Roscommon and Monaghan to renew rivalry
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: Teresa Hession and her daughter, Síofra, will be hoping to bring further camogie glory to Mercy College, Roscommon, on Saturday. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Roscommon and Monaghan — two counties with similar populations, are of a similar size and whose supporters love their football have built up a healthy and respectful rivalry over the past 12 years.
It began Division Three 12 years ago as Roscommon, managed by John Evans, got the better of Malachy O’Rourke’s Monaghan. But the Farney men had the last laugh as they were promoted to Division Two, which kickstarted their journey to Division One in 2015.
It took Roscommon until 2016 to reach Division One. Their first game was against Monaghan in Kiltoom. The match drew a massive crowd as a dramatic Conor McManus goal late on ruined the home side's return to the Promised Land.
Between 2015 and 2024, Monaghan remained a Division One side, displaying guts, character and courage during that ten-year period. Only Kerry managed to stay in the top flight alongside the Farney men.
Over the past ten years, Roscommon have been relegated four times from Division One — 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024. On the previous three occasions, the Primrose and Blue have bounced straight back as Division Two champions. On two occasions, Roscommon have managed to stay two years in the top flight — in 2016/2017 and 2022/2023. Now here we are 12 years on from their first battle as Roscommon and Monaghan clash in a key game at King and Moffat Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday.
The winner will have jumped a big fence. The early form suggests that both teams will be in the hunt to get promoted coming up the closing furlong in late March.
In 2013, Roscommon won an arm wrestle by two. In 2016, Monaghan turned the tables. Monaghan won well in Inniskeen a year later. In 2019, after a humdinger in the Hyde, Roscommon were back on the winners’ rostrum as an Enda Smith penalty proved crucial.
Monaghan were back on the horse in 2023, winning in Clones with six to spare. Last season, despite both teams being relegated, Roscommon recorded a convincing win in the Hyde.
Twelve years, six games, three wins each. It’s the Magnificent Seven on Sunday, as the great rivalry continues for two counties that thrive on punching above their weight.
After two rounds of the league, Mayo have most to digest after two defeats, which has left Kevin McStay’s side with lots of soul-searching to be done over the past two weeks.
The game against Dublin could have gone either way, but the loss to Galway stung and left the Mayo management, players and supporters feeling like families waiting to get their power back. Unless the Green and Red turn it round quickly, starting with Tyrone on Sunday, they will be sucked into a relegation battle with games against Armagh, Kerry, Derry and Donegal still to come.
While Kevin McStay will not be pressing the panic button, he knows the longer it goes before Mayo secure their first league win, the more intense the heat will become.
There are no easy games in Division One. Eight teams want to remain in the top tier, which means the battle to avoid the relegation trapdoor will be savage.
Mayo have always had a habit of pulling big results out of the bag in the league when they needed them. But they don’t have that aura anymore.
The current management is into their third year. But it feels like they are starting another rebuilding mission instead of having a team ready to compete for the All-Ireland title. The loss of key players has left a void, leaving lots of jig-saw pieces to be filled.
The Division One League success of three years ago has been quickly forgotten about. The past two championships have sucked the life out of the Green and Red.
Unless Mayo beat Tyrone on Sunday, the dreaded prospect of playing Division Two football in 2026 looms large. But a win and the subsequent change in wind direction that would bring will offer hope of survival in the top tier.
In a week when a group of TDs were refused speaking time in the Dáil, my Tuesday Teaser speakers were in full voice.
Can you name the only man to win All-Ireland senior, U-21, minor and club medals in both football and hurling? It was Cork's Jimmy Barry Murphy.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to have the floor, while Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Fr. John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; James Healy, Mount Talbot; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Gerry Gacquin, Athleague; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Brian Stenson, Castlerea; Pat Deane, Williamstown; John Croghan, Bundoran; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Pat, Sligo; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Kevin Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham were given lots of air time.
This week’s Teaser. Can you name the first club from Connacht to win an All-Ireland senior club title?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from South Roscommon.
Star pupil: Stephen Carty of St. Michael’s became the first referee to take charge of a club game in County Roscommon under the new football rules — a Northern Cup match between Ballinameen and Kilglass Gaels.
Crucial win for: Offaly’s hurlers who enjoyed a great win over Antrim in Division 1B of the NHL.
Much do better: Will France regret losing to England in the Six Nations Twickenham?
Spot of bother: Another heavy defeat for the Leitrim senior footballers against Laois in the Division Three League.
Weekend highlight: Perfect setting, cracking atmosphere and wonderful occasion for the Connacht Colleges’ Senior B Football Championship final between Roscommon CBS and Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, in Enfield.
What a cracker: Monaghan have scored 4-51; Roscommon have posted 4-38 — the scoring machines lock horns in a top of the table clash in the Hyde next Sunday.
“If you focus on the problem, soon you will forget your goal. If you focus on the goal, soon you will forget the problem.”
Seven counties have yet to win a game in the NFL — Derry, Mayo, Westmeath, Cavan, Sligo, Leitrim and Waterford have drawn a blank.
One of the most striking aspects of the new rules is that football scorelines are now resembling hurling tallies.
