Kelly hoping to take ‘Road’ to success
Michael Kelly will be patrolling the sideline for his native Four Roads this season. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Former Roscommon hurling star, Michael Kelly, has taken over Four Roads — the club he decorated with outstanding performances — along with joint manager Andy Lawlor.
It is Kelly’s first taste of senior club management, taking over from Galway’s Kerril Wade who led the Black and Amber to last season’s Mickey Cunniffe Cup and their third successive title.
While winning the club championship is always the goal of Roscommon’s hurling kingpins, there is no denying that the Tisrara men have slipped down the rankings in the Connacht Intermediate Club Championship.
For 30 minutes in last year’s Connacht quarter-final, Four Roads gave Tooreen a game until the harsh dismissal of Conor Morris just before half time changed the flow of the game. Tooreen pulled away in the second period but there were some signs that Four Roads had raised their game against the Mayo holders and were closing the gap.
Michael Kelly's first task will be to make sure that Four Roads retain their crown. But he’ll know that St. Dominic’s will be coming for them with a vengeance.
One of the great Roscommon hurlers has done it in the home of hurling in Thurles and on the sacred sod of Croke Park. He will now see life from a different angle on the sideline.
Since Italy joined the Six Nations Championship in 2000, no side has ever won three successive championships. So with the 2025 competition commencing this Friday night, Ireland have their sights fixed on making history.
The Boys in Green have a hat-trick of crowns on the radar, having only lost one game over the past two years in the Six Nations. That was to England 12 months ago in Twickenham as a last second drop goal denied Ireland a first-ever back-to-back Grand Slam.
With Andy Farrell on Lions duty, Simon Easterby has taken over the chains of power for this year’s tournament. With England and France at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland appear to be in pole position to clinch a historic treble.
England’s first two games are against Ireland in Dublin and France in Twickenham. Consequently, after week two, the Six Nations tea leaves will reveal what the future might hold for the rest of the tournament.
With Scotland in the mix and hosting Ireland in Murrayfield, there are lots of twists and turns waiting to unfold in a championship that has four potential winners — Ireland, France, England and Scotland.
I think Ireland will make history.
Last week, I set a revision test for last year’s All-Ireland SFC to see who was paying attention in class.
Can you name the county in last year’s All-Ireland senior football championship who played, and lost to, all four teams that reached the All-Ireland semi-finals? The answer was Derry.
QPR, Frenchpark was first to keep all his notes up to date.
Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; John Croghan, Bundoran; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Pat Deane, Williamstown; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Mick Fetherston, Dublin, Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Seán Toolan, Heston; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, went to achieve excellent results.
This week’s Teaser. Can you name the first Cavan footballer to win a GAA All-Star?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from New York.
There will be some chat when in the Galvin and O’Donnell households when two brothers and their brother-in-law get together during the Galway Club Football Championships in the various grades.
The family affair involves three different clubs — one as manager, coach and selector.
The Galvin brothers of St. Aidan’s sees Noel as the new coach of Caltra who lost last year’s Galway IFC final after a replay to St. Michael’s.
Seán Galvin is a selector with Ballygar who are managed by former St. Dominic’s intermediate team and Roscommon county camogie manager, Darren Owens. Sean’s brother-in-law Johnny Fitzmaurice is also involved with St. Brendan’s.
Meanwhile, Noel and Seán’s brother-in-law, Fergal O’Donnell is the new manager of Mountbellew-Moylough.
The Galvin brothers could meet in next year’s Galway intermediate championship. At least the third Galvin brother, Shay, has remained loyal to the Primrose and Blue!
The good news is that if you haven’t already put in a team for the massive Know Your Sport quiz in aid of Athleague GAA Grounds Development, there is still time to enter.
The “must-attend quiz” takes place on Saturday, February 1st, in Athleague Community Centre at 8 p.m.. Table of four costs €100, with the winning team getting €1,000; second place, €250, and third place, €150.
There will be a raffle on the night with refreshments served to keep the brain in working order. This quiz is sure to draw sporting anoraks from near and far, with a challenging 120 questions waiting to be tackled.
For further information, contact JP on 087 7955095 or David on 087 6086723.
Star pupil: Ciaráin Murtagh who came on at half time for Roscommon and scored 1-2 on Sunday. His goal was a moment of individual brilliance.
Crucial win for: An Cheathrú Rua who won the All-Ireland club JFC final against Naomh Pádraig by a point.
Much do better: The Sligo senior footballers will be disappointed with their defeat to Offaly.
Spot of bother: So sad to see the fabulous and iconic Connacht GAA Dome swept away by Storm Éowyn.
Weekend highlight: After a traumatic few weeks, how wonderful to see sport lift the mood as proud Mayo club, Crossmolina, won the All-Ireland intermediate club football title.
How poignant it was for Conor Loftus to kick the winning penalty in injury time against Ballinaderry.
What a cracker: If Arsenal wants to remain on the shirt-tails of Liverpool, they must beat Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday.
“Discipline leads to habits. Habits lead to consistency. Consistency leads to growth.”
Last Saturday’s treble header in Croke Park — All-Ireland junior club football final, alongside the National Football and Hurling League games — saw a set of different rules for all three matches.
What a week for colleges’ football in Roscommon with the Convent of Mercy, Roscommon Town, winning the Connacht LGFA Schools’ A football title for the first time in 16 years and the Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, senior boys’ footballers reaching the Connacht Senior B football final where they will play Roscommon CBS who won their semi-final on Friday.
