Rossies have no room for error
Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll and his team-mates have a tough Division One League campaign ahead of them over the coming months. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
If Division One of the Allianz National Football League were seeking a second sponsor, how about Gillette for the upcoming campaign.
The top flight this season will be cut throat with all eight teams’ initial priority of getting to the magic number of six points, which would probably guarantee another season of top flight football.
With three Connacht derbies, three Ulster wars of attritions and the last two All-Ireland SFC winners Kerry and Dublin in the pot, points will be hard earned from the get-go.
Here’s my look at this season’s eight main protagonists.
Two years ago when Jack O’Connor’s returned to the Kingdom hot-seat for a third time, Kerry won the league and championship double.
Last year, they treated the league as if it was a bad smell. They only wanted to keep their heads above water, putting everything into retaining their All-Ireland crown, which came up short against Dublin.
This time around, they might go after another league title to build momentum.
After spending a season outside the top flight of league football, the All-Ireland champions will want a steady, composed return to Tier One.
They could be vulnerable in the early games, depending on what panel of players they have at their disposal.
The Ulster champions, in my view, are the closest team to Dublin and Kerry. With Mickey Harte at the helm, they have a man who wants to win every competition he enters.
After promotion from Division Two, the Oak Leaf men will not want to get caught up in the heavy traffic at the bottom half of a table.
Both Pádraic Joyce and Galway need a good league after a disappointing end to last summer’s championship when successive defeats to Mayo and Armagh took the wind from their sails.
After giving the FBD Connacht League the two fingers, Galway have put all their eggs into one basket by keeping their first team separate in preparation for the league. That will only add more pressure on the shoulders of the Tribesmen to perform.
Kevin McStay made no apology from day one last season, that they would go after a league title. They did and they won it by beating Galway in the decider.
This time around, I get the feeling that Mayo will be happy to finish mid-table. It seems that last season’s championship quarter-final drubbing at the hands of Dublin has left them shaken. They’re a team with real doubts about themselves, in my opinion.
A team that could be under pressure if they get a bad start.
They still haven’t built on their 2021 All-Ireland championship win and are losing a lot of players. First day out against Roscommon on Sunday might give us an indication of where Red Hand minds are at.
With four away games, Davy Burke’s men have no room for error. They will have to win at least once on their travels if they are to avoid a relegation scrap.
Last season, the Primrose and Blue enjoyed a dream start with three wins on the bounce. This time around, with two of their opening three games away, the climb has become a lot steeper.
The great survivors who have managed to keep the wolves from the door with last-ditch victories on the final day to avoid eviction.
Outside of Kerry, the Farney men are the longest-serving members of the Division One, having been fully paid-up members since 2015.
Sometimes, when a team have been depending on last day survival wins for a few years, they eventually run out of road.
At this time of the year in my weekly column, I keep repeating myself — the Roscommon Community Challenge gets better and better.
Halfway through another eight-week programme, it has attracted over 140 participants who run, jog and walk every Monday and Wednesday evening. The base is the fabulous Roscommon Sports Partnership Community Hub in Lisnamult in preparation for the big event on Friday evening, March 1st, which consists of a 5K or 8K run or walk — just like the 5K in the Phoenix Park to wrap up another season of Operation Transformation.
This year, the chosen charities are Roscommon Special Olympics and Roscommon Community Sports Park. Registration for the main event on March 1st can be done online via Eventbrite or, for further information, contact either Jacqueline McCormack or Noel Feeley.
The final night is always one of the highlights of the year. A bumper turnout is expected. The two worthy charities and everyone who takes part are the real winners, bringing two wonderful months of getting those winter blues out of the system to a conclusion.
Right now, this Community Challenge is a "must-do" event.
In a week where had Blue Monday, my Tuesday Teaser gang was full of life and ready for action.
Can you name the only footballer to have won All-Ireland SFC medals in 60, 70, and 80-minute finals? It was Brendan Lynch of Kerry who did the hat-trick.
Fr John McManus, PP, Castlerea, was first to have his prayers answered, with John Croghan, Bundoran; QPR, Frenchpark; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Eamon Campion, Castlerea; Pat, Sligo; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Michael Finneran, London; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also shining brightly.
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from Athlone.
Star pupil: Diarmuid Murtagh who made his 100th appearance for the Roscommon senior footballers against Galway and, in the process, captained his county to win the FBD Insurance Connacht Senior Football League.
Crucial win for: the Roscommon intermediate ladies’ footballers as they began their Division Three League campaign with a win over Down.
Much do better: Ulster will disappointed after their tame exit from the European Rugby Champions Cup following their crushing defeat against Harlequins.
Spot of bother: The concession of 1-1 at the end of both halves derailed St. Brigid’s All-Ireland hopes in Croke Park.
In the end, they went home heartbroken and empty-handed after giving so much.
Weekend highlight: To Glen, St. Brigid’s, St. Thomas’ and O’Loughlin Gaels — thank you for serving up two enthralling All-Ireland club senior football and hurling finals in Croke Park.
What a cracker: It might only be the opening weekend of the Allianz NFL but the Division One clash of Kerry and Derry under lights in Tralee on Saturday evening floats my boat as one to watch.
“We are like books. Most people only see our cover, the minority read only the introduction, many people believe the critics. Few will know our content.”
Ulster became the first province to win the All-Ireland junior, intermediate and senior club football titles in the same year.
It’s hard to make sense of the Premier League winter break, such is the drip feed of games taking place over a three-week period.
It makes a mockery of the break.
