Mad March on the sporting front
U-20 football boss, Cian Smith, is one of a number of Roscommon managers that has a busy few weeks looming. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Pack a healthy lunchbox with plenty of snacks because there’s a mad March coming on the sporting front.
With six Roscommon male and female intercounty teams juggling so many different balls, a well-paid secretary will be needed.
The senior footballers have a home game with Donegal and an away trip to Castlebar, bringing their NFL campaign to an end. The battle with Donegal on Sunday week should ensure another bumper day in King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.
Our hurlers are in the Division Three promotion race, with a trip to Fermanagh on Sunday before concluding their business with a home game against Donegal on Saturday, March 21st. A place in the league final is on the menu if they can keep their house in order.
The Roscommon U-20 footballers, under the guidance of Cian Smith, commence their Connacht journey away to Galway on Wednesday, March 18th. They have Sligo at home the following week before a trip to Mayo on April 1st in Castlebar. They finish the round robin stages on Wednesday, April 15th, at home to Leitrim.
Last season, the Boyle native guided the U-20s to a Connacht final clash with Mayo. This season’s provincial campaign is expected to be really competitive.
The U-17 footballers, who climbed the Connacht mountain last season, begin the defence of their title with a trip to Sligo on Friday, March 20th. That will be followed by a free weekend before a hat trick of games against Leitrim (home), Mayo (away), and Galway (home), which will determine how Shane Moran’s troops are fixed.
Both teams’ preparations have been hampered by the unavailability of pitches due to the poor weather. Neither outfit will know until the opening couple of games what shape they are in.
The Roscommon intermediate ladies’ footballers, who got back on track with a great win over Laois, have Louth at home on Sunday, March 22nd, before closing the curtains on their Division Three League away to Clare a week later.
The Roscommon junior camogie team are in the Garden County this Saturday to face Wicklow before closing the deal with a re-fixed home encounter against Kildare. To date, they have suffered defeats to Armagh and Tyrone.
The message is clear — fuel up, because there’s plenty of mileage to clock over the coming month.
After a Thursday night Paris thumping by France, it seemed Ireland’s Six Nations hopes were on the ropes, but back-to-back wins over Italy and England have taken Andy Farrell’s men off life support. With a double blast of home games at the Aviva Stadium against Wales and Scotland, the Boys in Green can finish second and lift the Triple Crown, ending the year with silverware.
First up this Friday night is Wales, who have lost 14 consecutive Six Nations games.
As the rain pelted down in Salthill last Saturday week, Roscommon supporters arriving early for the NFL encounter with Galway made their way to the warmth and comfort of city pubs. Dympna and myself found refuge in the Galway Bay Hotel, and the first part of a famous double saw Ireland produce a brilliant performance against the Auld Enemy to re ignite their Six Nations aspirations.
A few hours later, the Primrose and Blue were as ruthless in the second half as Ireland, snatching a cracking victory right on the final bell over the Tribesmen.
Twenty-four hours after Ireland’s expected victory over the Welsh, all eyes will turn to Murrayfield, shouting for the Scots against France. A Scottish win could transform the final round of games a week later into a frenzy.
It’s a huge ask for Scotland to tame the French, but if any team can do it, it’s the Scots — capable, when the mood is on them, of slaying a giant, especially in Murrayfield.
France, to date, have been operating at a different level and look on course to win the Grand Slam.
England, after 12 wins in succession, have hit a speed wobble with defeats to Scotland and Ireland, and Steve Borthwick’s wounded charges now head to Rome where Italy will be itching to get a crack at them.
It’s a massive weekend in the Six Nations, with the big game between Scotland and France set to determine whether this year’s closing ceremony is a non-event or a day on the couch full of drama.
Last Thursday was National Toast Day, and my breakfast club didn’t want to get burned.
Can you name the current manager of a League One side in England whose dad managed his county to All-Ireland senior glory?
The answer was Brian Barry Murphy, current manager of Cardiff City, who sit top of League One, and son of Cork legend Jimmy Barry Murphy.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to pop the perfect slice. Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; John Croghan, Bundoran; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Jimmy Fallon, Elphin; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; Tom Mullaney, Boyle; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; John Wynne, Kilteevan; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Pat Deane, Williamstown; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Sean Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also stuck to their staple diet.
This week’s Teaser. Can you name the last All-Star football goalkeeper to manage his county at intercounty level?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from Athlone.
The plotting, planning and pre-season training for the Roscommon Community Challenge participants is over, as this Friday night is championship time. A 5k and 8k moonlight walk, jog and run will hit the pavements of Roscommon Town at 8 p.m.
In its 13 years, a record number of walkers and runners have taken part in the eight week programme, leading to the grand finale this Friday night.
You can still sign up by registering on Eventbrite for €25, ensuring you are part of something wonderful.
A special surprise before the tape goes up is on the menu — and the only way to find out is to be at the starting post at Roscommon Community Sports Park in Lisnamult.
The last mile of the walk/run will be in memory of the late Marie Allen, who dedicated so much of her time to Roscommon Special Olympics.
Star pupil: Dean Casey, who scored 0-8 for St Nathy’s College in their All-Ireland Senior B football semi-final win.
Crucial win for: Derry, who propelled themselves into the Division Two promotion shake-up with a brilliant victory over Cork.
Must do better: After four great performances, Roscommon had an off day against Dublin.
Spot of bother: Kildare and Cavan are knee deep in the mire to survive in Division Two, with only one to escape.
Weekend highlight: It’s a pity Everton couldn’t play all their Premier League games away from home after another great victory on the road against Newcastle United.
What a cracker: Limerick and Cork hurlers grace the TUS Gaelic Grounds this Saturday evening, with neither wanting to give an inch.
“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your actions.”
Armagh have only scored one goal in their five Allianz NFL games — with Roscommon top of the pile on 11.
A magnificent achievement by two Roscommon schools — Castlerea CS winning the All Ireland Senior Boys’ B Basketball title against Kildare CS, and St. Nathy’s College reaching the All-Ireland Senior Colleges’ B football final for the first time since 2018 with a resounding victory over Mount Saint Michael, Rosscarbery.
Roscommon snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat with three late injury-time points against Tyrone — a result that keeps their promotion hopes in their own hands despite a below-par performance.
While it seemed the heavy lifting had been done with an opening day home win over Wicklow, the Primrose and Blue appeared to have undone much of their good work. When the chips were down and there was no chef in the kitchen, it fell to Sean Canning, Cian Murray and Michael Hussey to salvage a draw for Brian Hanley’s side.
On the plus side, if Roscommon can claim victory over Fermanagh on Sunday and Donegal beat Wicklow, the Primrose and Blue can uncork the champagne as promotion will have been secured. However, if the Garden County spoil the party in Donegal, then the three-way saga for the two promotion spots will go to the final round, with Roscommon hosting Donegal in King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park and Wicklow enjoying home advantage against Louth.
On the evidence of last Saturday’s performance, Roscommon would struggle to beat Donegal even with home advantage. They were well beaten in the middle third, with Tyrone cutting through the centre like a hot knife through butter.
Were it not for three outstanding saves from Enda Lawless, Tyrone would have coasted to victory — but the Meelick Eyrecourt netminder, now with three clean sheets in a row, was in sparkling form.
Conor Morris, Sean Canning, and Cian Bowes supplied crucial scores to keep Roscommon in the fight. In the end, half a loaf is better than no bread, and Roscommon must now keep their part of the bargain by beating Fermanagh on Sunday.
