball broke to Knockmore attacker Aiden Orme on the edge of the penalty area though his strike flew over Paul Whelan’s crossbar, much to Pearses’ relief as the final whistle sounded soon afterwards to make them Roscommon’s first provincial champions since St Brigid’s in 2012.
Having only won their first ever county title in 2019, they now go on to meet Leinster champions Kilmacud Crokes in the All-Ireland semi-final on January 29.
Pearses enjoyed a tonic start when Hubert Darcy slotted a penalty in the fourth minute after Niall Carty was felled by Shane McHale and Carey slotted his first point of the day shortly afterwards.
A wasteful Knockmore (they had 13 wides to Pearses’ two) struggled to settle at any stage in the first quarter though they did get off the mark in the seventh minute in somewhat remarkable fashion as their goalkeeper Colm Reape came upfield for a 45 which was played short to him. Wind-backed, he swept it over the bar off the outside of his right boot.
It turned out to be Knockmore’s only score from open play in the first half as their attacks lacked cohesion, with aimless ball often lumped into their full-forward line which was lapped up time and again by the Pearses rearguard.
The Roscommon champions led 1-2 to 0-1 at the first water break after Conor Payne added a point though Orme slotted a mark for Knockmore on the resumption and though they never quite found their stride, they began to enjoy more possession and territory.
Pushing up on their opponents, both in general play and from kickouts, proved fruitful with Pearses coughing up possession to their cost, particularly when goalkeeper Whelan was turned over before tripping Orme and inviting a black card from referee James Molloy in the 23rd minute.
Full-forward Hubert Darcy completed the half in goal in Whelan’s absence with the netminder resuming between the posts in the second half having completed his sin-bin period during injury time, which concluded with an Orme free to cut Knockmore’s deficit to 1-3 to 0-4 at the break.
A Carey free restored Pearses’ three-point lead on the resumption before Peter Naughton became the first outfield player to score from play for Knockmore with a point but then Carey took control of the contest.
Pearses hit five points without reply between the 35th and 43rd minutes to take firm control with Carey accounting for four of them in a devastating scoring burst that looked to have buried Knockmore.
But after a couple of points through Orme and Naughton settled the Mayo men, sub Charlie Burke pounced for a goal after a point effort from another replacement, Darren McHale, fell short to cut the deficit to a much more manageable 1-9 to 1-7 at the second water break.
Pearses didn’t blink. Typically, Carey settled their nerves with arguably his best effort of the day with joint captain Emmett Kelly, having just been introduced, adding another before Ronan Daly restored the five-point lead.
Knockmore didn’t give in, however, kicking the next three points though sub Tom Butler pushed Pearses three clear again in injury time before Orme spurned the late chance to force an extra 20 minutes.
PEARSES: Paul Whelan; Anthony Butler, Mark Richardson, Gavin Downey; Conor Lohan, Ronan Daly (0-1), David Murray; Niall Daly, Conor Daly; Lorcan Daly, Niall Carty, Shane Carty; Conor Payne (0-1), Hubert Darcy (1-1, 1-0 pen), Paul Carey (0-8, 0-3f).
Subs: Caelim Keogh for Downey (4), Tom Butler (0-1) for Lorcan Daly (46), Emmett Kelly (0-1) for Shane Carty (50), Conor Brogan for Keogh (58).
KNOCKMORE: Colm Reape (0-1); Sean Holmes, Adam Naughton, David McHale; Conor Flynn, Kieran King, Marcus Park; Kevin McLoughlin, Shane McHale; Connell Dempsey, Aiden Orme (0-5, 0-1m, 0-2f), Nathan Armstrong; Pearse Ruttledge, James Ruddy, Peter Naughton (0-3).
Subs: Liam Durcan for Ruddy (22), Charlie Burke (1-0) for King (30+3), Darren McHale for Park (46), Keith Ruttledge (0-2) for Durcan (58), Kieran Langan for Pearse Ruttledge (60).
REFEREE: James Molloy (Galway).
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