Some man.
There was no shortage of Roscommon heroes in Portlaoise on Saturday night. The Rossies booked their place in the Super 8s with a 2-22 to 1-19 victory over a spirited Armagh in round four of the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Enda Smith scored both goals as the Connacht runners-up sealed a spot in a Super 8s group alongside Dublin, Donegal and Tyrone.
It was a cracking game of football, with both sides showing plenty of attacking intent from the outset. Armagh did well to stay in touch to trail by just two points at half-time but, in the end, Roscommon were able to find that extra gear.
Smith’s second goal – a thumping finish deep into injury time – sealed the win for Roscommon but Cathal Cregg, outstanding on the day, earned his fair share of plaudits too.
The umpire spotted Armagh’s Niall Rowland tussling with Cregg off the ball during the build-up to Smith’s second goal. After consultation with the umpire, referee Joe McQuillan goes up to brandish a yellow card in Rowland’s direction.
Cregg is having none of it though. Feeling that the Culloville Blues man had battled fairly and within the rules, Cregg pleads with McQuillan to keep his card in his pocket.
Ultimately unsuccessful, it was still a classy touch from Cregg.
Cregg was just one of several rock-solid Rossies in Portlaoise on Saturday and Kevin McStay’s men have responded remarkably to losing last month’s Connacht final to Galway.
Watching Cregg’s professionalism on Saturday evening, though, it’s clear to see where their resilience comes from.
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