Golden period for local club football
Roscommon Gaels U-20 football captain, Rory Carthy, receives the cup from Roscommon GAA Secretary Brian Mullin following his side's Division One championship success against Michael Glaveys/Éire Óg in Rockfield. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Right now, Roscommon club football is going through a rich vein of form after the county secured its third provincial senior and intermediate club championship double over the past five years last weekend.
On Sunday, St. Brigid’s did the business against Maigh Cuilinn after Strokestown kept their side of the bargain against Kilmeena a week earlier.
It wasn’t always that way, but the current dominance can be traced back to the middle part of the last decade when St. Brigid’s, Fuerty and St. Croan’s reached All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior club finals. The Kiltoom men brought home the bacon, in this case the Andy Merrigan Cup, in 2013. Fuerty and St. Croan’s came up short, but their presence on the national stage gave club football in the county a massive lift.
In 2017/2018, Michael Glaveys went on an incredible run, winning Roscommon and Connacht intermediate titles. They ended up in Croke Park after beating Mattie Forde’s club Kilanerin of Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final. But Seán Cavanagh’s Moy from Tyrone ended the Glaveys dream.
Since the turn of this decade, Roscommon clubs have been rampant on the provincial scene. Pádarig Pearses and St. Faithleach’s did the double in 2021, St. Brigid’s and Castlerea St. Kevin’s repeated the trick in 2023, with Jerome Stack’s side reaching Croke Park where a battle with Glen was going to plan for 55 minutes until disaster struck, leaving the Green and Red heartbroken.
A few weeks earlier, Castlerea saw their dream ended by the narrowest of margins against Cill na Martha who were managed by former Roscommon manager, John Evans.
In 2022, St. Dominic’s lost a Connacht IFC final to an excellent Dunmore side.
Last season, Elphin were pipped at the post by a Crossmolina team that subsequently went all the way, winning the All-Ireland IFC title. Pádraig Pearses blew a five-point lead against Coolera/Strandhill in the Connacht Club SFC final, eventually losing after extra time.
St. Croan’s were so close a few weeks ago to having the opportunity of a historic provincial treble for Roscommon clubs.
County champions have been in four of the last five Connacht senior finals, winning three of them. They have competed in five successive intermediate provincial finals, winning three.
Over the past two weeks, Strokestown and St. Brigid’s sent everyone heading into the Christmas period on a high and ready to start the New Year with a bang.
One can expect the Strokestown management to make the journey to Clones on Sunday for the Ulster IFC final between Cuchulainn (Cavan) and Glenullin, (Derry).
Both are first-time provincial finalists but the Derry boys have loads of experience after winning three of the last four Derry intermediate championships.
On the first two occasions in 2022 and 2023, they weren’t allowed to graduate to senior because of their league position. This time around, however, Glenullin will play top-flight championship football in the Oak Leaf County in 2026, and could do so as Ulster intermediate champions.
If they are to achieve provincial success, a mighty battle awaits against the Cavan holders.
Both teams won their respective semi-finals by a point. Glenullin edged out Carrickmacross, 1-17 to 2-13 after extra time, while Cuchulainn beat Tyrone winners, Clonoe, by 2-11 to 1-13. Consequently, Strokestown know that their opponents on the first weekend in January will provide a serious test.
Previous Derry winners Steelstown and Ballinaderry have won two of the past four Ulster titles with Cuchulainn the third Cavan club in succession to reach the Ulster IFC, underlining both clubs' ability to dine at the top table of Ulster club football.
Strokestown will travel north next weekend in the knowledge that they have already booked their ticket to the All-Ireland semi-final. On the return journey home, they will know their opponents.
These are exciting times for the Black and Amber, with a golden chance to play an All-Ireland club football final in Croke Park just 60 minutes away.
Over the past few weeks, rugby and soccer fans have been ripped off by the IRFU and airline companies.
Rugby supporters had to fork out well over €100 for the cheapest ticket in the house to see Ireland play South Africa at the Aviva Stadium. One thing is for sure — the value served up on the field did not match the admission cost.
In my view, it was the biggest rip-off of any sporting event on Irish soil this year. I fully appreciate that the rugby world cup champions were in town and the IRFU have to make money from their November Test Series. But all hell would break loose if the GAA increased their All-Ireland ticket prices to around €150. Talk to Joe, sorry Kieran, would be in overdrive.
Then, moments after the Republic of Ireland had drawn the Czech Republic in the World Cup soccer play-off, a return flight to Prague cost €800. Moments before the draw, flights were €88 return on the same dates next March.
Ryanair and Aer Lingus had no problem fleecing Irish supporters who wanted to get to Prague. Right now, you can still get a flight, but it will set you back around €730 return.
Any sporting occasion or concert nowadays results in hotels immediately hiking up their prices. Nobody minds small increases, but when big gigs come to town, outlandish price hikes are wrong.
The government should be able to do more to intervene and help supporters out.
Unfortunately, last week’s teaser didn't have any Black Friday bargains as my readers had to pay full price for their goods.
Can you name the only two players in the history of Irish rugby to score a hat-trick of tries in the first half of a Test match? It was Mack Hansen against Australia a few weeks ago. Before that, it was Eugene Davy against Scotland in 1930.
Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen, was first to reach the checkout. QPR, Frenchpark; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Pat Deane, Williamstown; John Croghan, Bundoran; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also filled their shopping baskets.
This week’s Teaser. Can you name the first county to play 11 games in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in the same season?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from London.
Star pupil: New 007, Conor Hand, kicked seven magnificent points from play for St. Brigid’s during their Connacht club final success.
Crucial win for: Roscommon Gaels’ U-20 footballers who won the Division One championship for the second successive year with a convincing victory over Michael Glaveys/Éire Óg.
Much do better: Éire Óg Inis from Clare were well-beaten in the Munster club SHC final against Ballygunner.
Spot of bother: Welsh rugby is on the floor after their humiliating 73-0 defeat to South Africa.
Weekend highlight: St. Brigid’s and Maigh Cuilinn served up an extraordinary Connacht Club SFC final. The game was laced with outstanding individual performances and a catalogue of brilliant scores.
What a cracker: The Munster club SFC final between St. Finbarr’s and Dingle has the potential to be an early Christmas treat.
“A smart person knows what to say. A wise person knows whether or not to say it.”
Roscommon club football champions — St. Brigid’s, Strokestown and St. Croan’s — went unbeaten in official time during their respective Connacht club championship campaigns.
St. Croan’s lost out after a penalty shootout defeat to Kiltimagh.
After the recent provincial football championship draws, lady luck has smiled on Galway, Monaghan, Derry, Meath and Kildare as they sit on the right side of their respective draws.
Championship Corner: Ballyboden and Finbarr’s to triumph
Once Ballyboden won the Dublin SFC, they became favourites to win Leinster, continuing the stranglehold teams from the capital have on the provincial campaign.
Ballyboden started the famous five-in-a-row in 2019 and could make it a Super Six in Croke Park on Saturday evening.
The last Kildare side to win Leinster was Moorefield in 2017 when they beat St. Loman’s in the decider. They joined Raheens as the only clubs from Kildare that have won the Leinster Club SFC.
Naas have tried really hard to climb the mountain in recent seasons but fell at the final hurdle against Kilmacud Crokes in 2021 and 2023.
Athy burst Naas’ bubble in the 2025 Kildare championship and have taken their outstanding form into the provincial series.
Ballyboden are well served with quality all over the field and that should get them over the line.
For the second time in three years, Dingle will strive to win the club’s maiden Munster Club SFC title. But they will have to beat Cork’s finest if they are to hit the bullseye.
Two years ago, the Kerry champions lost out on penalties to Castlehaven who were subsequently by St. Brigid’s in the All-Ireland club semi-final.
St. Finbarr’s were provincial winners in 2021, beating Austin Stacks by a point to secure their first Munster crown in 35 years.
Both teams have been foot perfect in reaching the final with commanding semi-final wins. This is a tough one to call. One could make a case for either side but my gut feeling is with the Cork champions.
