Rejuvenated ladies' footballers gaining momentum
Roscommon players Ellen Irwin and Lauren Shanagher ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland LGFA intermediate semi-final against Westmeath at Kingspan Breffni. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
The Roscommon intermediate ladies footballers are producing their own version of Larazus as Finbar Egan’s side have risen from the ashes to reach the All-Ireland semi-final and a date with Westmeath on Sunday.
A month ago, this looked like a pipe dream as the Primrose and Blue ladies were short on confidence and looked set to pack their bags to leave the championship house.
Incredibly, they have pulled two masterstrokes, beating Down and Leitrim, and are now within reach of Croke Park. Beating Down in a must-win game to remain in the championship was impressive, but to follow that up by winning away in Carrick-on-Shannon against Leitrim, who had trounced them by 22 points in the provincial final weeks earlier, was Roy of the Rovers stuff.
Two big wins on the bounce suggest this team have hit form at the right time. It also suggests that they always believed in themselves even when things were going wrong, and with key players returning, it injected hope into the squad.
Another major obstacle awaits on Sunday with Leinster champions Westmeath in the opposite corner. This local derby clash whets the appetite as underdogs Roscommon, with the bit between their teeth, will not be fazed by the challenge.
While a bird doesn't fly on one wing, the return of Laura Mannion has been a catalyst for the upturn in fortunes as her experience and goal scoring instincts have proved crucial.
Westmeath were relegated from Division Two this season but bounced back to win the Leinster championship. They were beaten at this stage of the championship 12 months ago. Last day out, goals by Katie Kilmurray, Anna Jones and Aoife Keegan did the trick against Wexford as the Lake County powered to victory with a commanding second-half display.
They are managed by the experienced Frank Browne and negotiated a tricky group that had Monaghan and Louth for company.
This semi-final is nicely poised. Roscommon’s form, hunger and drive is back but Westmeath’s experience, speed and goal-scoring ability are massive.
Verdict: Westmeath
The Tailteann Cup was brought in for the Wicklows of this world and wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Garden County climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the second tier championship on Saturday?
A Division Four team winning the trophy would be the icing on the cake for the lesser lights, proving they too can have their day in the sun.
However, Down, who won the competition two years ago, will not want to be part of a romantic story as Conor Laverty’s men aim to ensure they will be playing Sam Maguire football in 2027 by winning the Tailteann Cup.
The roll of honour since the competition's inception reads Westmeath, Meath, Down and Kildare. The first three winners managed to compete at the highest level within their province, with Westmeath winning this year's Leinster championship.
Meath reached last year's All-Ireland SFC semi-final and gained promotion from Division Two this season. Down beat Donegal in this year's Ulster championship, outlining that recent Tailteann Cup winners are teams who are capable of dining at the top table.
Can Wicklow break the mould of teams who sit just outside the top tier winning it, depriving teams in the bottom half of Division Three and Division Four from fulfilling their ambition of winning an All-Ireland championship in Croke Park.
Both teams have been hot and cold this summer with Wicklow giving Dublin a massive game in the opening round of the Leinster SFC before going on to live life on the edge in their Tailteann Cup journey.
In their last two games, they produced incredible comebacks against Antrim and Offaly and notably, the Faithful County have also beaten Down in a round two game. So all might not be lost for Oisin McConville’s Wicklow side who have Roscommon’s Frankie Dolan on the management team.
After losing to Laois in the opening round, they have won three on the spin, beating Limerick (last year's beaten finalists), Antrim and Offaly, which provides enough evidence they can have a right cut at the Mourne men.
If Down perform, they will win but, at times this summer, they have been in and out of love in games. Wins over Leitrim, Longford and Fermanagh were expected, but Offaly showed that Down can be beaten.
Wicklow would be popular winners but Down’s pedigree will get them over the line.
Last week's teaser resembled a long rally at Wimbledon.
Can you name the only hurler to win Liam McCarthy, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher All-Ireland SHC medals? It was Johnny Glynn with Galway in 2017 and completed the treble with New York winning the Lory Meagher and Nicky Rackard in recent seasons.
First to break serve was QPR, Frenchpark, with Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Joe Henry, Castleplunkett/Tooreen; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; John Croghan, Bundoran; Pat, Sligo; Henry Hamrock, Athleague; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Sean Toolan, Heston; Michael Kearns, Clapham, Paddy Boland, Youghal, and Padraig Mulry, Four Roads, all serving aces.
This week’s Teaser: When was the last time there was no Ulster representative in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals?
Answers by email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086-8356227.
This week’s teaser came from Sligo.
Star pupil: Naos Connaughton, like a good wine, gets better with age as he scored 3-7 for St. Dominic’s in their victory over Four Roads.
Crucial win for: Galway as they reached their first All-Ireland SHC final since 2018.
Must do better: Another second-half disaster for Cork hurlers in Croke Park.
Spot of bother: Surprising that Roscommon GAA played a round of senior hurling club championship matches during the Clare and Limerick All-Ireland SHC semi-final on TV.
Weekend highlight: Wimbledon continues to serve up outstanding tennis in both the men's and ladies' championship with action under the lights and a closed centre court roof providing a magnificent spectacle.
What a cracker: Both All-Ireland football semi-finals are box office for different reasons - romance and familiarity.
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.”
Just one point separated Louth and Mayo the last time they met in the championship. The Connacht men won by a point 0-14 to 1-10 in the 2023 All-Ireland Group Stages.
Long term, it’s hard to see how the LGFA and the GAA are going to merge into one unit when you have the two All-Ireland intermediate ladies' semi-finals scheduled in a direct clash with the Kerry and Dublin All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
Surely the LGFA could have planned to have their semi-finals over before the Croke Park cracker commences at 4 p.m..
