Roscommon CBS to clinch All-Ireland colleges’ glory
ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY: Roscommon CBS players, Cian Duggan and John Farrell, will be hoping to play their part in a possible third All-Ireland Colleges' B Football Championship title for Roscommon CBS on Sunday next. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Roscommon CBS reached their first ever All-Ireland Colleges’ Senior B football championship final in 1997. To put the cherry on top of the cake, the decider was played in Croke Park with Patrician HS, Carrickmacross, in the opposition’s corner.
The Roscommon Town school's first ever trip to Croke Park ended in disappointment as they lost out by the narrowest of margins to the Monaghan boys.
Almost three decades later, history will repeat itself next Sunday as Roscommon CBS and Patrician HS clash in this season’s All-Ireland Colleges’ Senior B football final in Longford. Predicting the outcome is no easy task.
This will be Roscommon CBS’ fifth All-Ireland Colleges’ football final, with two wins and two defeats from their previous four encounters. The school’s historic moment came in 2011 when they beat Clane, after extra time, in the B final.
They repeated the trick against Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra from Rathmore, County Kerry in 2019 — this time winning the title in Croke Park’s field of dreams.
While Patrician HS dashed their hopes in 1997, CBS reached their first ever Hogan Cup final in 2015, losing out to Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne of Kerry in Croke Park.
In many ways, CBS’ journey has been a slow burner. They have bided their time, saving their best performance for their All-Ireland semi-final against St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne, where they produced a cohesive and clinical display.
In their Connacht semi-final, they diced with death against Calasanctius Oranmore but came through with a point to spare. In the provincial final, they won the County Roscommon bragging rights against Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, after an error-ridden and nervous encounter.
The big plus in the All-Ireland semi-final was that nine different players got on the scoresheet. The positioning of Cian Duggan at full-forward was a masterstroke as the St. Dominic’s player scored 0-4.
The CBS half-back line has a strong presence and is the launching pad for so many attacks. Colin Murray bagged 1-2 in the semi-final. Captain Eoghan Carthy is a rock at number six and Colm Fitzgerald is used to flying up the wing. Michael Gillooly a no-nonsense full-back behind them.
Seamus Hussey and Seán McDermott are becoming more dominant around the middle, while four of their starting six forwards worked the scoreboard that last day.
Patrician HS survived a tough Ulster Colleges’ championship to win the prestigious MacLarnon Cup for the fifth time, thanks to a replay win over Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore, by 1-10 to 0-12.
This will be the Monaghan school’s eighth championship game and, like Roscommon CBS, they had a convincing All-Ireland semi-final win over Cashel CS by 1-12 to 0-3. That suggests that they will fancy beating their Roscommon counterparts for a second time.
After topping their group, they beat St. Malachy’s, Castlewellan, in the quarter-final and followed that up with a ruthless semi-final victory over Aquinas Belfast by 3-7 to 1-3.
In the provincial final, they had to display courage, guts, character and conviction against Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore. After two titanic battles, they emerged with one point to spare to secure Ulster honours.
In the replay they led only once — deep in injury time — as outstanding centre-back Joseph McArdle kicked over the winning point.
In midfielder Tom Maguire, they have a powerhouse and superb long-range shooter. A razor sharp free-taker in Peter Connolly, who held his nerve on several occasions during the Ulster championship, is also in their locker. In Luke Poval and Conor Meehan, they have defenders who can join the attack and score.
One can make a strong case for either school to emerge victorious. However, having the game in Longford will ensure a huge CBS support. That could be the trump card in lifting these lads to another All-Ireland title and creating more history for their school.
This Saturday, my two brothers Jimmy and Patrick along with their three friends Peter, Francis and Kevin have secured the hottest tickets in town for the mouthwatering Six Nations clash between Ireland and France at the Aviva stadium.
In fairness to the famous five, they have attended Six Nations games home and away over the past few seasons. But they’ll hit the jackpot by being present on Saturday.
For the second time in three seasons, Ireland have the Grand Slam in their sights. Only for the last kick of the game heartbreak in Twickenham last season, Ireland would have been chasing a hat-trick of Grand Slams titles.
After messing up against England in Twickenham, the French will arrive in Dublin determined not to make the same mistake twice. Remember, the Six Nations title is within reach for Les Bleus if they can win in the lion’s den.
Ireland stumbled to victory over Wales, and know that a similar performance on Saturday will not be sufficient against the French.
With so much at stake, the tension will be palpable. Both teams have so much to lose and so much to win. If France's attacking game clicks, then Ireland are in for a tough afternoon and one they may not survive.
In a week when one arrogant world leader humiliated his guest at the Oval Office, thankfully my chief Teaser negotiators were more pleasant.
Can you name the only Galway man to be twice presented with the old Sam Maguire after All-Ireland wins? It was Enda Colleran in 1965 and 1966.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to have some manners, with PJ Martin, Kiltoom; John Croghan, Bundoran; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Brian Stenson, Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Pat Higgins, Ballaghaderreen; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Joe Coyne, Tremane; Vincent Moran, Porthard/Frenchpark; John Carney, Curraghboy; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Pat, Sligo; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Roger Shiel, Croghan; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Seán Toolan, Heston; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also showing how to be polite.
This week’s Teaser. Can you name the last Republic of Ireland men’s soccer player to score a hat-trick for his country?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from Sligo.
It was extraordinary to witness Cork hurling supporters streaming out of SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh after their hurling league clash with Kilkenny. They had no interest in waiting for the football game that followed between Cork and Roscommon last Saturday evening.
There were 22,192 supporters at the hurling game and over two-thirds of them had left before the football started. It’s quite the disconnect between the Rebels hurling and football followers. By the time Enda Smith smashed home a 48th minute penalty, the remaining Cork supporters were heading for the exit gates as the footballers were a beaten docket.
I find it hard to believe that supporters who had bought a ticket would leave after one game. It left everyone in no doubt that it's only the small ball game that matters in Cork.
Star pupil: Conor Hand was the jewel in the crown, scoring 0-6 for the Roscommon senior footballers against Cork.
Crucial win for: Mayo over Kerry who are now unbeaten in three games and are moving clear of the Division One relegation battle.
Much do better: Sligo blowing a five-point lead against Fermanagh could come back to haunt the Yeats County’s relegation fight.
Spot of bother: Unless you saw it in the flesh, it is actually hard to believe how poor Cork were against Roscommon in the second half last Saturday evening.
Weekend highlight: Being able to sit back, relax and enjoy a cracking Allianz NHL game between Cork and Kilkenny at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Saturday evening.
What a cracker: It's not rocket science as the clash of Ireland and France in the Six Nations will have the eyes of the sporting world at 2.15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
“Life will never wait for you to be okay. Get up, carry your burden and keep going.”
Sligo is the only county who have yet to score a goal in all four divisions of the National Football League.
A huge weekend in Roscommon Town with the Roscommon Community Challenge taking place.
On Friday, March 7th, it's the 5k and 8k run commencing at the Roscommon Community Sports Park in Lisnamult at 8 p.m.. On Saturday morning at 9 a.m., the 70km Cycle Challenge should attract huge interest.
