My ‘Fab Four’ from final four
ONE TO WATCH: Cathal Feely has been in flying form for Boyle this season. Picture: INPHO/John McVitty
With the Roscommon SFC at the penultimate stage, I’ve picked out four players who have caught my eye during their respective teams’ journey to the last four.
No doubt, they have come to the attention of the Roscommon senior football management team.
Declan Kenny (Pádraig Pearses): The flying wing-back is in great form. He is a central driving force from his number five position, settling into the Pearses defence like a duck to water.
Kenny has great pace, superb ball skills and brilliant hands, and showed what a good option he is for kickouts the last day. Another dimension to his game is his ability to kick long-range frees from the ground.
On Sunday, alongside his Pádraig Pearses team-mates, he will be facing a fast, fluent and clinical Boyle attack, so Kenny will need to be at his best to survive his stiffest challenge to date. It’s one, however, I’m sure he will relish.
Cathal Feely (Boyle): In the company of good footballers, certain players can thrive or feel intimidated. There is no doubt that Cathal Feely has matured into a quality player, emerging as one of the most crucial performers in Cian Smith’s set-up.
Comfortable on the ball and blessed with great hands and feet, he plays the conductor’s role to precision between midfield and centre-forward. He has also kicked 0-5 in the championship.
His sharp brain and accurate passing has allowed the Smith brothers, Daire Cregg and Cian McKeon to flourish.
Senan Lambe (Roscommon Gaels): The biggest compliment one can pay to Senan Lambe is that he will be given the job of marking St. Brigid’s wizard, Ben O’Carroll, on Saturday.
Someone is going to be assigned with that huge task and Lambe is the obvious choice as a result of his pace, ball-winning ability and tenacious marking. He also loves to lead the charge from defence, which could bring O’Carroll out from goals. That would suit Roscommon Gaels.
In their last three games, the Gaels have only conceded one goal and that is the bedrock for any side with aspirations of winning the championship.
On Saturday, Senan Lambe and company will be facing the firing squad but, up to now, the Town’s full-back has answered every SOS.
Ciarán Sugrue (St. Brigid’s): St. Brigid’s have a lot of similar forwards in Ben O’Carroll, Bobby Nugent and Connor Hand — quick and slick.
Ciarán Sugrue is similar, but he also brings power and physical strength going forward.
He first came to prominence when Roscommon defeated Kerry in a thrilling All-Ireland U-17 semi-final in 2017. On the same day, Peter Gillooly and Paul Carey served notice of their talents. All three will be crucial in this weekend’s SFC semi-finals.
Six years later, Sugrue is developing into one of St. Brigid’s key players. Last day out, he blasted 2-4 past a hapless North Roscommon divisional side in the quarter-final.
He does a lot of the heavy lifting in attack as a result of his direct running and ball-winning ability.
Last week’s Tuesday Teaser players were as sharp as Europe in the Ryder Cup, such was their putting ability.
Can you name the teams and the year of the first-ever All-Ireland SHC final that failed to produce a goal? It took until 1999 for this to happen as Cork and Kilkenny failed to find the net.
QPR, Frenchpark, grabbed the opening birdie, with Eamon Campion, Castlerea; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; John Croghan, Bundoran; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Patsy Beirne, Ballinaheglish; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Pat, Sligo; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Alan Corcoran, Ahascragh; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also coming home with under-par rounds.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the last player from Down to win a GAA Football All-Star award?
Answers by e-mail willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from New York.
Star pupil: A joint award this week as Four Roads duo John Moran and Micheál Kelly won their 12th senior hurling medal on Sunday last.
Crucial win for: Western Gaels who maintained their SFC status with victory over Strokestown.
Much do better: Athleague will be scratching their heads as to why they never got going in last Sunday’s senior hurling final.
Spot of bother: Losing five championship games, including the last three encounters by a point, meant that the SFC relegation trapdoor was always going to spring open for Strokestown.
Weekend highlight: Enda Smith and Brian Stack being nominated for GAA All-Stars, and Conor Carroll being in the pot for Young Footballer of the Year.
What a cracker: Galway United hosting Bohemians in the FAI Cup semi-final this Saturday is a massive occasion for the Tribesmens. What’s more, it also presents a serious opportunity to reach the decider at the Aviva Stadium.
“We are like books. Most people only see our cover, the minority read only the introduction, many people believe the critics. Few will know our content.”
St. Brigid’s have yet to concede a goal after four games in this year’s senior football championship.
Some of the mismatches at the Rugby World Cup are a joke and make a farce of the tournament.
