Clann bare their teeth as Oran win big - but who’s on the SFC Team of the Week?
Cathal Heneghan led the way as Michael Glaveys secured a thrilling victory over St. Faithleach's. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin.
The big guns showed off their vast artillery as St. Brigid’s showed once more why they are the team to beat. Meanwhile, Clann na nGael, Roscommon Gaels and Oran all won big while Pádraig Pearses and Michael Glaveys secured critical wins. Here we the select best on show after an intriguing round of games.
With two thirds of the Senior games ending in emphatic triumphs and the remaining encounters seeing both sides breached, it was a tough call on who should be chosen between the sticks. However, Casey gets the nod as he replaced Shane Regan and never looked out of place. Casey’s kickouts were on the money which helped his side establish midfield dominance while he executed the basics to a high standard. With his club’s season on the line, Casey stood tall.
Gavin starred as Clann produced a statement of intent by downing an understrength and underwhelming St. Dominic’s outfit. In the first half, he was solid defensively, taking care of any duties that needed to be performed close to goal. With St. Dominic’s down to 14 men from the sixth minute onwards, Gavin was a ball of energy as he came forward and grabbed 2-2, his first goal showed great improvisation as he stooped low to punch to the net.
Lambe produced an industrious display as Roscommon Gaels downed a disappointing Tulsk outfit. He is the type of player who is so important in the modern game with his string surges from deep giving his side a valuable attacking platform. Alongside his brother Tim, he was able to break up Tulsk attacks close to his own goal before finding himself in possession in enemy territory moments later. Won the turnover that led to his side’s first goal and was unrelenting throughout.
]His teammate Ruaidhrí Fallon was unlucky to miss out, but Dolan is deserving of his spot after a typically all action display. His surges from deep caused no end of problems for an overmatched Western Gaels side as his appetite for work even when the points were clearly heading St. Brigid’s way was admirable. Dolan won a penalty that Conor Hand dispatched for his side’s fifth goal while he was at the centre for much of his side’s positive play.
His early collision with Ciaráin Murtagh set the tone for what was a memorable encounter between Michael Glaveys and St. Faithleach’s. Ruane continues to revel in the sweeper role as Michael Glaveys have responded in fine style after their opening round reversal to St. Brigid’s. Took his two points with aplomb while he showed his engine when latching on to Cathal Heneghan’s delivery to bury to an empty net in the dying embers. His work at the coalface helped ignite Michael Glaveys’s season.
Despite seeing his side lost out on a direct route to the quarter final stage, Nerney was class personified as he battled valiantly against the tide. His stray pass may have led to Dylan Ruane’s game clinching goal, but risks needed to be taken as St. Faithleach’s sought to find a game winning major. Nerney marshalled his defence excellently while he was always willing to provide support in or out of possession for a colleague.
The Clann defender led the way in the opening half when St. Dominic’s were still a live threat. He grabbed two crucial scores in the opening half and finished with 0-3, all from play. For his second point, he claimed a restart from St. Dominic’s before exchanging passes with Oisin O’Flaherty and punching over. His willingness to make those runs from deep caused problems for the Knockcroghery side throughout. Clann will need him to be on form as they aim to progress further than last year.
The midfield sector was always set to prove important as Pádraig Pearses and Boyle penned the latest chapter in what is quickly becoming one of the fiercest rivalries in the domestic scene. Ryan grabbed the game’s most important score as he showed admirable coolness to punch Declan Kenny’s high ball to the net. He also pointed a ’45 when Pearses scored 1-3 without reply while his ability to break ball is a valuable weapon for a rejuvenated Woodmount based side.
One of the first names down for the latest Roscommon Herald SFC Team of the Week. Daly produced a virtuoso display to help Pádraig Pearses book a direct route to the quarter final stage as he kicked four points from play and helped his side dominate the midfield exchanges. Daly kicked one of his trademark points from out on the right side from roughly 45 metres out in the first half in what was a sign of things to come.
St. Brigid’s killed off the challenge of Western Gaels in the first 10 minutes and although Hand didn’t bag any of those majors, he was still class personified throughout. He played his part in Shane Cunnane’s goal, his side’s second of the game while he kicked a lovely score from range in the opening half. Hand was industrious and slotted over off both sides while he grabbed the goal his performance deserved when netting from the penalty spot late on.
In their biggest game of the campaign to date, Darragh Walsh came up with his best display. Despite this being a surprising mismatch, the Oran centre forward produced a masterful display kicking nine points, four of which came from play. Even when this game was competitive in the early stages, Walsh stepped up to kick some beautiful scores to help build an insurmountable lead. A joy to watch when in full flow and someone Oran need to come up trumps if they are to get over the line in a knockout game.
It didn’t take long for Daire Cregg to reach the pitch of championship battle. The Boyle dynamo kicked 1-3 in the opening half as he helped keep Boyle’s challenge on track. He scored his side’s opening 1-2 and despite seeing his first effort on goal drop short, Cregg quickly found his range and showed his class when netting after Enda Smith’s run from deep. Pearses’ control of midfield meant his influence waned thereafter, but Cregg gives Boyle an edge they were missing before his return from the States.
Walsh kicked 1-5 and proved a handful both from play and the dead ball. He was one of his side’s better performers in their disappointing draw with Oran last time out and carried that form through here. From the moment he opened his side’s account, Walsh was an ever willing receiver of possession and a thorn in the Tulsk side. He expertly found the net for his side’s second goal and continued to punish Tulsk on the scoreboard even when the Gaels were out of sight.
Although Colin was unfortunate not to be included, the Walsh’s are represented once more as Shane cut loose with 1-3. He showed admirable composure to slot home a crucial goal in the first half as he kicked 1-2 in the first half when this game was still somewhat of a contest. Shane kicked a fine effort in the final half as his tally all came from open play. His performance showed why Oran can be a threat when they utilise a direct style of play.
Never put a foot wrong throughout and it was a sign of his quality that when Darragh Heneghan was sent off, St. Faithleach’s opted to double mark him. His first half goal, which came after a fine catch and swivel, came out a critical time as it moved his side two scores clear. Heneghan showed his class when winning possession on his own 20m line and playing a beautiful ball forward to Dylan Ruane, who didn’t even have to break stride to fire to the net and seal the sweetest of victories.
