Hurlers' fate in their own hands
BIG GAME: Adam Donnelly and his team-mates will hope to seal promotion on Saturday when Donegal visit the Hyde. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Only for Adam Donnelly’s injury-time winning goal against Wicklow and three dramatic late points from the sticks of Seán Canning, Cian Murray and Michael Hussey — which salvaged a draw against Tyrone and yielded four extra points on the league table — the Roscommon senior hurlers would only be playing for pride against Donegal on Saturday.
Instead, those late interventions have ensured Roscommon’s promotion fate is in their own hands if they avoid defeat against the Ulster men in King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park.
In all but name, it's a league semi-final with a place in the Division Three League final and a seat at the Division Two table next season. Wicklow, after winning away in Donegal two weeks ago, are expected to seal promotion with a home win over Louth. That leaves Roscommon and Donegal as the game of the weekend with Brian Hanley’s unbeaten Primrose and Blue ready for one final crack at sealing the deal.
Sixteen wides against Wicklow proved Donegal’s Achilles heel as Mickey McCann’s side's unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt. Consequently, they will need to win in Hyde to reach the final.
Gerard Gilmore and John Kealy have sparkled up front for Donegal, who have held the edge over Roscommon in recent league and championship clashes. Of the top three teams vying for promotion, Donegal have the best scoring difference with a plus 61, which means they have a potent attack.
Taking last season's Nickey Rackard Cup into account, Roscommon are unbeaten in their last ten competitive league and championship matches with eight wins and two draws.
Roscommon have developed the knack of staying in matches when under the cosh, coming up with vital scores at crucial moments — a wonderful trait to have.
But conceding 2-22 to bottom-of-the-table Fermanagh raises questions ahead of Saturday’s clash, which is now knockout hurling, bringing extra spice to the occasion.
Roscommon will give it a good rattle, but I expect Donegal to win.
By the time the first Cheltenham winner had passed the winning post, some of my teaser runners and riders were already in the winners' enclosure.
The last man to have refereed both the drawn and replay All-Ireland senior football final was Pat McEnaney of Monaghan, who did the double date of Meath and Mayo in 1996.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to collect his winnings. Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; John Croghan, Bundoran; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Oliver Kelly, Cloontuskert; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Pat Deane, Williamstown; Jerome Kelly, Cloontuskert; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; Paddy Boland, Youghal; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, were also in the hunt for the prize-money.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the last brothers from Leinster who played in an All-Ireland senior hurling and football final with their county?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from London.
Star pupil: Darragh Murray, who scored his first international try on his Six Nations debut for Ireland, and Fiona Tully, who won the All-Ireland Ladies’ 4-Wall Senior Singles Championship.
Crucial win for: Armagh, who gave themselves a Division One lifeline with a dramatic victory over Dublin.
Much to do better: Tyrone will be bitterly disappointed with their Allianz NFL Division Two campaign.
Spot of bother: Longford's slip-up to Leitrim could prove very costly for Michal Solan’s side.
Weekend highlight: One would need a week’s holiday after watching one of the most extraordinary Six Nations Championships — there were more twists and turns than Government ministers flying all over the world for St. Patrick’s Day.
What a cracker: A final day of drama awaits on Sunday in all four divisions of the Allianz NFL at both ends of the tables.
“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know.”
Only two points separate seven of the eight teams in Division Four of the NFL Division heading into the final round.
Best of luck to the Roscommon U-17 footballers who commenced the defence of their provincial title with a tricky trip to Tubbercurry on Friday evening.
