U-20 footballers can conquer Kingdom - Willie Hegarty

The U-20 footballers from Roscommon, Kerry, Tyrone and Kildare would play any time or day of the week in what is a huge game for them but, in my opinion, no way should an All-Ireland semi-final be played on a Wednesday evening — it devalues the competition.

A game of this magnitude should be given a Saturday or Sunday slot.

But this is the way of the modern GAA world where there’s hardly room to breathe, and so supporters from Roscommon and Kerry will have to set off early for Thurles on Wednesday. If players on the team have young brothers or sisters travelling to support them, it will be past midnight when they get home.

It has been a brilliant championship in all four provinces. There have been outstanding provincial finals. But this is the business end of the competition and prime time slots are needed — not a Wednesday evening in Thurles or Kingspan Breffni.

Expectations are that the last four clash between Roscommon and Kerry will follow a similar pattern with a cracking contest on the menu. After three wins on the bounce against Leitrim, Galway and Mayo, Roscommon have transformed their aspirations from pretenders of the crown to outright Connacht champions.

A stuttering start seemed to have derailed their hopes. They have taken plenty of knocks, recovering from deficits against Sligo, Galway and Mayo, but, crucially, they are still standing.

Cian Smith’s side have developed an unbreakable spirit and seem to relish a battle when the odds are stacked against them. As the bar rises, however, there will come a time when they may not be able to pull themselves out of a blazing fire.

In that regard, Kerry will ask serious questions after winning a fifth successive Munster championship. But the Kingdom haven’t been All-Ireland champions since 2008. They have only reached one final over the past 18 years, losing to Tyrone in 2024.

While the Munster kingpins must be respected, Roscommon have nothing to fear. They will travel to Thurles with a genuine belief of claiming another famous scalp.

In a nutshell, if Roscommon can beat a very talented Mayo side after an epic Connacht final, they can beat the Munster champions.

Like the Primrose and Blue, Tomás Ó Sé’s Kerry can also score goals and posted three in their provincial decider against Cork. Captain Paddy Lane rattled 2-4 against the Rebels and senior player Tomás Kennedy (remember him from Killarney) hit 0-3, while Killian Dennehy is a free spirit in the half-forward line.

One point of note — during a 25-minute spell, Kerry outscored Cork by 3-10 to 0-4, which underlines their ruthless nature.

If Roscommon can prevent Kerry from building up an early lead and remain in the ball game entering the closing quarter, another incredible evening is on the cards, irrespective of what time we get home at.

Verdict: Roscommon

Football format favouring home comforts

It will be very interesting at the end of the All-Ireland football championship to see how many home wins there were during the 20 games under the new format.

One feature of this season’s All-Ireland Series is the eight provincial finalists having a home game in the first round.

After that when the first-round winners and losers are split, the first team out in the draw will have home advantage, which may prove crucial in the heat of battle.

Could some counties hit the jackpot, securing three home games after each draw. Home comforts would be particularly important for the first-round winners, who will need only one more victory to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

This week, Roscommon are turning their attention to Tyrone. While playing in King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park won’t win the match, it will be much better than heading to Omagh.

If the Primrose and Blue succeed, they have a 50-50 chance of getting more home comforts and a shot at reaching the last eight. So, unlike the last few seasons where counties had games at home and away alongside a match at a neutral venue, it will be interesting to see who “homes” in on the big prize.

With no rewards for winning a provincial final, are the likes of Donegal, Tyrone or Meath in a better place heading into the new format? We’re about to find out.

Tuesday Teaser

With it being Connacht SFC final weekend, I tested my readers’ knowledge on the provincial scene.

When was the last time Leitrim won a home game in the Connacht SFC in Carrick-on-Shannon? It was May 2005.

QPR, Frenchpark, was first to lift the Nestor Cup, with John Croghan, Bundoran; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; John Wynne, Kilteevan; Pat, Sligo; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham also knowing their sport.

This week’s Teaser: Who was the first team to win the National League and All-Ireland Championship in the same year?

Answers by email to
willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from London.

Weekend watch

Star pupil: Darragh Heneghan — the Michael Glaveys magician cast his spell, leaving Galway’s defence in a daze and scoring 2-2 with a magical performance.

Crucial win for: Arsenal as the Gunners close in on the Premier league title with a late win over West Ham.

Must do better: Galway will be disappointed not to have closed out Sunday’s epic Connacht SFC — they were six up with eight to play.

Spot of bother: Waterford’s Munster SHC hopes are hanging by a rusty nail after losing to Cork.

Weekend highlight: The 25-year hoodoo is no more as the Roscommon senior footballers won a home Connacht SFC final for the first time since 2001, sparking off incredible celebrations.

What a cracker: With everything on the line, expect a rip-roaring Munster SHC cracker between Tipperary and Clare in FBD Semple Stadium.

Hegarty’s motivational quote

“Not the one who starts the fastest achieves the greatest goals, but the one who walks his path, with perseverance, clarity, and daily dedication — becoming a little better each day.”

Did you know?

Strokestown defender Conor Tighe is the only player to have played in all of the county minor footballers’ ten provincial matches, which they’ve won, over the last two seasons.

Finally for this week

It’s not a dream, it’s reality as Sunday, May 10th, 2026, will go down in history as the day Roscommon completed a historic treble of Connacht U-17, U-20 and senior football titles in the same season for the first time in the county’s history.