Galway senior football semi-finals have local appeal
Cousins Oscar Connolly and Darragh Flanagan supporting the Fuerty intermediate footballers in their county semi-final against Strokestown in Kiltoom. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
One can expect the management teams of Pádraig Pearses and Roscommon Gaels to be taking a day trip in the direction of Tuam next Sunday afternoon as the Galway SFC semi-finals are on the menu.
With the Roscommon champions facing their Galway counterparts in the quarter-final of the Connacht championship, it is an ideal opportunity for Frank Canning and Mark Dowd to run the rule over the four sides left in the pot.
Holders Corofin, who are appearing in their 16th semi-final in 17th years, face Salthill-Knocknacarra who haven’t won the Galway title since 2012. The latter are managed by former Galway captain Finian Hanley.
Last day out, Robert Finnerty came off the bench to guide the Salthill-based side to the last four. It was the first time the talented forward has played since his injury during Galway’s All-Ireland final defeat to Armagh.
The juggernaut that is Corofin has been grinding their way through the championship. They are still the team to beat.
The second semi-final has Tuam Stars, who haven’t come out of Galway as club champions since 1994, facing Moycullen in an intriguing contest. This season, Tuam have former Armagh footballer Jack Grugan on board who has taken up a teaching post in St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam.
Jack brings an exciting attacking dimension to Jarlath’s. He is a younger brother of Rory who, ironically, helped Armagh to victory over Galway in this year’s All-Ireland SFC final.
Former Donegal star Mark McHugh, who was a coach under Davy Burke in the Roscommon set-up in 2023, is now working his magic with Moycullen who have Peter Cooke back in flying form. Work commitments prevented Cooke from playing with Galway in this year’s All-Ireland championship.
With Tuam Stadium a firm favourite with Galway GAA supporters, a huge crowd is expected. There are sure to be a few eagled-eyed personnel from Roscommon among them.
As the new Champions League format dips it toes into the water, the new system is hard to figure out. Instead of eight groups of four, it’s now a 36-team league with all clubs playing eight games.
After the first phase, the top eight sides with the most points on the league table will qualify automatically for the last 16. Teams placed ninth to 24th are scheduled to meet over two legs to fill the remaining eight places and cement their place in the last 16.
The new format will see 144 games being played to get rid of just eight teams, which is utter madness. On the plus side, it is great news for clubs like Aston Villa and Celtic whose supporters are guaranteed four home Champions League games. It will ensure that Villa Park and Parkhead will be bouncing on big match nights.
Over the first two rounds, Virgin Media 2 and RTÉ 2 have shown 28 live games spread over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. From a distance, it seems that the UEFA Champions League is copying the new European Rugby Champions Cup, which is run in a similar format.
It will be interesting to see how it works out. My first impressions are that there are too many games before the knockout stages arrive. On the plus side, they will fill the darker winter evenings in October, November and December.
After the opening two rounds, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City sit in the top eight places. Arsenal are 13th and Celtic, who took a pasting last week in Germany, sitting in 20th spot.
The highlight so far has been Aston Villa beating Bayern Munich at home last Wednesday night. On the same date six years ago, Villa were drawing 3-3 with Preston North End in the Championship.
It proves that a club run properly with a good manager can make massive strides as Villa are now enjoying life with the elite and, in the process, not looking out of place.
Former All-Ireland club winners with St. Brigid’s, Frankie and Garvan Dolan, have guided Abbeylara to the Longford SFC final against 2022 champions Colmcille on Sunday.
Over the past few seasons, Frankie was in charge of Roscommon Gaels who won the O’Rourke Cup Division One League title and reached the senior football championship semi-final last year. He was also a coach/selector for the past two years with the Roscommon U-20 footballers, managed by Noel Dunning, who tasted provincial glory earlier this year.
Frankie previously won a Longford SFC as a player with Ballymahon in 2002. He would join a unique band of men to have won a senior championship as a player and manager in the county.
This season, alongside brother Garvan, they have taken Abbeylara off the floor. Last day out, they beat title holders Killoe by a single point, 0-10 to 0-9, displaying great resilience and discipline to get over the line to leave them 60 minutes from possibly winning the club's first Connolly Cup final since 2006 alongside easing the pain of losing four successive finals between 2015 and 2018.
If they manage to climb the mountain, Abbeylara will have beaten the champions of the past two seasons in the final two games of the championship to claim the biggest prize in Longford club football.
Last week’s Teaser wasn’t as black or white as it seemed.
Can you name the two counties that played in the first ever All-Ireland senior final to be broadcast in colour on RTÉ? It was the 1971 All-Ireland SHC final between Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen, was first to paint the picture, with QPR, Frenchpark; John Croghan, Bundoran; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Brian Stenson, Castlerea; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Pat, Sligo; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Seán Toolan, Heston; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also spotting the difference.
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from London.
Star pupil: Tim Lambe as the Roscommon Gaels defender remained the calmest player in Dr. Hyde Park, kicking two points from play in injury time to send a dramatic senior football semi-final against Michael Glaveys to extra time where the Gaels prevailed after a thriller.
Crucial win for: St. Barry’s who reached the Junior A football final for the first time since 2007 with a superb win over Ballinameen.
Much do better: At this stage, Michael Glaveys will have played the final few moments of Sunday’s senior football semi-final over in their minds a thousand times, realising how close they were to reaching their first SFC final in 28 years.
That pain won’t be going away any time soon.
Spot of bother: St. Faithleach’s forwards only scoring 0-1 in their SFC semi-final defeat to Pádraig Pearses in a game where the Murtagh brothers were held scoreless.
Weekend highlight: On a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, Roscommon Gaels and Michael Glaveys opened up the picnic basket, which was full of delicious treats, and served up an enthralling county senior football semi-final.
What a cracker: Croke Park hosting Leinster and Munster in the URC should ensure a cracking evening of rugby at GAA headquarters next Saturday.
“No one is ahead in life, and no one is behind. Everyone is walking their own journey and will reach their destination in their own time.
That the draws for 2025 provincial senior football and hurling championships will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio One Sport on Saturday, October 12th.
Roscommon will be in Ruislip on the first weekend of April for their Connacht SFC quarter-final clash with London while Galway will be in New York the same weekend.
Belated happy birthday wishes to Roscommon Sports Partnership Board co-ordinator, Noel Feeley, who celebrated a big birthday over the weekend. My sources have reliably informed me that it was a big one — 50 plus a decade’s VAT!
No doubt Daire took Dad out for a spin on the bike after the cake was eaten.
