Diarmuid Murtagh scored a spectacular goal to win Division 2 for Roscommon.
Roscommon are Division 2 champions for the 2022 season.
The prelude to Mayo-Kerry in Croke Park was played out in front of a sparsely packed stadium. But those who turned up for the game were rewarded for being there. It was 0-9 apiece at halftime, with each team going point for point repeatedly throughout the game.
When Roscommon pulled away during the second half, Galway quickly roped them back in. During the final five minutes it looked like the last team with the ball was going to win the game. Both sides traded points, kicking spectacularly from distance and from different angles.
And then Diarmuid Murtagh sprung from nowhere.
Diarmuid Murtagh gets a crucial GOAL for @RoscommonGAA v @Galway_GAA in the Division 2 Allianz Football League Final #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/1QXkMLBOJ6
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 3, 2022
Murtagh scored the critical goal one minute into added time.
The forward feigned past the first defender who then pulled up anticipating that a teammate was covering for him. Although there were three defenders in position to stop him, each was pulled in a different direction. Murtagh's direct approach was rewarded as he found himself closing in on goal.
While he might have been lucky to find that space, there was nothing lucky about the strike. Murtagh cuts across the ball with his left foot so that it bends just inside the far post. The Galway goalkeeper had no chance of stopping it.
Galway's defence opened too easily but it was also clear how wary they were of the situation. They didn't want to foul Murtagh because of how important each score was at that stage.
To be fair to Galway, they immediately responded and pressured their way back into the game over the final few minutes. Good scores kept them within a point. The final kick of the game dropped just under the crossbar, but bounced over for a point. That put the final score at 1-20 to 0-22.
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