St. Brigid’s prosperity is Roscommon’s loss

There was quite a song and dance about how this year’s football All-Stars was the most diverse selection in recent history, containing eight counties and 11 first-time winners.

There was obvious disappointment in Roscommon when Diarmuid Murtagh or Darragh Heneghan weren’t selected, which, in reality, wasn’t a huge surprise given the way the Connacht champions were dismantled by Monaghan in Clones.

But the surprise inclusion of Jarly Óg Burns merely turned disappointment into frustration, meaning that Roscommon’s first Connacht title in the Hyde in 25 years was the only provincial success not recognised in this year’s All-Star selection.

The exclusion of Murtagh and Heneghan merely hammers home the reality that while provincial titles will never run out of vogue in a county like Roscommon that hasn’t won a senior football championship game in Croke Park since 1980, they don’t really matter a whole pile in the greater scheme of things.

We’ll dance, we’ll celebrate, and we’ll welcome the world to “midtown Roscommon” when the Nestor Cup takes up residency for the year. But life goes on, and so does the race for the Sam Maguire Cup.

That Roscommon managed to conquer Connacht, beating Mayo and Galway along the way, without the bulk of the personnel that came within a kick of the ball of becoming All-Ireland club champions last January was a miracle in itself, and a testament to Mark Dowd and the coaching expertise he surrounded him with during his first year at the helm.

But if Roscommon are to realistically break down the door and perform where it matters most — in Croke Park at the business end of the championship — they need their players from the leading club in the county firing on all cylinders in Primrose and Blue jerseys.

As St. Brigid’s embark on another provincial campaign — one that could potentially see the Shane McGettigan Cup retained — next Saturday when they welcome Sligo champions, St. Mary’s, to King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park (throw-in at 1.30 p.m.), that’s far from certain.

Conor Carroll was the only regular from Brigid’s in the Rossies’ starting 15 last year. Given the high levels of consistency players like Brian Stack, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Conor Hand, Shane Cunnane and Ben O’Carroll have demonstrated in the club championship at local, provincial and national levels, it’s hard to imagine a Roscommon team reaching their full potential without them.

This year’s Connacht club campaign already sees St. Brigid’s installed as favourites to stitch back-to-back titles together for the first time since 2012.

Despite the bookies’ odds, it’s still a huge ask with potential trips to Galway and Mayo lurking, assuming they negotiate the challenge of St. Mary’s next weekend.

The Sligo champions come into the game on the back of a 1-12 to 1-10 victory against Shamrock Gaels, which yielded a first county crown since 2015 in a year when the Sligo Town-based club has been celebrating its 50th anniversary.

They have players that will keep Damien Mulligan and his management team’s thoughts occupied this week. Kyle Cawley, Nathan Rooney, and Eli Rooney make up a potent full-forward line, while Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch and David McGovern are solid midfield performers.

There are also plenty of Roscommon connections on the panel. Wing-back Patrick Brady is a cousin of Elphin and Roscommon goalkeeper Aaron Brady. Half-forward Fin Young is a grandson of former Boyle and Roscommon manager, Seán Young, while Niall McDermott is a nephew of well-known Boyle auctioneer, Mike ‘Junior’ Smith.

Ultimately, however, it will be a seismic shock if St. Brigid’s don’t prevail to set up a potential showdown away to Salthill/Knocknacarra, presuming they overcome Ballinamore Seán O’Heslins next weekend, in a provincial semi-final.

With Eddie Nolan and Paul McGrath recovering from long-term injuries and returning to the fold in recent weeks, Brigid’s strength-in-depth is enabling the reigning champions to finish games with a flourish.

Over the years, Brigid’s have proven that they don’t do complacency. As always, the players will remain grounded and their greater quality should keep them very much in the provincial championship picture.

Depending on how that pans out, it could spell bad news for Roscommon’s prospects in 2027.