Roscommon completed an underage double with a dramatic win over Galway the Connacht minor final.
A successful defence of their minor title as 16-year-old Joshua Coyne stared in the one point win in Tuam stadium.
This game came to life early doors in Tuam. Eanna Maher and Joshua Coyne (f) exchanged scores in the opening six minutes.
Mickey Mitchell and Enda Browne exchanged scores inside 60 seconds to make it seven points each.
The game’s opening goal went to Roscommon, Jayden Concannon following in a shot and fisting to the net. Bobby Lenehan added a point as Roscommon led 1-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.
Galway responded with an Adam Healy free. However the Rossies went end-to-end with Coyne finding the net and putting clear water between the sides. 2-3 to 0-3.
Coyne added a point to extend the lead to seven. Mickey Mitchell landed Galway’s fourth point on 21 minutes. Jack Lally responded with a two-pointer for the Rossies.
Joey Cullinane made it a six-point game as the clock read 30 minutes. However, a Ronan Carr sent over the game’s second 2-pointer to make 2-8 to five points at half-time.
Galway had the win in the second-half and looked to make it pay. Two points from Mickey Mitchell and a two-pointer each from Evan Burke (2pf) and Ryan Connolly brought Galway back into the game.
The lead now cut to three points after 10 second-half minutes, 2-8 to 0-11.
Goal's pay the rent
However, Roscommon’s first score of the second-half was a telling one. Darragh Kelleher’s shot was misjudged by Galway keeper Burke as the rossies had their thirtd goal of the game.
Seamie Carthy and Ronan Carr added points as the rossies led by eight points with a quarter of the game remaining.
Galway weren’t going away as Adam Healy rattled the rossies net and added a point to bring them back into the game.
Carthy kicked his second score of the game to make it 3-11 to 1-12 with 10 minutes remaining. Ryan Connolly sent over a two-pointer to cut Roscommon’s lead to six.
However, up stepped Joshua Coyne to restore the seven point lead. When Galway’s Cormac Ryan was shown a black card it looked up for the tribesmen.
The tribesmen never surrender though. Keeper Burke converted his second two-point free to make it a two point game.
Healy sent over a free three minutes into stoppage time to make it a one point game.
It wasn’t enough, Roscommon controlled the ball and landed the Connacht minor title 3-12 to 1-17.
