Roscommon Herald Team of the Week returns following action packed weekend
Jack Nevin impressed once more as Pádraig Pearses produced a statement win over Boyle.
After an action packed second round of the Hodson Bay Group Senior Football Championship and McNulty Furniture Intermediate Football Championship, there were plenty of tough decisions to be made in the second instalment of the Roscommon Herald Team of the Week.
Overall, 12 clubs are represented with competition particularly strong in midfield and defence. Here we take you through the players that stood out most across the 12 games.
There was strong competition for the goalkeeping spot with Pádraig Pearses’ Paul Whelan and Conor Carroll of St. Brigid’s in the mix. However, Curley gets the nod as he arrowed over 0-5, including a pair of vital two-point frees. He gave his midfield high-quality kickouts to attack while he was also excellent in the shot stopping department, making some high quality saves to give Strokestown the foundation to secure their second successive championship win.
Although St. Brigid’s cruised to a routine 10-point win over Western Gaels, their attack did stutter at times. However, St. Brigid’s showed why they are such an all round impressive team as they held Western Gaels to just seven scores throughout the contest. Rúairí Smith also excelled while Brian Stack showed his class with so much of Brigid’s positive play going through him. However, Trundle was the pick of the bunch in an impressive all round showing.
Kilmore’s William O’Flynn just misses out but after a breakout year at inter county level, Caelim Keogh was once more at his best as Pádraig Pearses sent out a statement of intent with an emphatic triumph over Boyle. Keogh was the dominant figure in a watertight defence that conceded just four scores from play until Boyle took the ugly look off the scoreboard with a late Donie Smith two-pointer and Jack Moran’s goal. He even popped up with two points in a classy display.
To a man, Kilmore were superb on Saturday last as they produced the shock of the championship in defeating Fuerty. Gary Connellan typified everything good about Kilmore as he shot 0-5 in the opening half as the second of his two-pointers was arguably the score of the game. In the second half he won crucial turnovers including one that led to a Caelan Bracken score while he won important frees to relieve the pressure on his side. A tremendous display.
Jack Nevin has stamped his authority on the Pádraig Pearses team in this year’s campaign as he has made the right wing back spot his own. He gave a perfect demonstration as to the importance of being able to use either foot as he produced a sumptuous dummy solo on his right before burying a left footed shot past Boyle goalkeeper Sean Garavan. Nevin’s industry has been a key component in Pearses guaranteeing themselves top spot in the group as he once more provided an X Factor on Friday last.
Although he lined out at midfield, we made an exception here as Lambe inspired Roscommon Gaels to a sensational comeback win that ensured the Town side would not be entangled in a relegation battle later in the year. He has carried his inter county form into the club scene and was one of the few shining lights in the Gaels’ comprehensive opening round defeat. Here, he won kickouts, procured turnovers and kicked the insurance score after a 70 metre dash up field that sealed a massive win.
The Tulsk wing back was the one player who carried a consistent threat over the course of the hour against St. Barry’s on Friday evening. Not everything came off for Gaughan, but his marauding runs continued to prove troublesome for St. Barry’s, even in an opening half where Tulsk failed to fire. He sold a gorgeous dummy on Trevor Murtagh for an opening half score, contested kickouts, won breaks and produced a classy finish for a goal that took his tally to 1-2 on the evening.
After returning from Canada last year, following eight years away, Corcoran has gradually built up his performance level and now looks at his very best. Corcoran was a menace on both sets of kickouts as he didn’t allow Michael Glaveys build a consistent platform despite Darragh and Niall Heneghan showing well in the engine room. This was an all action display as Corcoran was instrumental in his side making it two wins from two.
Declan Kennedy and Nikita Berzins helped Shannon Gaels respond to their opening round defeat to Creggs as they swatted aside the challenge of Pádraig Pearses B. However, Molloy starred as the Shannon Gaels midfielder produced an energetic display from midfield, devouring the Pádraig Pearses kickout to lay the platform for his side’s potent attacking display. He was a willing runner off the shoulder for the entire game, resulting in his personal tally of 1-2.
Ciarán Lawless produced numerous key plays that helped Oran secure a notable win against St. Faithleach’s. His strip tackle on Diarmuid Murtagh inside the opening three minutes was a sign of things to come while after Oran recycled possession following that turnover, he slotted a delightful two-pointer. Lawless was extremely influential in midfield while he kicked a gem of a score to start the second half and won a crucial converted free after 57 minutes to help Oran prevail.
After some uncharacteristic misses in his side’s opening round win over Pádraig Pearses B, Fiachra Henry was back to his best, especially in front of goal. Henry started at centre back but moved up the pitch, as he finished with 1-7, 1-3 of which came from play as he was the driving force behind his side’s one point win over Creggs. His marauding runs from deep, particularly in the opening half were vital to his side’s cause while his accuracy was unerring as he buried the crucial goal with seven minutes remaining.
Keenan plundered 2-9 past St. Brigid’s B as he helped St. Dominic’s come from two points down at half time to secure a resounding win. His most important score was his two-point free into the wind when St. Brigid’s were in the ascendancy early in the game, though Keenan’s two goals in the third quarter killed off the challenge of the visitors. He was influential from general play and popped up with a couple of key kickout wins. His cousin Daniel Keenan, lining out for St. Brigid’s, was unlucky not to be included, as he kicked 1-10, which included five two-pointers, four from frees.
Gillooly keeps Ben O’Carroll out of the team, which is an indicator of how well he performed. The Roscommon Gaels attacker is well used to troubling the scoreboard operators so his 1-4 against Clann na nGael was nothing new for the quality operator. But this was an all round display from Gillooly as he completed the “tricolour” of green, white and orange flags in this game. It’s been a while however since he was as sharp and as involved in open play, both in the breaking ball contest and in general support work.
After being forced to live off scraps against Fuerty, Cox feasted on the St. Croan’s defence as Éire Óg rebounded from their opening round defeat in style. Cox was back to his best as he kicked 0-11, which included three two-pointers, two of which came from play. For much of this game, everyone else was just living in Conor Cox’s world. The Roscommon forward was the conductor of his side’s orchestra and after only registering two points against Fuerty, he was back doing what he does best, tormenting opposition defences.
His brother Dara is extremely unfortunate to miss out after an excellent display from wing back in a week when the competition for places in the back division, particularly in the half back line was at an all time high. However, John Curran’s performance was impossible to ignore as he bagged 1-5 with the U-20 inter county footballers showing remarkable composure for his major. He slotted over a string of delightful scores with 1-3 of his tally coming from play.
