Niall Daly was an inspirational leader
Niall Daly enjoyed a stellar career with the Rossies, digging the team out of numerous holes. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
In a week when The Three Amigos — Jimmy Buckley, Patrick Feeney and Robert Mizzell — announced their tour dates for the New Year, another member of a famous Roscommon trio of outstanding footballers, Niall Daly, called time on his tenure in the Primrose and Blue jersey recently.
The Pádraig Pearses player’s departure follows in the footsteps of Donie Smith and Ciaráin Murtagh. Just like The Three Amigos, they made sweet music on the football fields all over Ireland, England and America for many years.
As Murtagh and Smith decorated the cake with beautiful scores, Niall Daly was back in the trenches. As Christy Moore once said, “Don’t forget your shovel if you want to go to work”. Well, Niall Daly dug Roscommon out of numerous holes, becoming a leader on the team from an early age.
Niall Daly reminded me of Seamus Coleman. He was driven to be the very best, displaying hunger, motivation, desire and an attitude to match his dedication and hard work.
While Daly brought so much to the table, it was his incredible ability to kick long-range points that set him apart. His accuracy was amazing from all angles and distances. Those blockbuster scores lifted his team-mates and supporters.
Many players pass the buck when the pressure is on but Niall Daly relished the responsibility, particularly when the need was the greatest.
He was excellent at sucking the opposition in, stopping the flow of the game by letting his opponent know that he was one not to be messed with. He could start an argument in an empty room.
Overall, Daly had great courage and could read a game like a book. As he got older and wiser, he knew that he didn’t need pace to influence a game.
He comes from a great footballing family. Along with Conor and Ronan, they won so many cracking games with Roscommon. At club level, they had Lorcán for company with Padraig Pearses.
His Mam and Dad never missed a match. From the moment the boys made the county underage development squad, Pat and Collette were in it together, supporting their four sons.
While Niall enjoyed so much success at intercounty level, it took him longer to achieve silverware with his beloved Pádraig Pearses. Winning that historic first SFC in 2019 will never be forgotten. Two more county titles have followed along with a Connacht club medal.
To Donie, Ciaráin and Niall, thanks for the memories and your wonderful contribution to Roscommon football.
Taoiseach Michael Martin didn’t expect to have to make changes to his cabinet but he ended up making three positional switches after Finance Minister Paschal Donoghue left to take up a new job with the World Bank.
This Friday evening will see Roscommon GAA introduce new faces to the front bench with the chairperson, vice-chairperson, assistant secretary, PRO, Central Council and Connacht Council seats set to be filled as a result of the five year rule.
The first five are straightforward, with Thomas Murray replacing Brian Carroll as county board chairperson. Frank Egan will come in as vice-chairperson, Fidelma Lennon will take up the PRO position, and Paula Clogher will replace Fidelma Lennon as assistant secretary/fixtures secretary.
Chairperson Brian Carroll will fill the vacant Central Council seat, which was held by Pat Compton over the past five years.
The only election on the menu is for the two Connacht Council seats due to John Carty's term being up. Sitting TD Seamus Nugent, who has been there for three years, will be trying to hold on to his seat. PRO John O’Connor, current Connacht Council PRO Hugh Lynn, and Enda Walsh will also contest the two places to represent Roscommon in Connacht.
A keenly-contested election is expected.
As the Christmas lights were switched on in Roscommon Town last Sunday evening, my Teaser gang continued to shine.
Can you name the youngest ever men’s GAA All-Star? It was Derry’s Dermot McNichol, as an 18-year-old, in 1984.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to sparkle. Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Eamon, Campion, Castlerea; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; John Grehan, Taughmaconnell; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Johnny Croghan, Bundoran; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Lisa Flanagan, Frenchpark; Padraig Gallagher, Kiltoom; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Anthony Egan, Bonniconlon; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Heston, Toolan, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also grabbed the limelight.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the only two players in the history of Irish rugby to score a hat-trick of tries in the first half of a test match?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from Limerick.
For St. Brigid’s, it's like going on a new date.
The Roscommon champions have five Connacht Club SFC titles. Four of those have come against Galway opposition — three against old dancing partners Corofin in 2006, 2011 and 2023, with Killererin the victim in 2010.
On Sunday, at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park, Anthony Cunningham’s side will do a tango for the first time ever in the club championship with Maigh Cuilinn who have won three of the last six Galway SFC titles and were beaten finalists in two other deciders.
The Galway holders have yet to lose a game in the Connacht Club Championship with five wins from five. In 2022, they were crowned provincial winners by beating Westport, Strokestown and Tourlestrane. This time around, they have defeated Shamrock Gaels and Leitrim Gaels on route to Sunday’s showdown, facing the biggest challenge they will have encountered during their second provincial campaign.
Since 2020 in the Galway SFC, Maigh Cuilinn have only lost three games to Mountbellew/Moylough in the 2021 semi-final and two SFC finals to Corofin in 2023 and 2024.
Inside their own county, they have serious pedigree. Beating Tuam Stars and Salthill/Knocknacarra in the closing furlong of the race for the Frank Fox Cup clinched their third county crown, rubberstamping their credentials. They will be far superior to what Ballina offered against St. Brigid’s in the semi-final.
The Kelly brothers, Peter Cooke, David Wynne, Fionn McDonagh, Niall Walsh and Dessie Connelly, who has scored 2-17 in his two provincial games, highlight their quality all over the pitch.
Beating Pádraig Pearses proved a release valve for St. Brigid’s, who opened their wings against Ballina and produced a performance that has elevated them into third favourites to win the All-Ireland club title behind Ballyboden and Kilcoo.
Once Anthony Cunningham’s side leave the county as champions, they have an aura, presence and belief about them. They play with a swagger, flair and intelligence.
Last day out, they had 11 different scores, which leaves the opposition unsure who to pinpoint as the real dangers. Put simply, St. Brigid’s have so many weapons waiting to be unleashed.
Maigh Cuillinn will be hard to break down. They will be well set up with a solid structure and crafty players in key areas of the field. They will also display a savage work ethic, which was created by the late Don Connellan.
You can take it for granted that St. Brigid's will perform. If they continue to create the spaces and angles of running like they did against Ballina, it’s hard to see the Galway holders keeping them out over 60 minutes.
Having the game in King and Moffat Dr. Hyde Park is massive. The Fahey Cup holders know the home of Roscommon GAA so well. The fast pitch suits their style of play.
Sometimes teams prefer to win poor semi-finals by scraping over the line. But the Green and Red blew that out of the water with a masterful performance against Ballina.
Repeating the trick will be hard done. Maigh Cuillin will be happy to play the underdogs role, aiming to spoil the party.
Both sides don’t score many goals. But they are excellent at hitting points, which means whoever raises green flags will win.
Star pupil: Colm Neary delivered an outstanding display at midfield for Strokestown during their Connacht Club IFC final success against Kilmeena.
Crucial win for: Tooreen as they recaptured their Connacht IHC crown with a convincing over Meelick Eyrecourt.
Much do better: If Arne Slot was managing any other club than Liverpool, he would be getting his P45 after six Premier League defeats in seven games.
Spot of bother: If rugby is heading the way South Africa wants it to go, then the oval ball game is in big trouble — nobody will be watching.
Weekend highlight: Strokestown producing a Rolls-Royce performance, leaving Kilmeena in their wake to win a historic first-ever Connacht Club IFC title.
“The formula for a good life — discipline in the morning, presence in the day, and laughter at night.”
In Brighton’s last 240 Premier League games, they have 80 wins, 80 draws and 80 defeats.
The draws for the 2026 provincial football championships took place in Croke Park on Thursday evening.
We now know that Roscommon will be in New York, with the winners to face London or Mayo in the Connacht semi-final.
