Championship corner: Oran to finally jump Becher’s Brook
Oran midfielder Michael Staunton looks for support as Roscommon Gaels duo, Ryan Conlon and Ronan Gleeson close in during Sunday's rain-sodden senior football championship quarter-final at Kiltoom. Pictures: Gerard O'Loughlin
A repeat of the O’Rourke Cup final won by the Gaels, which was indicative of the Indian sign they hold over Oran. It’s a huge boost heading into Sunday afternoon’s quarter-final.
Frankie Dolan’s charges used up every lifeline with their late smash and grab raid over St. Faithleach’s, which will have injected serious belief and confidence into the side that if they play to the final whistle any situation can be resurrected.
On the down side, against both Western Gaels and St. Faithleach’s, their overall displays have been patchy as they’re not working the scoreboard enough.
Since coming up from the intermediate ranks in 2020, Oran have done very little wrong, losing only three games out of 11 at the top table. Two of those were knockout quarter-final games and, now, here they are facing Becher’s Brook for a third time.
If Seán Staunton’s men believe, deep down, that they can beat the Gaels, they have the quality to do so.
How appropriate that this contest brings the curtain down on the four SFC quarter-finals because it’s the standout fixture of the weekend.
We’re going to learn if Clann are the real deal or if Boyle have turned the corner after recent victories over St. Faithleach’s and Western Gaels.
Clann na nGael have yet to put a foot wrong during their three victories but question marks exist regarding the quality of teams they have beaten. But, as the saying goes, one can only dance with the girls in the hall.
The Oran game last time out was a dead rubber as both teams had qualified for the knockout stages, but there is no doubt that manager Pat Fallon has the Johnstown men in a good place.
Boyle have serious quality up front. If they click, they are impossible to stop. Seá Henry’s absence through injury is a blow to Clann, but the loss of Seán Purcell and Evan McGrath in the Boyle defence could be the ultimate game changer.
If West Roscommon arrive with plenty of ammunition, they could make life uncomfortable for the 2021 champions.
For that to happen, every box will have to be ticked by Michael Jordan’s men alongside the hope that Pádraig Pearses form will dip.
In two of their three championship games, Pearses have been involved in competitive outings, losing an arm wrestle in the final few moments against St. Brigid’s. Last day out, they had to call on all their experience and character to finally put a brave St. Dominic’s challenge to bed.
That battle with the Knockcroghery men was a cracking contest which brought out the best and worst in Frank Canning’s side as they switched off for long periods during the game.
The one thing that Pearses have is big game players who can turn negative moments into positive outcomes, and that could prove to be the difference.
This is a huge test for North Roscommon, with junior footballers, who will wear the North Roscommon badge with honour and pride, facing some of the best senior club players in the county.
With three of his junior clubs going well (St. Michael’s, St. Ronan’s and Kilglass Gaels), manager Peter Bolger has been caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of getting his warriors together.
St. Brigid’s are on their way to the semi-finals, unless they take their eye off the ball, but they could arrive for the penultimate game of the championship below par with no serious battle since their opening day win over Padraig Pearses.
Manager Jerome Stack will be preaching all the right things to his players who have yet to be put through the wringer.
It’s a case of last chance saloon with relegation to the intermediate football championship for the losers.
Anyone for extra time as both sides are averaging 0-10 per game, so expect a tense, cautious battle.
Western Gaels have only conceded one goal. Teams that don’t concede many goals usually win relegation battles.
