Gaelic Games

Roscommon cruise to consecutive wins after hitting 4-25

Captain Ciaran Murtagh among the goals as Cork suffer heavy defeat at Pairc Ui Rinn

Roscommon’s Fintan Cregg managed five points in Roscommon’s impressive win over Cork. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Roscommon’s Fintan Cregg managed five points in Roscommon’s impressive win over Cork. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Sun Feb 28 2016 - 16:41

Cork 3-10 Roscommon 4-25

Roscommon completed a Munster double by following up their narrow win over Kerry with an 18-point destruction of shell-shocked Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday.

It was an extraordinary performance from the visitors who thrilled their large band of travelling supporters with one of their best displays in years.

Roscommon had 3-14 on the board from play before Fintan Cregg landed their first free after 40 minutes and they were an incredible 20 points in front entering the closing quarter.

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The Connacht side supplied a dozen different scorers as all six starting forwards found the range regularly and even full-back Neil Collins was able to surge up field to hit the target.

Roscommon simply ripped Cork apart from the start, cutting through the middle with worrying ease from a Cork perspective and finishing in some style, too.

Ciaran Murtagh top-scored with 2-3 followed by Cregg's 0-5 and Conor Devaney's four from play in a half-forward line that brushed past Cork's feeble challenges.

Even after Mark Collins and Tomas Clancy combined for Peter Kelleher to palm in a Cork goal after 13 minutes to level matters at 1-2 to 0-5, Roscommon replied almost immediately.

Cregg fired a tantalising ball in the direction of full-forward Senan Kilbride, who outjumped Eoin Cadogan before firing home from close range.

And they added a second goal three minutes before the break, midfielders Ian Kilbride and Enda Smith linking to set-up Cathal Cregg, who powered an unstoppable shot past Ken O'Halloran.

At 2-13 to 1-7 in front at the break, Roscommon already had the points in the bag and the second-half continued in the same vein.

O’Halloran struggled with his re-starts throughout and another poor kick-out led to Fintan Cregg landing the opening point of the second-half.

Three minutes in, Roscommon bagged their third goal, Cian Connolly creating the opportunity for Ciaran Murtagh to claim the first of his pair though Kelleher replied in kind at the other end.

But, when Murtagh added a fourth in the 54th minute, Roscommon raced 4-21 to 2-7 in front with Cork staring at an embarrassing defeat. Luke Connolly smashed in their third goal four minutes from the end of regulation time, but it hardly mattered.

Now, Cork have to re-group with little time to prepare for the visit to double champions Dublin on Saturday night, a daunting prospect for new manager Peadar Healy.

CORK: K O'Halloran; C O'Driscoll, E Cadogan, J Loughrey; T Clancy, M Shields, B O'Driscoll; I Maguire, A O'Sullivan; M Collins, P Kerrigan (0-1), captain, L Connolly (1-3, one '45); D Goulding (0-4, three frees), P Kelleher (2-0), B Hurley (0-1). Subs: K Crowley for Shields and S Kiely for O'Sullivan half-time, J O'Sullivan for Loughrey and R Deane for Collins 45 mins, C O'Neill (0-1 free) for Goulding 49 mins, D MacEoin for Hurley 65 mins

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, N Collins (0-1), N McInerney; N Daly (0-1), D Purcell, D Murray (0-1); E Smith (0-2), I Kilbride (0-1); F Cregg (0-5, two frees), C Murtagh (2-3, one free), C Devaney (0-4); C Connolly (0-3), S Kilbride (1-1), C Cregg (1-2). Subs: C Daly for Daly injured 23 mins, R Daly for C Cregg 53 mins, J McManus for Murray and R Stack for Purcell 58 mins, C Shine (0-1) for F Cregg 59 mins, C McHugh for Murtagh 63 mins, B Murtagh for McManus injured 64 mins

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)