Quality to the fore as Roscommon Herald Team of the Week returns once more
Colm Neary and Conor Hand have both been named in the Roscommon Herald Team of the week as the pair impressed on Sunday last
After another exciting weekend of action, 12 became six as the finalists for the Senior, Intermediate and Junior A championships were revealed.
Many included in the Roscommon Herald Team of the Week saved their best outing for their sides’ biggest games of the year so far.
Here is who stood out most on what was the biggest weekend of the club calendar so far.
This was a strong week for goalkeepers with St. Aidan’s’ Nigel Kelly and Tulsk’s Sean Martin both firmly in the mix. However, Paul Whelan gets the nod on this occasion. Amidst all the dramatic moments on Saturday last, Whelan’s save from Jack Moran approaching injury time during the regulation hour was absolutely vital. He cemented his spot in the team with his stop to deny Daire Cregg’s piledriver at the end of extra time.
In a youthful St. Aidan’s side, Kelly provides valuable experience and he showed it on Sunday last. The tenacious corner back kept Cian Fallon McGowan, who kicked five points from play against Western Gaels last time out scoreless, while he also did well on Cathal Shine, even though conceding a late penalty to the former inter county forward was the only slight blight on a day he did so much right.
Daly kicked 0-3, including a rousing two-pointer against Boyle in the sides’ epic semi final showdown. His ability to ghost into shooting range from deep and his composure with and without possession makes him an incredible asset. As per usual he was in the right place at the right time to gather possession near his goal line after the ricochet off Oisín Cregg following Paul Whelan’s save from sub Jack Moran.
We have had to take a liberty here and move Flanagan back from wing back to the corner. But it is a decision worth making as although he missed two relatively straightforward shots on goal, Flanagan was a bundle of energy over the hour. He carried possession with intent throughout the contest as he pushed St. Michael’s back while imposing his will on last Sunday’s intermediate semi final.
Surprisingly Scott hasn’t been named in the Roscommon Herald Team of the Week this year until now. He forms an important part of the Tulsk half back line, arguably the most impressive line that any team possesses in the intermediate championship. Dylan Gaughan and Evan Flynn impressed once more but Flynn seemed to be the Tulsk player who came up with a crucial break or a driving run most frequently.
Even though Strokestown were defeated by 17 points, it says much about Neary’s display that he was still one of the best performers on the field last Sunday. His terrific two-pointer following a trademark burst from deep typified his all action display. The inter county player will feel he should have slotted a goal in the game’s dying embers but overall there was little more Neary could do to help stem an irrepressible St. Brigid’s tide.
Cregg was everywhere on Saturday last as he kicked 1-2 with a highly impressive left footed finish for the goal. His link up play with his brother Daire was a notable feature of the game, which was exemplified in the lead up to his major. He won turnovers, was razor sharp in possession and kicked inspirational scores including the levelling point before the dramatic two-pointers at the end of normal time.
So many of the defining moments in the epic contest between Pádraig Pearses and Boyle revolved around Enda Smith. That is a testament to a trademark tireless display from the Boyle midfielder, who kicked six points from player, including an inspirational two-pointer. Smith’s quality was typified by a tremendous score in the 49th minute as he beat three Pearses defenders before slotting over off his left. He left every ounce of himself in the Hyde.
After roughly 40 minutes of last Saturday’s thriller, Kenny likely wouldn’t have been listed here. However, he really ramped up his performance from there on as he inserted himself into the contest. His inspirational two-pointer was worth the admission fee alone. It was the moment of the championship so far. Meanwhile, he continued in the same vein, setting up Jack Tumulty for a goal just a minute into extra time.
For the third time in this year’s campaign and in fact for the third time in a row Thomas O’Rourke has been selected. He added another 1-4 to his overall tally on Saturday evening in Lisnamult as his powerful run from deep, which is arguably his strongest asset, for this goal was perfectly timed. Even though Mark Miley denied him initially, he duly dispatched the rebound. Will have a huge say in the outcome of his side’s county final.
The St. Brigid’s centre forward has stepped up a level since knockout football rolled around. Hand was a nuisance to the Strokestown defence throughout as even when the St. Brigid’s attack wasn’t clicking in the opening half, his driving runs were still a noticeable feature. He took his four points from play with ease while his presence was felt in much of his side’s final tally of 3-22.
What a year the Roscommon U-20 footballer is enjoying. After securing a Connacht U-20 medal after he guided St. Nathy’s to a Connacht Senior B title and an All Ireland final berth, he has continued to lead the way with Ballinameen. On Saturday last, he pulled the strings as aside from his 0-11 haul, which included three two-pointers, his turnover for Adam Dwyer’s 17th minute goal typified his impressive all round display.
O’Carroll continues to shine as even though Timmy Gibbons gave as good as he got on Sunday last, the St. Brigid’s corner forward, aided by a bountiful supply of ball down the stretch still managed to display his quality for all to see. His finish for his side’s third goal was a case in point while he kicked some fine scores off both feet to continue his impressive form.
If Éire Óg are to reach the Promised Land of senior football than Conor Cox will likely be their messiah on county final day. There no getting away from the class of Conor Cox on Sunday last as Éire Óg put St. Michael’s to the sword. Another lucrative haul for Éire Óg’s ace attacker included five two-pointers, including two sumptuous efforts from play, in a 13-point haul.
There were strong contenders including super subs Adam McGreal and Cian Duggan who both had claims for inclusion. But it is hard to overlook a player who scored a hat trick in a county semi final. Dwyer filled his boots with 3-3, with all bar a point coming from play. He added a two-pointer to his trifecta of majors as he wreaked havoc particularly when Ballinameen turned the screw in the second half.
