Can U-17 footballers repeat the trick?
Alan Conroy scores Roscommon's all-important goal during his side's victory against Galway during the Connacht MFC round robin campaign last month. The sides meet again in Tuam Stadium this evening. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell.
Can the Roscommon U-17 footballers beat Galway for a second time in this season’s Connacht championship? For the winners this (Friday) evening, the reward is a meeting against Mayo in the final.
Four weeks ago, James Duignan’s troops defeated Galway by 1-10 to 1-7 in Dr. Hyde Park. Roscommon will fancy their chances of repeating the trick, but Galway will feel that they can turn the tables on the Primrose and Blue, especially after a convincing win over Leitrim last Friday evening, which cemented their semi-final berth.
While Leitrim had nothing to play for, Galway racked up 2-17, which is a very impressive tally. That statement of intent should send plenty of warning signs to Roscommon that Galway are finding their groove. With the game in Tuam Stadium, the Tribesmen will feel that they can get revenge.
If Roscommon have a full deck to choose from and everyone plays to form, they have a serious chance. Can the defence hold firm as Galway’s eye is in up front?
It will be important that the visitors’ security system works at the back. If it does, then there is no doubt that Seán McDonnell, Dara Curran, Shay McGuiness, Dean Casey and Stephen Tighe have the tools to nail down enough scores to win the game.
Galway will relish being second favourites in a two-horse race and will try to use to put out the narrative that all the pressure is on Roscommon.
There is another scoop of ice-cream for the winner as they will enter the All-Ireland quarter-final stage after having a shot at provincial glory.
Roscommon know that if they can succeed they will have the Connacht final at home in Dr. Hyde Park against Mayo. Deep down that is another motivating factor for these young Rossies who are facing a tough semi-final.
It’s hard to believe that Leeds United have never been promoted to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, suffering heartbreak on five previous occasions.
In 1987, they lost the play-off final 2-1 to Charlton. In 2006, they suffered a 3-0 loss to Watford. Two years later, they lost a League One decider to Doncaster Rovers, 1-0, compounding their miserable record.
Since then the Elland Road club has lost out in two leg semi-final games, losing 2-1 to Millwall in 2009. Then, in 2019, the Whites lost out 4-3 to Frank Lampard’s Derby County who produced an amazing comeback to leave Leeds United on the play-off scrapheap once more.
Finishing third is the worst place possible in the Championship. Having to watch Leicester City and Ipswich celebrate automatic promotion will have left a sour taste in Danial Farke’s mouth.
The proud Yorkshire club went some way to putting that pain to one side as they demolished Norwich in Elland Road last night following Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate at Carrow Road?
No doubt, the club’s huge Irish fan base, which has a healthy County Roscommon contingent, made the journey to Elland Road last night, roaring them to the final at Wembley.
As the votes piled in, I felt like the Eurovision voting system, trying to sort out my Teaser answers.
Can you name the only athlete to win gold medals in Summer and Winter Olympics in two different sports?
It was Eddie Eagan (USA) who won boxing in 1920 and bobsleigh in 1932.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to receive his gold medal, with Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; John Croghan, Bundoran; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo; Paddy Boland; Youghal, Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Marcus Ward, Lytham; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also ending up on the podium.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the last Leitrim footballer to score a goal in a Railway Cup final won by Connacht?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086-8356227. This week’s teaser comes from Dublin.
Star pupil: Dylan Dennehy who scored a first-half penalty to win a historic SFAI National Cup for the St. Joseph’s U-16 team as the Monksland-based club beat Leeside United from Cork Crucial win for: Cork’s senior hurlers who gave themselves a Munster SHC lifeline with a thrilling victory over Limerick.
Much do better: Connacht will be disappointed by their heavy URC defeat to Munster.
Spot of bother: Armagh losing a fourth consecutive championship penalty shootout.
Weekend highlight: The Carlow hurlers and London footballers gave a huge lift to all underdogs after their fabulous performances in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and Tailteann Cup respectively.
What a cracker: The clash of Clare and Waterford in the Munster SHC doesn’t need any fancy ribbon to decorate this box of tricks waiting to be unwrapped at Cusack Park, Ennis.
“Sometimes you have to eat your words, chew your ego, swallow your pride and accept your mistakes. It’s not giving up. It’s called growing up.”
That Kildare v Waterford, Sligo v Wexford, Carlow v Fermanagh and Down v Limerick will meet in the All-Ireland SFC for the first time.
There was a very disappointing crowd of 1,521 in attendance at last Saturday’s All-Ireland U-20 football semi-final between Roscommon and Tyrone at Kingspan Breffni.
It’s time to smell the coffee — there are too many games on the menu and lots of supporters are not biting.
Last Saturday alone saw 24 championship games across the various GAA codes — madness.
