Huge pressure on Clann and Faithleach’s
Paddy Gavin and his Clann na nGael team-mates will be fighting for their championship survival against St. Faithleach's on Friday evening. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Of all the championship games on the menu this weekend, the SFC relegation battle between Clann na nGael and St. Faithleach’s is a huge game for the two clubs involved.
One can imagine the heads of both teams and their managements are fried with fear and anxiety, especially in South Roscommon as demotion for Clann would be a massive pill to swallow.
St. Faithleach's have been here before, suffering the drop in 2019 before bouncing back in 2021.
Two years ago, these sides produced the game of the championship at the quarter-final stage. Last season, both reached the county senior football championship semi-finals, losing to St. Brigid's and Pádraig Pearses.
St. Faithleach's, while possessing a strong senior squad over the past decade, will see a lack of players coming through over the next few years, while some of their most loyal servants are approaching the end of glittering careers.
Both know they messed up, with Clann na nGael's second-half collapse against Roscommon Gaels proving to be their watershed moment.
After beating Castlerea St. Kevin's in the opening round, St. Faithleach's failed in the crucial final-day battle with Elphin and are now left hanging by a thread after losing to Western Gaels in the relegation semi-final.
Respective managers Declan O'Flaherty and Ian Bradley will try to spin the positives, but they know that the pressure is huge. Relegation is a “dirty word” that no club wants on its CV.
On Friday evening, it's back to the scene of the crime that enthralled us in 2024, with Kiltoom hosting this survival scrap. Ironically, both clubs were in a relegation dogfight in 2019, with Clann na nGael, who were senior champions 12 months earlier, beating St. Croan's after a replay.
The Ballintubber men beat St Faithleach's in the ultimate trapdoor battle, which ended a 17-year stint in the senior championship for the Ballyleague-based side.
Relegation day is about the three Ms — mentality, mindset and morale. I’m giving a tentative vote to Clann.
Even before a ball was hit in Doonbeg, my Tuesday Teaser golfers were out on the course.
Can you name the first promoted club to win their opening two games of a Premier League season? It was Bolton in 2001/02.
QPR, Frenchpark, was the first player to open with a birdie, with Fr. John McManus, PP Castlerea; John Croghan, Bundoran; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Jerome Kelly, Cloontuskert; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; Pat, Sligo; Joe Henry, Castleplunkett/Tooreen; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Paul O Grady, Ballaghaderreen; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston; Marcus Ward, St. Lytham, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, making the cut.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League?
Answers by email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from Sligo.
Star pupil: John Price, who hit 2-9 during Padraig Pearses’ thrilling Division One Minor Football Championship success against Roscommon Gaels.
Crucial win for: St. Barry’s who preserved their IFC status with victory over Pádraig Pearses.
Much do better: The Roscommon Gaels minor footballers lost a six-point lead in the closing ten minutes against Padraig Pearses in last Friday evening’s final.
Spot of bother: Sligo Rovers' days in the League of Ireland Premier Division appear to be numbered — they are eight points from safety with six games to play.
Weekend highlight: Shane Lowry “Trump-ing” the field to win the Amgen Irish Open in style at Doonbeg.
What a cracker: Of the 14 championship games on the menu next weekend, the SFC quarter-final meeting of Castlerea St. Kevin’s and Strokestown is new, fresh and exciting.
“The best way to treat an obstacle is to use it as a stepping stone.”
Boyle senior football manager Fergal O’Donnell has managed senior teams in the Roscommon, Longford, Sligo and Galway championships.
Just like any normal family, the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association are in the middle of a row.
The big brothers are trying to be dominant, denying their sisters access to their toys.
I said it from day one — trying to broker peace between three different mindsets would take time, so it’s no great surprise that last week’s stormy events took place.
