Roscommon 0-11 Tyrone 0-10Tommy Carr was the envy of all newly appointed football managers at Doctor Hyde Park on a wintry day in Roscommon yesterday.
After observing his new team - or, to be more precise, 14 of them - send champions Tyrone packing, Carr concluded: "I couldn't find fault with them."
Roscommon's second-half showing especially was one of great character and courage.
The sending-off of left half forward Jonathan Dunning 16 minutes into the game at a time when the home side were doing their best to contain the flowing, short-passing Tyrone game seemed destined to be a major factor.
Dunning rashly jumped into a fracas along the sideline and when Westmeath referee Pat Fox restored sanity he had no hesitation in showing the red card.
It looked like the beginning of the end for Roscommon after a well organised if depleted Tyrone had made a great start with four unanswered long-range points by Ryan Mellon, Eoin Mulligan (0-2) and Brian McGuigan.
Playing into a strong wind, Roscommon struggled but eventually managed their opening score through a Gerry Lohan pointed free after 10 barren minutes.
Tyrone's dominance in that first half was reflected in the fact that they could afford eight wides against their opponents' one and still repair to the dressing-room leading 0-8 to 0-4.
Roscommon regrouped astutely, however: Francie Grehan played a third midfield role from the start and when he had to drop back after the sending-off, corner forward Alan Nolan was suitably deployed.
Corner back John Nolan and David Casey were also seen to good effect in Carr's rejig.
It soon became apparent that the "one-man-less incentive" was kicking in as Roscommon were suddenly transformed from strugglers into a side with a ferocious desire to defy the odds.
"The downfield wind was huge," said Carr. "I knew we were in with a shout once we could keep the deficit down to three or four points. Heart completed the job."
Ronan Cox and Gary Cox were involved in Roscommon's best moves - they were replaced in the closing stages simply because they had played themselves "into the ground".
"No team will go out through the gates of this place with handy points," warned Tyrone's new manager, Micky Harte.
"When we made mistakes they were made under pressure, although we lost out badly with wind advantage in the first half by not capitalising on chances.
"I think they having a player sent off was the beginning of our troubles - 14 playing against 15 can have its advantages."
Harte refused to seek refuge in the absence of Errigal Ciarains players on club championship duties - but you could not help thinking that Tyrone could have done with a little of Peter Canavan's scoring prowess when the attacks were launched in a desperate effort to save the day in those dying moments.
Yet another pointed free by Tyrone sharpshooter Eoin Mulligan 13 minutes after the restart kept Roscommon at bay (0-9 to 0-6) but a point from Ronan Cox, and two from Gerry Lohan cleared the way for Nigel Dineen to land the home side in front for the first time with a huge 40-yarder 24 minutes into the second half.
Tyrone got back on level terms and Declan McCrossan missed from 12 yards, but Lohan had the final say with the winner off a 50-yard free in a hectic finish.
Next up for Carr's men is Páidí Ó Sé's Kerry, while Tyrone will be trying for an early recovery against Galway next Sunday.
ROSCOMMON: S Curran; J Nolan, D Casey, A Carbury; A McPadden, F Grehan, P Noone; K Mannion, D Casserly; G Cox (0-2), R Cox (0-2), J Dunning; N Dineen (0-1), G Lohan (0-6 five frees), A Nolan. Subs: B Higgins for Casserly at half-time. S Lohan for A Nolan (50 mins), C Conneely for R Cox (60 mins), F Dolan for G Cox (67 mins).
TYRONE: P McConnell; C Gormley, C Lawn, M McGee; R McMenamin G Devlin P Jordan; R Mellon (0-3), C Holmes; B Dooher, B McGuigan (0-1), S O'Neill (0-2); F McGuigan, S Kavanagh, E Mulligan (0-4 frees). Subs: B Robinson for Lawn at half-time. P Donnelly for F McGuigan 52 mins. D McCrossan for McMenamin 59 mins.
Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).
