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Late goal snatches Nicky Rackard title from Armagh

Roscommon's Michael Kelly lifts the Nicky Rackard Cup after a dramatic win over Armagh Croke Park. Picture by Philip Walsh
Roscommon's Michael Kelly lifts the Nicky Rackard Cup after a dramatic win over Armagh Croke Park. Picture by Philip Walsh Roscommon's Michael Kelly lifts the Nicky Rackard Cup after a dramatic win over Armagh Croke Park. Picture by Philip Walsh

Nicky Rackard Cup final: Roscommon 2-12 Armagh 1-14 (Saturday, Croke Park)

IT'S doubtful that anyone in the Armagh hurling community wishes to hear from Roscommon captain Micheal Kelly any time soon.

With a famous Nicky Rackard Cup title success apparently all but secured for Armagh on Saturday afternoon, Kelly dramatically intervened with a 72nd minute goal to snatch it away.

Incredibly, it proved to be the last puck of the game and just like back in 2007, a slim victory was claimed by Roscommon in the Rackard decider.

Kelly, to his credit, was magnanimous with his recall of the unlikely events and conceded that from Armagh's perspective it was a 'horrible' way to be beaten. The Orchard County, he maintained, remain a 'super, super team'.

Those words will probably ring a little hollow just now but in time Armagh may appreciate them.

"It's horrible for Armagh, a horrible, horrible place to be," said Kelly. "We've been on the receiving end of those types of results ourselves in fairness, maybe not in a final like this but we've got pipped in semi-finals and quarter-finals.

"Take nothing away from Armagh, they're a super, super team, in my opinion. We knew we were going to have to play to our potential to even keep with them. Look, it's minor things that often decide a game like this, it's the break of a ball at times. There was nothing between those two teams at all."

Kelly recalled the moments leading up to his pot shot at history.

"Our selector Noel Larkin came in and he pointed to the sliothar, he said you have to go for it," revealed Kelly. "We knew there wasn't going to be much stoppage time after it, if any. Thankfully it flew in.

"I actually couldn't have hit it much better. Once it left the hurl I knew it was sweet but to tell you that it was definitely going in would be a lie. I thought someone might have got a hurl on it or put it out for a 65 which wouldn't have been much use to us but thankfully the luck was with us."

Armagh may also come to accept in time that Roscommon fought valiantly. They engineered plenty of scoring opportunities in the last quarter and might have reeled in Armagh earlier but for eight second-half wides and 14 in the entire game.

The concession of the free which led to Kelly's goal was also a cynical act. Armagh centre-back Nathan Curry felt he had no option but to haul down in form Roscommon sub John Coyne, who'd already scored two points, as he raced through on goal. Curry was booked for the challenge though Kelly's strike was the ultimate punishment.

It had all started so brightly for Sylvester McConnell's side. The concession of a sixth minute Adrian Murphy goal rocked them momentarily but they were good value for their 1-8 to 1-5 half-time lead.

Ryan Gaffney was proving a reliable free-taker and scored Armagh's opening four points from placed balls.

Declan Coulter, David Carvill and Conor Corvan were also on the mark from open play before the 30th minute goal that put daylight between the sides.

It came from Cathal Carvill though full-forward Eoin McGuinness did terrifically well with a pass across goals from the left end line that Carvill snapped up and dispatched.

McGuinness showed his own finishing skills with a fine point from a tight angle on the right after the restart before a fifth free from Gaffney.

With 40 minutes on the clock Armagh led 1-10 to 1-5 and had the game at their mercy. Roscommon had a strong third quarter and Coyne's half-time introduction paid off as he contributed two points. Free-taker Jerry Fallon picked off three points also.

But Roscommon were rocked by the 58th minute dismissal of sub Cathal Kelly. He'd just been booked minutes earlier before being shown a straight red card.

Roscommon battled on gamely and were one down with two minutes remaining but Gaffney's eighth converted free of the day in the 69th minute appeared a crucial score. Armagh would hold that 1-14 to 1-12 lead all the way until the very last puck of the game. But unfortunately for them it was a historic puck from the Roscommon captain.

Roscommon's reward is a place in the Christy Ring Cup promotion/relegation play-off tie next Saturday alongside Mayo.

"That's another massive, massive game," said Kelly. "Our aim has always been to get to the Christy Ring Cup and to play at a higher level. We feel we have the squad and hopefully this will drive us on."

Roscommon: N Fallon; I Delaney, P Kellehan, L Kilcline; D Leonard, M Kelly (1-0, 1-0f), T Seale;Â C Dolan, J Kilkenny; J Moran (0-3), R O'Meara, J Fallon (0-4, 0-4f); C Egan (0-1), K Kilkenny (0-1), A Murphy (1-1).

Subs: C Kelly for Dolan (34); J Coyne (0-2) for Seale (h/t); C Kenny for Egan (44); E Flanagan for Murphy (61); G Fallon for J Fallon (64).

Armagh: S Doherty; S Renaghan, C Clifford, C Devlin; S Gaffney, N Curry (0-1, 0-1 65), K McKernan; J Corvan, D Coulter (0-2); R Gaffney (0-8, 0-8f), C Carvill (1-0), D Carvill (0-1); M Moan, E McGuinness (0-1), C Corvan (0-1).

Subs: C Gorman for Moan (53); C McKee for McGuinness (63); A McGuinness for D Carvill (66).

Referee: J O'Brien (Tipperary).