Burke addresses future in aftermath of defeat against Cork
Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll shows his disappointment at the final whistle following his side's two-point defeat against Cork. Picture: INPHO/Leah Scholes
Roscommon senior football manager, Davy Burke, said there would be no “big announcement” in the aftermath of his side’s 0-19 to 0-17 loss at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Saturday afternoon.
Despite a final rousing quarter by the Rossies, missed chances, just as they did against Meath, proved to be their undoing, as Cork held on for their biggest win of the season.
Burke’s three-year tenure is at an end but, despite only one win since Roscommon beat Cork in the league on March 1st, he felt that he had blooded a “new Roscommon team” since 2023.
“Obviously, there’s no big headline here or big announcement. If you look at our three years, and this might get lost with people, the like of Conor Hand, Daire Cregg, Conor Carroll, Keith Doyle, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Robbie Dolan, Pearse Frost, Shane Cunnane, Colm Neary, Senan Lambe, Declan Kenny — I could keep going on — we’ve brought through a new Roscommon team to compliment the lads that are there.
“I’d be very proud of that work to date. I hope that doesn’t get lost in the coverage here. Essentially myself, Leo (Tierney) and Eddie (Lohan), who have been here since the start, it’s essentially a new Roscommon team.
“We’ll obviously take our time now and hopefully go home and spend a bit of time with the family.
“I think this experience will stand to these players next year. It’s top level football (Division One) and you need to be ready for it — a serious level of stuff. We just all need a break. The lads will go back to their clubs and then we’ll come back and make a decision.”
Roscommon trailed by 0-17 to 0-11 after 52 minutes, and their championship season looked all but over.
But, aided by the impact off the bench, they gave everything for the cause and built up all the momentum coming up the home stretch.
Diarmuid Murtagh, substitute Cian McKeon and Daire Cregg grabbed points but, arguably, the turning point of the game was when Cork goalkeeper Míchéal Aodh Martin denied Cregg what looked like a certain goal after a brilliant pass from Enda Smith.
There was consolation for Roscommon when goalkeeper, Conor Carroll, pointed the resultant ’45, and when Cregg grabbed his fifth point of the afternoon, there was only a point between the teams with six minutes remaining.
Diarmuid and Ciaráin Murtagh snatched at a couple of two-point attempts as Roscommon sought to make their momentum count but Cork substitute Cathail O’Mahony lifted the siege with his side’s first score in 13 minutes.
Martin also did well to punch a two-point effort from Diarmuid Murtagh, which would have forced a draw, to safety.
Roscommon tried to work a two-pointer from the resultant ’45, which would have ensured their progression to the last 12, but when an effort from Diarmuid Murtagh was blocked by Daniel O'Mahony after the hooter sounded, Cork survived and claimed their biggest win of the season.
Cork had kicked the last five points of the opening half to lead 0-10 to 0-6 at half time, with midfielder Ian Maguire kicking a brace that could just as easily have been goals.
Despite early points in the new half from Dylan Ruane and Daire Cregg, who ended with five points from play, Cork kicked on again, helped by the excellent Colm O’Callaghan who landed a couple of important scores.
But, with their championship on the line, the Roscommon players died with their boots on. Brian Stack’s deployment further out the field helped, as did some spectacular fielding by Eddie Nolan.
However, they missed a couple of late chances which would have secured the draw or win they needed to make the last 12.
