A topsy turvy contest on a sodden surface, conjuring a tension laden finale, enthralled the 25,000 shoehorned into Tuam Stadium, Galway for yesterday's drawn Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Final between Galway and Roscommon.

The final scoreline of 0-11 apiece hides a multitude of talking points, and masks the merits of a match in which both teams may justifiably claim to be the least fortunate on the day. Galway will point to the 17 wides and therefore clamour that they were authors of their own misfortune, while Roscommon will mutter darkly about refereeing decisions, most notably when Galway fullback Gary Fahy appeared to pick the ball off the ground in the closing minutes. Referee Seamus Prior awarded a free out for a foul on Fahy and Galway then moved the ball the length of the pitch to set up the equalising and final score of the contest.

Fahy was adamant that he had not lifted the ball. "The ball just hopped marginally before I reached it, so I was able to pick it up." The Roscommon viewpoint, articulated by eight-point hero Eddie Lohan, was somewhat different. "We should definitely have had a free.

"Fahy picked the ball straight off the ground. I ran after the referee and roared for a free but he simply waved play on." Lohan was left to reflect on what might have been, but admitted that he was proud of the way Roscommon responded in the second half after going four points down.

"All of our players are very down because we felt that it was a game we should have won. In the middle of the second half when we started to dominate midfield, Galway didn't know where they were.

"On a personal level I was very happy with the free-taking. I kicked a very good 45 with the first placed ball and was just confident after that. Paul Joyce was unlucky as he had a few skid off the boot."

Roscommon also had to deal with the sending off of Jason Neary, on the pitch for less than a minute as a replacement for Gerry Keane. His first and only involvement was to catch Jarlath Fallon with an elbow in the face for which he received the line. Lohan felt the punishment was harsh. "I though Jarlath Fallon made a meal of it."

Roscommon manager Gay Sheeran echoed his team's disappointment at letting the opportunity of an upset slip in the second half. "We had our chances in the second half, won a lot of ball and felt that we should have won the game. On our first half performance we certainly didn't deserve anything. A lot of players were below par.

"I don't know if it had something to do with the noise of the crowd. When we ran out the din was unbelievable. I'm playing a long time and haven't experienced noise like that. It seemed to put one or two out of their stride for a while."

The replay takes place on Saturday week, August 1st (5.0) at Hyde Park. Galway have been warned.