County senior football final stalemate wouldn’t surprise Smith

This Sunday’s repeat of the 2019 senior football final pits the victors that day, Pádraig Pearses, against a Roscommon Gaels side chasing their first Fahey Cup since 2004.

Boyle manager Cian Smith, whose side suffered two agonising one-point defeats to Strokestown and St. Brigid’s in the 2022 and 2023 finals respectively, knows the strength of Sunday’s main protagonists, having played Pádraig Pearses in the group stages and Roscommon Gaels in the quarter-final this season — games Boyle ended up losing by three points.

The All-Ireland minor winner with the Roscommon minors in 2006 knows about the demands of management in the modern club game, and it’s no surprise that he has the height of respect for both management teams that will be trying to guide their players towards the “Promised Land” of Roscommon club football on Sunday.

“Both teams would be seriously well-coached. Obviously you have Mark Dowd and James Glancy and the other lads in Roscommon Gaels, and then Frank Canning, Ross Munnelly and Niall Finneran in Pearses. They’re two very good and experienced management teams,” he pointed out.

When both sides played Boyle in the championship this year, one aspect of both teams’ performances stood out for Smith.

“I’d say both teams have great clarity in what they’re trying to do. They’d be very well-organised. Everyone knows their role and I would imagine that they’d go into great detail with everything they do,” he assessed.

Smith sees the depth that Pearses possess as one of their greatest strengths. The solidity that the Daly brothers provide combined with the attacking threat of Paul Carey and Eoin Colleran also makes them a formidable outfit.

But the Boyle boss praised two players he felt have pushed Pearses to the next level this season.

“I suppose the two players, in my opinion, that have really pushed on this year, really stepped up, are Conor Ryan and Declan Kenny.” “Kenny, in particular, has really stood out, but Conor Ryan is turning into a really, really capable footballer and he’s definitely been a huge bonus for them this year,” he said.

Yet Smith is also quick to acknowledge the experienced core that Roscommon Gaels have at their disposal, singling out players like Peter Gillooly, Cian Connolly, John McManus, Mark Healy and Mark Purcell.

He noted that the Gaels have blooded new talent as well, praising the “youth, pace and enthusiasm” that John McGuinness and Eoghan Carthy — part of the club’s minor team that reached this year’s county final — have brought to the team.

The match-ups will be fascinating, and nullifying key players could be the key to victory for either side.

“It’ll be interesting to see how Roscommon Gaels try to tie down Declan Kenny. Cathal Feely went on him for us and did a reasonably good job, but it’ll be interesting to see who the Gaels use,” he speculated.

However, Smith was quick to point out that focusing on one player won’t win a game due to the standards of modern club football.

“Like all the best club players, you’re never going to stop anybody over the course of a whole game. It’s a matter of limiting the moments that they have.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if ended in a draw. Both sides may have to tap into their extra reserves of energy again, having both come through extra-time on their way to the final. That’s how close I think it will,” he concluded.