Clare vs Roscommon

Clare staged a stunning late comeback to shock Roscommon in the All-Ireland qualifiers, with a late Jamie Malone point sealing a memorable 2-15 to 1-17 ...

Eoin McCormack for Cian McKeon (68) Eoin Cleary pointed a free, before Gavin Cooney was dragged down by Ronan Daly for a penalty. For Roscommon, they face into a long winter of regret. Donie Smith for Conor Cox (47) Andrew Glennon for Diarmuid Murtagh (64) Richard Hughes for Conor Hussey (42) Keith Doyle for Niall Kilroy (58) Conor Jordan for Emmet McMahon (66) Gavin Cooney for Podge Collins (61) The Munster county then kicked on. Brendan Rouine for Alan Sweeney (53) Roscommon: Diarmuid Murtagh (1-2, 0-2f), Ciaráin Murtagh (0-5, 0-1f), Ronan Daly (0-2), Donie Smith (0-2, 0-1f), Conor Daly (0-1), Cian McKeon (0-1), Niall Kilroy (0-1), Conor Cox (0-1, 0-1f), Richard Hughes (0-1), Keith Doyle (0-1).

Colm Collins continues to work the oracle with the Clare footballers as the Banner finished with a bang to bag a rare championship win in Croke Park and ...

Sexton sent over a huge free to level it two minutes later before Malone ventured forward from defence to fire over a dramatic winner in the final minute of injury time for a famous victory. Clare hadn't read the script, though, as Cleary cur the gap to four from a free before substitute Gavin Cooney was pulled down a minute later, with Sexton rifling the resultant penalty to the net to leave just one in it. It was heartbreak for Roscommon, but ecstasy for Clare as Collins leads them into the last eight for a second time after also making the quarter-finals in 2016, and they now have two weeks to prepare for a date with a big hitter at HQ.

Trailing by five points with two minutes of normal time remaining, Clare looked in real trouble but incredibly reeled off 1-3 without reply to take their ...

The wind was taken from their sails somewhat by a couple of rapid fire Roscommon points from Diarmuid Murtagh and Niall Kilroy in first-half stoppage time though the Banner still led the Division 2 league champions by 1-10 to 1-8 at the interval. From there, it was all Roscommon and they struck, firstly, five points without reply and then three on the bounce during a late burst to put real daylight between the teams at 1-17 to 1-12. That goal, and a second Murtagh point in the 15th minute, left Roscommon 1-2 to 0-3 ahead though the remainder of the half was largely about the excellence and efficiency of Clare. Operating with a two-man full-forward line of Sexton and Aaron Griffin, with number 10 Pearse Lillis dropping back to the half-back line to man mark Roscommon dangerman Enda Smith, clearing Ciaran Russell to play as the sweeper, Clare initially got the balance just right. The concession of a seventh minute goal to Diarmuid Murtagh rocked Clare, the experienced Roscommon attacker rising above goalkeeper Tristan O'Callaghan to redirect a long ball in towards the net. Malone's score from around 30 metres out was Clare's only from play in the second-half while another intriguing aspect was the fact that they also beat Roscommon in Round of the 2016 qualifiers also to reach their last quarter-final.

Places in the All-Ireland Football quarter-finals are up for grabs at Croke Park.Beaten Connacht finalists Roscommon are out of the championship after Clare ...

The All Ireland round 3 Qualifier clash between Clare and Roscommon at Croke Park served up an enthralling encounter befitting of its venue as the Banner ...

Keelan Sexton yet again stepped up to the placed ball showing a composure that equated to that of Tony Kelly’s as he stepped up to a last minute sideline cut in the Munster Hurling Final last weekend and coolly dispatched the ball to the back of the net. As the old adage goes the game is not over until the final whistle blows and the introduction of Gavin Cooney from the Clare bench proved a tactical master stroke from Colm Collins. The Ever Reliable Keelan Sexton split the Roscommon posts once again on sixty minutes to break the Roscommon momentum.

Despite a poor first half showing Roscommon led by five points in the closing stages at Croke Park.

They got their matchups spot on too, Pearse Lillis taking care of Enda Smith and Manus Doherty doing the needful on Conor Cox. Cathal O’Connor was excellent at midfield. A touch of deja vu as Clare overcame Roscommon in a final round qualifier to take their place in the All-Ireland football quarter-finals. His 75th minute score capped a quite incredible comeback from Clare, who’d trailed by five points with 68 minutes on the clock, and propelled his side through to Monday morning’s All-Ireland quarter-final draw.