Number of Roscommon clubs makes managerial appointments
Former Roscommon player, Stephen Ormsby, is the new manager of St. Joseph's. Picture: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Managerial appointments were more popular than turkey and ham, and pudding, over Christmas.
Elphin, who survived their first season back in the senior football championship after Nigel Dineen led them to intermediate glory in 2024, have appointed Stephen Sheeran as their new manager. The St. Ronan’s man has locals, Aidan Main and Shane McDermott, on his management ticket.
Sheeran has previously managed St. Ronan’s and St. Michael’s along with being involved with Roscommon Coaching and Games Development squads and the county U-16 team.
Kilbride have stayed internal in their effort to get out of the 2026 Junior A Football Championship. John Lally takes over the hot seat, with the highly experienced Eddie Lohan as his right-hand man.
Former Roscommon All-Ireland minor winner in 2006 and Connacht SFC holder in 2010, Stephen Ormsby, dips his toes into the managerial game by taking over St. Joseph’s after spending a season as a coach with St. Aidan’s.
Another new recruit is Cormac Sheehy, as the St. Brigid’s man will take charge of Kilglass Gaels for the coming season.
After winning last year’s All-Ireland Colleges’ Senior B Championship title Roscommon CBS find themselves in the mix for Connacht A Football Championship honours.
They have reached the quarter-final against Claregalway in two weeks’ time. With 11 of last season’s starting 15 on board along with the majority of last year’s panel, Eoghan Coll and Noel Moran's boys are in great shape.
Gerry Lohan, a former Connacht A winning player with the school, is also on the coaching ticket, so the CBS senior football class of 2026 is in safe hands.
With victories over last year’s provincial winners, St. Colman’s Claremorris, and Rice College before Christmas, the Roscommon Town school find themselves nicely placed heading into the knockout phase.
Claregalway have been building their football pedigree in recent seasons. They have Galway county players, Paul Conroy and Damien Comer, teaching and coaching in the school.
Having a quarter-final game will stand to the winners before they face St. Muredach’s of Ballina in the semi-final.
On the opposite side of the draw, St. Jarlath’s or Rice College will face St. Gerald's, Castlebar, in the second semi-final.
Claregalway have already been beaten twice in this season’s championship. They lost the first day out against Leitrim Schools, which was followed by another defeat to St. Gerald’s. However, a convincing last round group game win over Sligo Schools secured their passage to the last eight.
Twelve months ago, Roscommon CBS lost a Connacht Junior A final against St. Jarlath’s by the narrowest of margins, which provides further evidence that they can survive at Senior A level.
With a sprinkling of players from last year’s successful Roscommon minor football panel as well, Roscommon CBS will feel that they can have a right crack at winning a first Connacht A Championship since 2015.
As one door closed on another festive season, another one opened to commence the 2026 Tuesday Teaser campaign.
Apart from this season, when was the last time the big three — Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary — reached the All-Ireland SHC semi-finals? The answer was 2014.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to start the New Year on top of the charts.
Eamon Campion, Castlerea; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea, Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Lisa Flanagan, Frenchpark; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; John Wynne, Kilteevan; Pat Deane, Williamstown; John Croghan, Bundoran; Pat, Sligo; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also shone like lights on the Christmas tree.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the three clubs that have played in both the All-Ireland Senior and Intermediate Club Football Championship finals?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from London.
Star pupil: Seán Trundle — the St. Brigid’s full-back was immaculate in his defending and made one heroic block to deny Scotstown’s Jack McCarron what seemed like a certain goal.
Crucial win for: Athenry who won the All-Ireland Club Senior Camogie Championship title for the first time since 1977.
Much do better: Tossing away a ten-point lead in the second half will ensure that Ballyboden’s deep wounds will need time to heal as Daingean Uí Chúis’ crazy comeback stunned the Dublin and Leinster champions.
Spot of bother: Conceding five goals left a brave Strokestown side with too big of a mountain to climb against a slick and sharp Glenullin outfit in Ballyshannon.
Weekend highlight: St. Brigid’s reaching the All-Ireland Club SFC final after a heart-stopping victory over Scotstown at a Baltic Kingspan Breffni.
What a cracker: Tooreen and Upperchurch-Drombane in the All-Ireland Club IHC final on Saturday evening in Croke Park will constitute my box of Milk Tray this weekend.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
Glenullin of Derry have become the eighth successive Ulster side to reach the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Football Championship final.
Wishing all Roscommon Herald readers a very Happy, Peaceful and Sporting New Year.
