WATCH: Roscommon well and truly on the move
The children of the county played Gaelic Football late into the evening on local greens after watching their hero’s dismantle Mayo a few hours earlier.
When the primrose and blue laid siege on the Mayo goal during the second half of the Connacht senior football semi-final, everything felt right in the county of Roscommon. The sun was shining as the birds sang and danced in the sky as if they were giving their full approval to the events unfolding in front of us.
It was nice to breathe easy and take a break from all the worldwide negativity that suffocates us every day.
On Wednesday evening the birds were dancing again when the U-20 heroes roared the county on to success in Tuam stadium after extra time success against Mayo in the Connacht U-20 football championship final. This incredible group of players deserve huge credit. On a personal level I couldn’t be more delighted for manager Cian Smith who, to put it mildly, is one of life's true gentlemen.
Meanwhile our Rossie minors took the time to meet Roscommon Gaels underage club players before they go to battle on Friday in their Connacht Final. This fantastic panel, along with talented manager Shane Moran to guide them, need the roar of the Rossie crowd behind them in Tuam Stadium on Friday.
When sport goes your way, it can be an incredible form of escapism and give even the most downbeat of souls a welcome adrenaline boost. Roscommon as a county in now buzzing on cloud nine.
On what is now a famous Roscommon Sunday afternoon the children of the county played Gaelic football until darkness fell on local greens and in back gardens after watching their heroes dismantle Mayo a few hours earlier. The majority of the up and coming stars I saw were donning their Roscommon kits with pride as they kicked points, practicing and hoping to be the next local hero. Autographs from many players—including club heroes and Roscommon Gaels local stalwarts Senan and Tim Lambe—were collected at a recent, highly successful player–supporter meeting in the Hyde. Since then, children have been reluctant to put their sweat soaked jerseys in the wash, fearing the treasured signatures might fade.
As I looked on from a distance at the Roscommon flag blowing in the gentle breeze on top of the goal post I couldn’t help but dare to dream. The thoughts of a home Connacht final in Dr. Hyde Park brought me back to 2001 when Gerry Lohan burst the Mayo net and broke their hearts with a last-minute winner to be crowned Connacht champions. The county went into wild celebrations. It made for a very memorable summer. There is now another generation that needs to experience this euphoria on Roscommon soil and it’s a wonderful thing that there is a chance that it could occur on Sunday, May 10th. If lucky omens are your thing, the 2001 team are being honoured at half time on Sunday for their 2001 exploits. They also deserve a rousing reception.
At 18 going on 19 years of age Roscommon’s home Connacht final win in 2001 remains one of my fondest lifelong summer memories. Walking out the Racecourse Road past Willie Walshe’s shop at 3 a.m. following the match, still with a headband wrapped around our arms while dressed in t-shirts, our bodies were cold, but our hearts were filled with warm Rossie pride as we hoped someone would pick us up and save us from the long walk back to Castlerea.
In the days that followed the county went into a football frenzy with cars and round bales getting painted yellow and blue, bunting and flags hung from everything in sight and even the creation of songs that still live on.
The Stagger Inn bar in Castlerea was our local weekend meeting spot that summer. The proprietor, the late Dick McDonagh, was a proud Rossie and decided to pen some lyrics with the Bad Ass Boogie Band delivering the song “Roscommon on the move”.
As poor Dick McDonagh tried to empty his bar late on Saturday nights during that summer, he couldn’t help but to surrender to the chats for “one more tune” as the jukebox volume dial was turned up to the max. The crowd who were largely full of the joys of life started to hop on top of chairs and all sing in unison to his song “Roscommon on the move” as Dick sat at the corner of the bar looking on with a wry smile of approval. It was harmless stuff but horrid craic which still lives strong in the memory.
Over the coming days it would be great to see our local towns and villages taken over with flags, bunting, hats scarves and headbands to support our team on their quest for success in our backyard which is the Hyde.
Let’s get behind Mark Dowd and his team as best as we possibly can and have the Hyde packed out and hopping like sausages on a frying pan.
It’s 25 years – one quarter of a century since we last won the Nestor Cup at home. These opportunities don’t present themselves very often.
Roscommon is now on the move again and we need to make it our duty to give this team our full backing. Who knows, on Sunday, May 10th the next generation may finally get to experience what a Rossie win and success really is, in our sun-drenched county town.
Now climb high up on a chair, turn up the volume and rise it with me my fellow Rossies “We are Ros, go the Ros, Roscommon on the move”
Click on the link below to take a trip down memory lane abd relive 'Roscommon on the Move"
