‘Bit of individual brilliance’ could swing final

Unlike a Kerry team, players from County Roscommon — be it county or club — are seldom offered an opportunity for a shot at All-Ireland glory.

Of course, the successful teams of 1943 and 1944, led by Jamesie Murray, will eternally be remembered. The teams of 1946, 1962 and 1980, which fell short at the final hurdle, also occupy a special place in the minds of Roscommon supporters.

At club level, Roscommon Gaels (1976), the great Clann na nGael teams of the 1980s and St. Brigid’s (2011 and 2024) were unable to plant their flags on the summit of the All-Ireland mountain.

In 2013, however, St. Brigid’s etched their name into Roscommon GAA folklore, pipping a Ballymun Kickhams team containing the likes of James McCarthy, Philly McMahon and Dean Rock at the death.

Frankie Dolan’s name will forever be associated with that famous St. Patrick’s Day in Croke Park. Looking ahead to this weekend’s final, the former Roscommon sharpshooter compared and contrasted the preparations he and his team-mates endured as opposed to their contemporaries.

He highlighted areas the Kiltoom-based side will have to improve on, referencing the advantages Anthony Cunningham will have at his disposal to refine his charges’ performance.

For a start, the advance in video analysis is something Dolan believes will be beneficial, something the former Longford senior championship-winning manager with Abbeylara in 2024 would know from experience.

“I don’t think the analysis we would have done 13 years ago is as detailed as it is nowadays — where you have two or three people breaking down games, pointing out what went well, where we can improve and that type of thing,” explained Dolan.

“It’s another level of detail the way it is now. Back when we were playing — and it’s not that long ago — there wasn’t really as much focus on video work as there is now.” 

While Dolan feels that St. Brigid’s can improve on their semi-final victory over Scotstown, that internal analysis could be the key to unlocking that extra performance level.

“What I’m sure the lads will be looking at is the opportunities they gave Scotstown at times, particularly in the last ten minutes. They just need to shore up that defence a little bit more because if you give the Geaneys and these lads opportunities, I think they’ll convert them,” he opined.

Another important factor for Brigid’s is the learnings they will have taken from their one-point loss to Glen in the 2024 final.

Some of Dolan’s 2013 team-mates are still involved in this weekend’s panel. Ronan Stack, Senan Kilbride, Gearoid Cunniffe, Cormac Sheehy and Eoghan Sheehy will bring the rare experience of winning an All-Ireland final to Croke Park with them.

“You’ve a few players still there from when we won it last. They’re all good, solid lads,” credited Dolan.

“The younger lads on the team that’ll be playing the next day, I don’t know whether they’ll be quizzing them about it, but those lads have been there. They've played an All-Ireland final, so it's good to have then around all the same just to keep lads grounded and focussed.” 

 Similar to this group of Brigid’s players, the squad from 13 years ago also lost a final two seasons prior, which Dolan noted will allow the class of 2026 to, “focus on their own performance a little bit more” as opposed to “just landing up in Croke Park for your first All-Ireland final”.

“It will help, but it’s not going to be the winning of the game,” he noted.

Dolan is expecting an “intriguing game” and predicts a tight finish. Perhaps no one is better positioned in the county to speak about the dying moments of an All-Ireland final than the former Brigid’s forward as it was he who stepped up to the plate in 61st minute to kick the winning point into the Davin Stand in 2013.

“I think it could come down to the kick of a ball at the end, with two of the best teams in the country going at it.

“There’s a bit of luck involved in it as well. It might end up being the team that have given everything and keep going, like Brigid’s did the last day. The last ditch defending was brilliant, especially with Ruaidhrí (Fallon) and Seán (Trundle) and the blocks they made.

“That’s where your big players step up when it comes to the crunch time. The likes of your Bobby Nugent, Conor Hand, Ben O’Carroll, possibly Eddie Nolan, Ruadhrí Fallon or Brian Stack.

“It could come down to a bit of individual brilliance from one of those lads to possibly win it — and hopefully that’ll be the case from a Brigid’s point of view,” Dolan concluded.