Rossies leave their ‘Mark’ on league
Roscommon senior football manager, Mark Dowd, has enjoyed an encouraging start to his life as county boss. Picture: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
While it began and ended with defeats in Killarney and Castlebar, what happened in between filled Roscommon supporters' hearts with confidence that Mark Dowd’s plan is working, after his team produced a brilliant NFL campaign with four wins. Roscommon beat the 2024 All-Ireland champions Armagh, lost to the current All-Ireland holders Kerry with the last kick of the game, and beat both the recent defeated All-Ireland finalists, Galway and Donegal, respectively.
The best news of all for Roscommon is that they will play Division One football in 2026. The trick now is to bring those league performances into the championship and, as RTÉ Sunday Game analyst Enda McGinley noted after the Donegal victory, to see whether Roscommon can take out a big side in the championship and go deep into the Sam Maguire campaign.
Big counties can shrug off the league as only a warm-up, but for counties like Roscommon, playing top-flight football is a must.
Players learn so much about the speed, intensity, and physical demands of seven high-profile games in a ten-week period. The atmosphere generated by top-flight games can’t be matched, and this year all counties fielded strong sides, which further enhanced the Primrose and Blue’s ability to garner eight points and secure safety with a game to spare.
Roscommon’s football was pleasing on the eye — sharp and slick — as Mark Dowd’s men finished as Division One's top goal scorers with 15. Indeed, the Rossies ranked top across all four divisions for the proportion of their scores coming from goals.
Enda Smith won more awards than Jessie Buckley and is surely in the running for best male performer during an intriguing and engaging Division One campaign. Senan Lambe is the new 007, and were it not for Smith’s brilliance, the Roscommon Gaels man would have been the player of the league.
Diarmuid Murtagh and Daire Cregg will aim to bring their shooting boots into the championship. Keith Doyle is adding consistency to his game and getting on the scoresheet, with the ability to knock over long-range efforts. Eoin Ward deserves enormous credit for playing six top-flight games and looking comfortable at the top table.
From the outside looking in, it’s clear that players are being given the freedom to make decisions, play the next ball, stay positive, give everything on the field — and not sulk if they aren’t starting. The St. Brigid’s and Strokestown contingent are back in harness, ensuring a competitive squad is developing.
Roscommon have enjoyed good Division One campaigns in the past — 2016 and 2023 spring to mind — but didn’t deliver in the championship when the tough questions arrived. The first test comes against Mayo in the Connacht semi-final and, after last Sunday, it will not be easy.
The Nestor Cup will be some battle, with the Tribesmen going for five in a row, Mayo starving for silverware on the western front, and Roscommon seeking a first crown since 2019.
Whatever happens in Connacht, the All-Ireland Series will determine how Roscommon’s season is ultimately judged. The teams Roscommon beat in the league will be different animals come championship, and that’s the level they must reach.
For now, the mood is positive — despite last Sunday’s defeat in Castlebar —with the New York trip on the horizon.
Last week’s teaser was all about how many floats I could get into my parade to honour St. Patrick.
Can you name the last brothers from Leinster who played in an All-Ireland senior hurling and football final with their county?
It was the Foley brothers, Des and Lar. They played for Dublin against Tipperary in the 1961 All-Ireland SHC final and two years later against Galway in the All-Ireland SFC final.
My Grand Marshal was Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis, with QPR, Frenchpark; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Pat Higgins, Ballaghaderreen; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; Pat, Sligo; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; John Croghan, Bundoran; Tom Mullaney, Boyle; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Michael Finneran, London; James Fallon, Corbally, Elphin; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Heston, Toolan; and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also decked out in green at the parade.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the only player to win All-Star hurling and football awards in the same year?
Answers via email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from London.
Star pupil: Daniel Reynolds, whose dramatic late point sealed promotion for Longford.
Crucial win for: Longford, who came from 11 points down to beat Wicklow and snatch promotion from Division Four.
Must do better: Westmeath, who will be disappointed not to have gained promotion from Division Three.
Spot of bother: Dublin manager Ger Brennan sent to the stands, and the Dubs relegated from Division One.
Weekend highlight: A wonderful show by St. Faithleach’s GAA Club, who honoured club player Ciaráin Murtagh on his retirement from senior intercounty football with a special tribute night.
What a cracker: If Donegal and Kerry go at it full tilt, the Allianz NFL Division One final should bring us nicely into championship mode.
“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular — but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”
Wexford (v Down) and Leitrim (v Antrim) are the only two teams to have raised more orange flags than white ones in a game during this year’s Allianz NFL campaign.
Chelsea and Manchester City’s tame exits from the Champions League underlined both clubs’ fall from grace in Europe.
