Last championship clash against Kerry marked long-awaited appearance in Croke Park for the Rossies
Kerry's Darragh Ó Sé and Roscommon's Jonathan Dunning battle for possession during the 2003 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final meeting between the counties in Croke Park. Picture: INPHO/Patrick Bolger
Kerry and Roscommon will clash in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the first time since 2003 on Saturday next.
The Kingdom, having comfortably accounted for Clare in the Munster final a few weeks ago, are the warmest of favourites to account for Davy Burke’s men.
The game gets underway at 2.30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on GAA+. The referee for the big match is David Coldrick.
Twenty-two years ago, Roscommon embarked on a memorable championship run after losing out to Galway in Connacht.
Tommy Carr’s side overcame Cork in Dr. Hyde Park before getting the fright of their lives against Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon, thanks to David O’Connor’s late goal.
But the season really took flight with two thrilling victories against Offaly and Kildare in Mullingar and Portlaoise.
Frankie Dolan kicked 25 points in those two games but was overlooked for an All-Star later in the year. Dolan would end up as the championship’s second-highest scorer behind Tyrone’s Peter Canavan.
It meant that Roscommon qualified for an All-Ireland quarter-final meeting against Kerry in Croke Park.
It was a huge occasion for players and supporters alike as it was the first time Roscommon had played a championship game at GAA headquarters since the heartbreaking All-Ireland semi-final loss against Meath in 1991.
Even though Roscommon were crowned Connacht champions again in 2001, their All-Ireland quarter-final clash against Galway was fixed for MacHale Park, Castlebar.
A huge Roscommon crowd made their way to Croke Park, and although Kerry prevailed by 1-21 to 3-10, the “Primrose and Blue” departed relatively satisfied after a decent showing against the Kingdom to crown off a memorable year.
Frankie Dolan was his side’s top scorer once more with 1-3, while Karol Mannion and Gary Cox also found the net.
Overall, there have been ten championship meetings between the sides. Kerry have won eight of them. There has been one draw, while Roscommon’s sole victory came in the 1944 All-Ireland final.
On a positive note, Roscommon’s last visit to Killarney resulted in a 0-14 to 1-10 victory during the 2016 Allianz Division One campaign.
