Roscommon Gaels and Pádraig Pearses strongly represented in the Roscommon Herald SFC Team of the Week
Ruadhrí Fallon, St. Brigid's and Paul Carey, Pádraig Pearses both feature in the Roscommon Herald Team of the Week. Picture: INPHO/Tom Maher
After one of the most memorable weekends of knockout action in recent memory, Pádraig Pearses have three selections and Roscommon’s newest All-Star nominee feature in this week’s SFC Team of the Week. We have selected the 15 players who caught the eye in this year’s quarter-finals.
Whelan was a steady operator between the nets for Pearses when it was most required. He was consistent with his kickouts for 80 minutes on Sunday, connecting well with Conor Harley and Conor Ryan who had strong performances in the middle of the field. With the help of his defence, Whelan also kept a crucial clean sheet against last year’s All-Ireland runners-up.
The Boyle defender was his side’s best player in a disappointing three point loss to Roscommon Gaels. McKenna was the main driving force for Boyle in defence, producing a quality performance that lacked elsewhere for the beaten finalists from 2022 and 2023.
The Glaveys fullback weathered the storm of Oran’s potent attack in the first half to produce a determined performance on Saturday. O’Malley drove on in the second half, making a heroic block and several other big plays as the Ballinlough club find themselves in their first senior semi-final since 1996.
The U20 Connacht championship winner yet again stood up for Roscommon Gaels, giving a trademark performance in which he gave no backward step in the tackle, on the ball or in the air. The ferociously competitive Gaels player will relish bringing those traits to Dr. Hyde Park in two weeks’ time against Glaveys.
Like Lambe, Kenny was also ‘Player of the Match’ in his side’s victory this week. His classy equalising point in the game’s dying moments has garnered nearly seventy-thousand views on social media. He produced a performance full of energy and attacking intent, tagging on another stunning strike in extra time to complete the upset.
The Brigid’s defender had the next best performance in that famous quarter-final, producing a powerful showing in the halfback line. Fatigue may have caught up with Brigid’s at the weekend following their extended season, but Fallon showed no sign of slowing down across the 80 minutes.
Dunne is the Ballyleague’s side first representative this week. He kicked an important score in his side’s narrow one point defeat of Clann, and got on the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, as Fáithleach’s completed the second upset of the weekend on Saturday.
Lawless was one of the few Oran players who produced a solid performance in both halves of their last minute defeat to Glaveys. He showed leadership to end Oran’s 22-minute scoring drought as he kicked two points from midfield as Oran’s quarter-final hoodoo caught them again.
The second player from Lisnamult to feature, Purcell’s ability to strike a ball accurately from long range and his all round general play ensures his spot in midfield on this team. Purcell kicked three points on Sunday, accounting for a third of his side’s overall points tally.
Pearses’ midfielder Conor Ryan is unlucky to miss out.
Conlon was a crucial cog in the Gaels’ attacking system the broke down Boyle’s defence. He was alert to Richard Hughes’ quick free, finishing a hard run to the goal with a calm finish to the net, and tagged on an additional point from play.
Gunn’s work rate in the middle third fired Fáithleach’s into a semi-final berth against Pádraig Pearses in two weeks’ time. He won a lot of ball in the middle of the park, and kicked a point in an important period when Fáithleach’s were hunting down the lead.
The Clann wing forward’s loss to injury was sorely felt for Clann when he was forced off in extra time. He contributed two points from play in the fast-paced and open encounter between Clann and Fáithleach’s, and had he remained on the pitch for extra time, the result may have favoured Clann.
Glaveys’ full forward is a throwback to a previous era in his position. He produced the inspiration his side needed, plucking a high ball from the sky, shrugging off his marker and slamming low to the net, kicking four points along with his goal. It’s an effective tactic in tight games and could yet reap bigger rewards for Glaveys.
A week on from his first All-Star nomination, Murtagh makes the equally prestigious Team of the Week. His ability to win primary possession along with his remarkable fitness levels meant Clann were unable to nullify him as he kicked some high quality scores in his final tally of 1-7.
Last but not least for this week is Pearses’ sharpshooter Paul Carey. He has consistently been on of the best forwards in the Roscommon club championships, and showed that to a national audience as he scooped up TG4’s ‘Laoch na hImeartha’ in his five point performance against Brigid’s.
