Roscommon Community College chasing Connacht glory
Brendan Quinn and Seán Canning who made their senior league debuts for the Roscommon senior hurlers against London on Sunday last.
Across the country at the moment, students are sitting their Leaving and Junior Cert mock exams in preparation for their State exams in June.
To bring education into a sporting context this weekend, eight schools across the province will sit their football exams. It’s the main weekend in the Connacht Colleges Senior A, B, C and D competitions with championship finals in all four grades.
Roscommon Community College are flying the flag for the county as they play St. Cuan’s, Castleblakeney, in the Senior D decider on Saturday evening in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, at 5.30 p.m..
It is the first time ever that Roscommon Community College, who are managed by James Martin (St. Brigid’s) and Conor Devaney (Kilbride), have qualified for a provincial senior final. They will be hoping for a historic first title at this level, building on recent provincial championship victories at junior, juvenile and First Year.
This year’s senior team won the Connacht junior championship two years ago. Consequently, they will travel to Ballinasloe with real confidence.
In the round robin game before Christmas, Saturday’s opponents, St. Cuan’s, defeated Roscommon Community College by two points. That result indicates that while the East Galway school holds a slight advantage heading into this showdown, a very tight final that could go either way is in store.
Roscommon Community College is backed by strong representation from Kilbride with nine players. There are also seven players from St. Aidan’s on the panel.
The team have been playing well and posting some decent tallies on route to the final. On Saturday, they will face a well-drilled, hard-working team whose greatest asset is their determination and desire.
One huge fillip is that Roscommon CC have players who are used to operating at a high level with county squads. Ryan Dowling, Seán Allen, and Tommy and Conor Morris are with the Roscommon U-20 panel. Evan McNeill, Anthony Cox and Luke Shally are currently on the county U-17 panel, while Liam Naughten was a county minor last season.
One major blow ahead of the decider is that talented forward, Luke Shally, picked up a knee injury while playing for Creggs in an U-16 rugby final and will miss Saturday’s decider. The Kilbride player has huge potential and his eye for a score will be missed.
This Connacht Colleges’ football final comes at a productive time for Roscommon Community College. The school is contesting three soccer cup finals at U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels over the next few weeks. They will be hoping to claim a hat-trick of successes under the guidance of Stuart Li and Aaron Deering.
The Connacht Colleges’ Senior B football championship final is a novel showdown between Dunmore Community College and Carrick-on-Shannon. The game will have lots of Roscommon players from both sides of the border on each school. The Primrose and Blue boys could hold the key to whatever school can open the door to success, such is their importance in both line-ups.
It’s mighty to see so many Roscommon club players involved at the coalface of the Connacht Colleges football final weekend. For Roscommon Community College, who are appearing in their first ever senior final, it’s a chance to make history as all four winners will be heading into All-Ireland Colleges senior semi-finals over the coming weeks.
What a performance, and victory, by the Irish rugby team last Friday night as they blew pre-tournament favourites for the Six Nations, France, out of the water with a scintillating display. The result has shot Andy Farrell’s men into pole position in terms of claiming back-to-back Grand Slams.
With three games at the Aviva Stadium against Italy, Wales and Scotland, alongside England at Twickenham, Ireland have every chance of claiming an incredible Grand Slam double.
This was surely Ireland’s best away win in years. It was up there with Andy Farrell’s best ever win since becoming Ireland head coach.
Without wanting to rain on Ireland’s parade, how is it that they are capable of producing outstanding rugby in the Six Nations and Autumn internationals, but cannot win a World Cup quarter-final, despite having brilliant teams over the past few tournaments?
The last eight obstacle they have failed to clear remains a mystery. If last Friday night’s match in Marseille was a World Cup quarter-final, would Ireland have scored 38 points, scored five tries and won? That is debatable as Ireland have a mental block when it comes to winning quarter-final games.
Another World Cup is four years away but what was perceived to be Ireland's greatest ever team came up short against New Zealand three steps from home only five months ago. For now, Ireland, with that World Cup pressure lifted, have hit the ground running and are now in pole position for another championship victory.
While it’s not a World Cup quarter-final, winning in Twickenham on Saturday, March 9th — with potentially everything on the Six Nations table — will test the mental strength of this Irish side as the England will not want Ireland painting London green a week before St. Patrick’s weekend.
St. Joseph’s GAA Club, based in Kilteevan, has the honour of hosting the first race meeting of the year on Saturday, February 10th, with all the action taking place indoors.
Paddy Finn’s pub has cleared an inspection, and the course has been deemed fit to stage the popular race night fundraiser event.
While demand has been brisk and the trade has been very lively, it’s not too late to buy a horse for €20 from any race committee member. All race winners on the night go into a special draw for three prizes of €500, €300 and €100.
Even if you haven’t bought a horse, there will be a tote operating at the venue, so one can bet on each race. It promises to be a great night of fun and craic. The first race is set to go off at 9 a.m., so come along and join the locals and be entertained.
While it didn’t take as long as the Northern Ireland Assembly to be formed, last week’s Teaser ensured that negotiations took place long into the night, leaving many scratching their heads before agreement was reached.
Can you name the only club in the history of the All-Ireland club senior football championship who knocked out the reigning champions two years in a row?
It was recently-crowned All-Ireland club champions, Glen, who beat Kilcoo in 2022/2023 and Kilmacud Crokes 2023/2024.
Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis, was first to get elected after burning the midnight oil. QPR, Frenchpark; John Croghan, Bundoran; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo; Mary Toolan, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham also took their seat at the head table.
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from North Roscommon.
Star pupil: Eoin McCormack as the St. Dominic’s player put in a great shift against Galway, displaying superb leadership in defence.
Crucial win for: Roscommon’s senior hurlers as they began life in Division 2B with an excellent win over London.
Much do better: Dublin have lost both their opening NFL Division One games in injury time, which points to a sloppiness by the All-Ireland champions.
Spot of bother: Two games and zero points, as Cork and Kildare sit bottom of Division Two.
Weekend Highlight: What a Friday night takeaway by the Irish rugby team in Marseille.
What a cracker: Keep an eye on the bottom of the table Premier League clash between Luton Town and Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.
At home at Kenilworth Road, Luton are very entertaining, brave and bold in their approach.
“We can’t always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it.”
That Liverpool, Manchester City and Leeds United are the only three sides in all four divisions of the English League who have yet to lose at home.
It’s hard to beat family sporting connection stories.
Rising Ireland rugby star, Jack Crowley, is a nephew of former Cork camogie star Elaine Burke who won three All-Ireland titles with the Rebels, captaining them to All-Ireland glory in 2005.
