Roscommon Gladiators can conquer Clones Colosseum
Roscommon will need Daire Cregg firing on all cylinders against Monaghan on Saturday. Picture: INPHO/Andrew Paton
No more back doors as Roscommon have entered last-chance saloon territory in the All-Ireland SFC. It’s a matter of staying on the horse because any fall and it's back to the stables for the rest of the summer.
For Mark Dowd’s men, it's championship game five and standing in front of them is Monaghan in what will be a first-ever championship meeting between the sides.
How Roscommon start on Saturday afternoon doesn’t bother me. It’s how the Rossies finish that will be hugely important as Monaghan have delivered in the final quarter during their last three games.
They came from ten points down against Derry to win after extra time, nine down against Armagh to force extra time in the Ulster final, and 11 down against Mayo to lose by one as the hooter caught them following another crazy Lazarus-like revival.
Those dramatic comebacks — when all seemed lost — make Monaghan dangerous opposition and, for the fourth time in five championship games, they are at home in Clones.
After being relegated from Division One, it seemed the Ulster men were on the ropes but, in typical Farney fashion, they refused to go quietly.
But if Roscommon have ambitions of going to the next level, then this is the type of game they must win. Anything less would put a damper on a championship that has created loads of hope of, at least, reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
I believe Roscommon’s performances against Mayo, Galway and Tyrone were superior for longer periods than Monaghan’s were against Derry, Armagh and Mayo. Gabriel Bannigan’s side will offer up loads of chances to the opposition, so Roscommon will have to be ruthless and punish them.
There’s no doubt that Monaghan will fancy this one. They are at home and have the knowledge that they always finish strong, while they will also be aiming to start on the front foot.
Their game is all about Rory Beggan, momentum, chaos and Jack McCarron kicking two-pointers.
In league football, Monaghan hold the edge as they have beaten the Primrose and Blue in Scotstown, Ballybay, Inniskeen and Clones over the years. Quite frankly, Roscommon’s fortunes on Monaghan soil have been atrocious.
This is just the game to test the fabric of Mark Dowd’s side — a tough knockout championship game away from home and one that will confirm whether progress has been made or it’s a case of the same old story.
It’s a concern that Roscommon’s all-conquering, treble Connacht-winning sides have all failed to win a game outside the province, as the U-20s lost to Kerry, the seniors to Tyrone, and last Saturday evening the U-17s lost to Derry.
The message is simple — the seniors need to stop the rot.
Once upon a time, a wedding was a one-day gig. But these days it has become at least a two-day event and, in some cases, it might even stretch into a third if the mind and body are able for it.
I’ll tell you in a few weeks’ time as my sister Martina is getting married on Friday week.
Tulsk GAA Club went a step further by turning the opening of their new pitch and the cutting of the ribbon into a four-day football festival after hosting a remarkable Hooley that lasted from Friday, May 29th, to Monday, June 1st.
The club deserves enormous credit for turning water into wine, ensuring they had something for everyone in the parish and surrounding areas. It was brilliant to see the community coming together — male, female, young and old.
Some of the highlights over the fabulous weekend included the Legends game on Saturday, as former players of all shapes, sizes and characters took to the field. Reports suggest that the pace was quicker in a nursing home.
Late hits and two-pointers were as scarce as hen's teeth as players adapted to the new rules, while the place was awash with local county councillors!
The Hegartys were represented by Jimmy “Bomber” Hegarty, who lined out in the full-forward line.
On Saturday night, it was time to meet and greet former county-winning male and female teams from the past 40 years, who were honoured and interviewed on stage by the Chicago Boy, John Quinn.
On Sunday evening, I was honoured to be asked to MC “A Night With the Stars”. The five-a-side dream team that took to the stage were Trina Murray, President of the LGFA, former Roscommon camogie star Kelley Hopkins, former Westmeath footballer and RTÉ pundit Dessie Dolan, Mark Landers, who captained Cork hurlers to the All-Ireland title in 1999, and the most famous Rossie of all, Paddy Joe Burke.
Mark Landers is married to local lady Jackie Murray, who is a sister of former Tulsk player Barry Murray.
For almost 90 minutes, the All-Star team entertained the large crowd in the marquee with humour, wit, laughter, craic and sporting knowledge. Great stories were told by all and Mark Landers informed everyone about his horse, Starting Fifteen, which will run in the Galway Hurdle this July.
Music and chat followed late into the night before the hooter sounded on the Tulsk Hooley on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.
Off the field, the maroon and white volunteers organised and planned a wonderful get-together for locals and returning emigrants. They have now passed the baton to Liam McNeill and the intermediate football team, who will be chasing championship glory later in the summer.
By that stage, we will know if the horse from Cork is still running or if “Starting Fifteen” was left on the subs’ bench!
Last week’s teaser had a home-grown treat waiting to be tasted.
Can you name the last Roscommon footballer to score a goal in four consecutive SFC games?
The answer was Darragh Heneghan as the Michael Glaveys star has raised a green flag his four championship starts against New York, Mayo, Galway and Tyrone.
QPR, Frenchpark, nourished his sweet tooth, with Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; John Croghan, Bundoran; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Paddy Boland, Youghal, County Cork; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Michael Finneran, London; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Marcus Ward, Lytham; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also sampling the goodies.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the first Connacht county, and the year, to win the provincial treble — senior, U-20 and minor football championships — in the same season.
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from Sligo.
Star pupil: Rachel Fitzmaurice who spearheaded the Roscommon junior camogie team’s excellent performance in their All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship victory over Kildare.
Crucial win for: The Galway senior hurlers who won their first Leinster SHC title since 2018, and first game in Croke Park since 2020.
Much do better: Leitrim failed to score in the first half against Wexford in the Tailteann Cup.
Spot of bother: The Roscommon U-17 footballers delivered a flat performance in their All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Derry.
Weekend highlight: Last Friday evening, when one wouldn’t put out a milk bottle in Cork, the Republic of Ireland women’s soccer team produced a rousing display to beat the Netherlands 3-2, keeping their automatic World Cup qualification hopes alive with a final-day fling against France on Tuesday evening.
What a cracker: Of all the games this weekend, Louth v Armagh at a sold-out Inniskeen has all the trimmings to be a wonderful occasion.
“When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say ‘why me’, say ‘try me’.”
Armagh’s Conor Turbitt, with 3-22, is the current top scorer in the All-Ireland SFC. Roscommon captain Diarmuid Murtagh is in second place on 1-27.
After a brave showing against Cavan in the opening round of the All-Ireland LGFA Intermediate Championship, Roscommon will be hoping to open their bank account with a home win over Down on Sunday in Enfield.
Otherwise, Finbar Egan’s side will be out of the championship.
