What’s rare is wonderful as ladies' footballers go for glory

July — often a wasteland from a reporter’s perspective, given the way the current intercounty season is structured.

But Roscommon LGFA teams have spectacularly filled the gaping void at the height of summer, flourishing beyond everyone’s expectations to carve out their own slice of history.

The magical rollercoaster ride enjoyed by the U-16 and minor girls’ teams in recent weeks will reach a thrilling climax next Sunday — a crescendo beyond our wildest dreams — when the county intermediate class of 2026 become the first ladies’ football team from the county to play in Croke Park in 25 years.

Twenty-five years ago, a team — managed by Galway native PJ Rabbitte — swept all before them to claim league, provincial and All-Ireland honours, saving their best performance of the season for the day that mattered most when they dismantled Kildare by 1-17 to 0-8 in the All-Ireland junior final.

Although an All-Ireland intermediate title under the management of Martin McDermott followed in 2005, it came at a time when the second-tier competition was only being resurrected before eventually becoming part of LGFA’s carnival at GAA headquarters.

It’s hard to believe that no other Roscommon ladies’ football team have graced the hallowed turf of Croker since then.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge, on and off the field, over the course of a quarter of a century. In that regard, at moments like this, you think of the late Marie McAleer — one of the founding members of the LGFA who threw her heart and soul into the game, both locally and nationally.

You think of the late Michael Cunningham, a proud Ballaghaderreen man who was chairperson of the board when Roscommon rocked up to Croke Park and performed heroically at the turn of the Millennium.

You think of Martina Carroll, who was secretary/selector 25 years ago and has lived for the day when she would see her beloved Roscommon back in Croke Park on ladies’ football’s biggest day.

You think of the late Mick McCormack, who loved nothing better than capturing the good and the bad days for ladies’ teams on his camera in his own distinct way.

You think of Mary Beades and Regina Carley Mullaney — members of the 2001 team — and the personal tragedies they’ve suffered in recent months.

You think of a generation of Roscommon players like Joanne Cregg, Natalie McHugh, Siobhan Tully and Sinead Kenny who never made a championship final. 

And yet the mind is drawn to players like Laura Fleming, Jenny Higgins and captain Helena Cummins who have rode out the storm and will now get their chance to set the record straight and scorch their names into Roscommon sporting folklore.

Fermanagh will be a tough nut to crack, and in forward Eimear Smyth they have the standout player in this year’s championship.

But that’s a raging fire that Roscommon will be only too willing to, at least, partly extinguish because, quite simply, Smyth is that good.

Yet, any team that have beaten Down, Leitrim and Westmeath after suffering the humiliation of a 22-point defeat in the Connacht final deserves huge credit for turning things around.

Roscommon have the bulk of their key players in situ, and with Jenny Higgins, Aisling Hanly and Ria Lennon ready to make an impact if called on, they have rarely been in a better place.

They also have a manager in Finbar Egan whose managerial experience and winning record is a massive plus in Roscommon’s corner.

But Roscommon must perform. History shows us that these days don’t come around too often for ladies’ football teams from the county. Fermanagh have the experience from recent visits to Croke Park in their locker, but they haven’t consistently played at the level that Roscommon have operated at in recent years.

What’s rare is indeed wonderful. More importantly, the fairytale ending is within reach.

Verdict: Roscommon