St Michael’s conquer junior mountain
St. Michael's supporters prepare to board the Club Rossie bus en route to Tuam Stadium last Saturday.
Wrapping up my three-part series on the club football championships, we conclude with glory for St. Michael’s. They stole the hearts of supporters by becoming the novel story of the Roscommon club championships. Here are my six reflections on the Junior A voyage…
If a club is going to end their 30 year wait for championship glory, then they might as well do it in style. after a wonderful year, the Cootehall men did just that, saving their best performance of the year for county final day. They dismantled Clann na nGael’s challenge in ruthless fashion to complete the league and championship double. The team grew and grew over the course of the season into a side that won 16 games, drew 1 and only tasted defeat once during their 18-game domestic campaign, a journey that ended with a league and championship double.
They might have ended up empty-handed, but Kilglass Gaels will take great heart from giving eventual champions St. Michael’s their toughest game, losing by 2-7 to 0-9 after a serious semi-final contest. Indeed Kilglass were the only Roscommon team to have beaten St. Michael’s over the course of the season, which means the East Roscommon men have momentum going into 2024.
Clann na nGael team did little wrong during the championship, passing every exam along the way. They were expected to give St. Michael’s a mighty battle in the final, but it all unravelled in Dr. Hyde Park. A panel of players with lots of senior club championship experience under their belts stayed together en route to the final, and Clann will be one of the front runners again in 2024, given the amount of players the club has to choose from.
How quickly St. Aidan’s adjust to their new junior championship home for next season will determine if their stay is short-lived or if they struggle to get out. If they accept relegation as a time for reflection, they can be competitive. If they think they can go straight back up without putting in the effort, they could be in trouble. This is a club with wonderful facilities, trying so hard at underage level, so they will rise again. They need to use this valley period as a positive opportunity to build again.
If Clann na nGael had lifted the Junior A championship trophy, it would have being the fourth consecutive year that a club’s second team would have won the Junior A championship. It was Clann who started the cycle in 2020, followed up by St. Brigid’s and Pádraig Pearses over the past two seasons, meaning that the power houses from the south had a vice-like grip on the junior championship. St. Michael’s prevented the Grand Slam of ‘B’ winners and in the process, have given fellow sole junior clubs hope that over the next few years, they too can succeed.
Every player who wakes up on county final day pulls the curtains, hoping that sunshine will flood in the window, but Fiachra Henry could not have imagined the extent to which he was set to illuminate Dr. Hyde Park. The centre-forward delivered one of the greatest ever displays by any player in a county final, scoring 2-12. I’m sure over the past few weeks, Van Morrison’s “Days Like This” will have being playing in Fiachra headphones as he reflects on his momentous personal achievement.
Halloween may have come and gone, but we thought we had our Roscommon Herald readers spooked with this week’s teaser. Can you name the former Irish international rugby player who won an All-Ireland senior football medal in 2023? It was Hannah Tyrrell, who won an All-Ireland senior LGFA title with Dublin. First to arrive with the goodies was QPR, Frenchpark; with Pat Higgins, Ballaghaderreen; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Gerry Gacquin, Athleague; Fr. John McManus, PP Castlerea; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; John Carney, Curraghboy/Knock; John Croghan, Bundoran; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Tony Reilly, Castlerea; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Sean Farrell, Dublin; Pat, Sligo; Michael Finneran, London; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCartney, Holloway; Sean Toolan, Heston; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Michael Kearns, Clapham all went home with lots of treats.
Can you name the last Cork player to play in both All-Ireland senior finals, football and hurling, in the same year? Answers by email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from London.
Roscommon senior footballer Laura Fleming along with fellow county stars Róisín Wynne and Ciaráin Murtagh are among 50 former and current intercounty players from across the four codes that are travelling to Kenya, Africa this Friday, November 17th. They are aiming to raise money to help plant 1,000,000 trees, which will provide a sustainable income for local communities and help combat the impact of the climate change in a project called ‘Plant the Planet Games, Self-Help Africa’. Each of the 50 players who are travelling had to raise €10,000 before departing and to help Laura Fleming reach her target, fellow Roscommon Community College teachers and students came up trumps with two outstanding fundraising events in the school, yielding over €1,700.
The maths and PE teacher saw over 600 students hold a cake sale on the Thursday before the Halloween mid-term break and the response was incredible. No Christmas markets across the country could provide delicious goodies on a par with those that the students brought in. From cakes, buns, scones, brownies, tarts and cookies, the GP room was transformed into a haven of delicious confectionary treats.
Her teaching colleagues held a coffee morning in the staff room that not even President Michael D Higgins could have matched at Áras an Uachtaráin. On the Friday, both students and teachers took part in a Halloween fancy dress. Laura was taken aback by the overwhelming response she received for the wonderful adventure she is about to undertake. We wish Laura, Róisín and Ciaráin, along with the other intercounty players heading to Kenya, a safe and fruitful trip, with GAA Games on the menu as well.
Ben O’Carroll, who scored 0-6 for St. Brigid’s in their victory over Coolera-Strandhill in the Connacht SFC quarter-final.
Scotstown as the Monaghan SFC club holders defeated Kilcoo in the Ulster club quarter-final.
Coolera/Strandhill and Crossmaglen Rangers failing to score in one half of football is a very poor reflection on both sides’ performances in their respective contests.
Brian Stack and Ruaidhrí Fallon are in a race against time to be fit for St. Brigid’s Connacht semi-final against Mohill on Sunday.
I really enjoyed the promotion/relegation play-off, as Waterford FC beat Cork City 2-1 after extra time last Friday night.
Two of the favourites for the All-Ireland club SHC, Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner, clash in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday. It will not disappoint.
“Sometimes the strongest among us are the ones who smile through silent pain, cry behind closed doors, and fight battles nobody knows about”.
Former Roscommon senior team football manager John Evans has guided Cork club Cill na Martra to the County Premier IFC title and into the Muster club semi-final, after beating Kilmihil of Clare last Sunday.
The very best of luck to Enda Smith and Brian Stack, who are All-Star Football nominees this Friday night. It’s a wonderful honour for their families, clubs and county. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if one of them became the first Roscommon All-Star since Francie Grehan in 2001? The football team will be announced live on RTÉ TV this Friday night at 7.30 p.m..
