Premier League goalkeeper has connections to County Roscommon
Mark Travers, who has joined Everton from Bournemouth, has links with County Roscommon. Picture: Everton FC
Everton FC has always had a strong connection with Ireland.
Currently, Seamus Coleman (Donegal) and Jake O'Brien (Cork) maintain the Irish love affair with the Merseyside club. For us devoted Toffees fans, we now have a link closer to home.
New signing Mark Travers — a goalkeeper who has arrived from AFC Bournemouth — has family connections in County Roscommon. The netminder is a grandnephew of the late Monsignor Travers of Roscommon Town who passed away in 2022.
Monsignor Travers — a native of Ardeash in Croghan — gave 70 years of service as a priest in the Diocese of Elphin, including Roscommon Town from 1987 until his death three years ago.
Maybe it was a family trait as the Monsignor was a “safe pair of hands”, giving his life to God. Now his grandnephew Mark is a Premier League goalkeeper who has found his spiritual home at Everton.
He will find it tough to break into the first 11 with England number one, Jordan Pickford, the first choice under David Moyes. But there is no doubt that, throughout the season, the 26-year-old — who was born in Maynooth — will get his opportunity in the Carabao and FA Cup games.
Making the journey to the new BMD stadium will feel special, knowing that Mark Travers, who will be wearing the Royal Blue of Everton, has Roscommon blood.
Speaking of well-known relatives of the clergy, current Parish Priest (PP) of Roscommon Town, Fr Kevin Fallon, is still celebrating All-Ireland SHC glory as he is a first cousin of Tipperary goalkeeper, Rhys Shelly.
In my recent Junior A Football Championship preview, I posed the question — was this the first time that a club in Roscommon (St. Brigid’s) had a team contesting the senior, intermediate and Junior A championship in the same season?
Thanks to my loyal readers, I got my answer as Adrian McHugh informed me that, in 2012, St. Brigid’s third team won the Junior B championship and commenced 2013 with three teams in the main championships.
They played Tansey Cup football and were ready for the Junior A championship but, unfortunately, due to lack of commitment and numbers, they had to pull the junior team.
There are no such problems for the Kiltoom-based club this season as it has a senior, intermediate and Junior A team operating in their respective championships. To go one better, the club has, incredibly, entered a fourth team in the Junior B Championship.
I’d love to know what is the age profile of that team?
Another reader, Cathal Durney — who has more knowledge than a library — enlightened me that the great Clann na nGael club is no stranger to having three championship teams.
In 1991 and 1995, Clann na nGael won the county senior and Junior B championships. In those same years, they lost the intermediate finals on both occasions, which meant the South Roscommon club contested the three main grades in 1992 and 1996.
After getting relegated back to the Junior A and B championships in 1996, the Johnstown men went on to win both in 1997 — the same year they lost the senior final to St. Brigid’s. Consequently, they started the 1998 season with three teams in the main championships, with the intermediate team losing the county final to Western Gaels.
Thanks to Cathal and Adrian for getting in touch and bringing me up to speed on the two hot-beds of club football in South Roscommon.
During the week, the popular Padraig Keenan and his famous white van can be found pulling up at farmers’ markets throughout the county.
His stalls in Roscommon Town on Friday morning are one of the most popular in the business because of his delicious homemade breads, cakes, tarts and treats for all occasions.
Away from the kitchen, however, Padraig is mixing more ingredients together on the training pitch of St. Brigid’s as he is manager of the club’s Junior A championship side.
Twelve months ago, St. Brigid’s sole focus was winning the senior championship. But the senior footballers were clipped by Pádraig Pearses in the quarter-finals, leaving the club in shock.
Away from the spotlight, Padraig guided the Junior B team, who had lost the previous year’s semi-final to Castlerea St. Kevin’s, to championship success. Having reaped the rewards, he’s ready to give the Junior A grade a crack.
Padraig, who is in his third year in charge of this squad, has the deadly duo and twins, Brian and Tom Lennon, by his side — two of the most loyal and trusted clubmen to be found anywhere — alongside Johhny “Speedy” Doyle on his management ticket.
Together, the “Fab Four” are giving players at the end of their careers and those on the first step of the ladder the opportunity to play club football.
Last Sunday, the club’s third team began the voyage with a loss against Ballinameen, with 2013 All-Ireland senior club winners Senan Kilbride lining out at full-forward alongside his brother Ian who came on as a second-half sub.
Just like Storm Floris, my Teaser blew in problems for my readers.
Can you name the last team in either hurling or football to win the All-Ireland senior title after losing the previous year’s final? It was Kilkenny in 2011 who, after losing their five-in-a-row bid to Tipperary in 2010, bounced back to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to batten down the hatches. Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Hugh Lynn, Loughglynn; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; John Croghan, Bundoran; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Pat, Sligo; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Seán Toolan, Heston; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford, and Michael Kearns Clapham, also kept the gales at bay.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the last English manager to win a European competition with an English club?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s Teaser came from London?
Star pupil: Conor Cox who made Gaelic football look ridiculously easy by scoring 0-16 for Éire Óg, including six two-pointers, during their impressive IFC win over Fuerty.
Crucial win for: St. Faithleach’s who defeated holders Pádraig Pearses in the SFC.
Much do better: Poor starts to both halves cost Roscommon Gaels dearly against Boyle as Mark Dowd’s men conceded 1-9 during a combined 15 -minute period.
Spot of bother: Galway United, with no win in their last six League of Ireland Premier Division games.
Weekend highlight: Oran scoring 3-23, including 3-20 from play, during a swashbuckling performance against Castlerea St. Kevin’s. All of their first-half total of 1-16, incredibly, came from play, James Fitzpatrick was buzzing like a bee, hitting 2-4.
What a cracker: Cork and Galway in a repeat of last season's All-Ireland senior camogie final. Cathal Murray’s side will be hoping to reverse the result against the Rebels who are going for three O'Duffy Cups on the bounce.
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
David Clifford finished the All-Ireland SFC with 8-48 from play — 24 one-pointers, 24 points worth of two-pointers and 24 points worth of three-pointers.
Two clubs in different provinces, and on either side of the River Shannon, have beaten their respective county senior football champions in both Longford and Roscommon over the past week.
Rathcline beat Abbeylara, with St. Faithleach’s getting the better of Pádraig Pearses, so there will be plenty of banter on the bridge in Lanesboro this week.
