Tyrone to test the Rossies’ rising
Mark Dowd masterminded a famous Roscommon victory over Mayo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday afternoon. Picture: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
The shoe is on the other foot, with Tyrone lying in the long grass and Roscommon firm favourites for Sunday’s eagerly awaited showdown after their exploits in the Division One League and their recent provincial championship success.
With the game in King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park, Mark Dowd’s men are the ones in the box seat. Tyrone have been idle for the past six weeks, but the Red Hand County, who took Armagh all the way — only losing by a point after extra time — and with Malachy O'Rourke in charge, will test the recent Rossies’ rising.
Remember, they were in last season’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final and gave Kerry plenty of problems for long periods.
One pleasing aspect of Roscommon’s upturn in fortunes is that they are turning Dr Hyde Park into a fortress. This year, they have beaten Monaghan, Armagh, Donegal and Galway at home, and with supporters loving their days out in Hyde Park, another scalp can be claimed this weekend.
Moments after Roscommon had won a historic Connacht championship against Galway, I interviewed Ronan Daly for Shannonside FM Sport. Despite all the excitement and madness, the Pádraig Pearses defender’s focus had already shifted when he stated that the last time the Primrose and Blue were Connacht champions in 2019, it was Tyrone next day out who beat Anthony Cunningham’s men 0-17 to 0-13 in the Hyde.
Straight away, the mentality of this current squad is obvious — it’s one game at a time.
While it will be impossible to replicate May 10th, the feeling is that another bumper crowd will be present, as supporters have fallen in love with the way this team plays — a marriage built on trust, loyalty, commitment, passion and pride in the county jersey.
Under the new format, winning a provincial title doesn't guarantee any extra strawberries on the cake, with Kerry’s reward a meeting with Donegal and Roscommon having Tyrone calling for the afternoon as visitors.
For the 16 teams in the race for Sam Maguire, they are all sitting in the departures lounge waiting to board their flight. Once they touch down after 70-plus minutes at a higher altitude, some will arrive in more favourable destinations than others.
Eight will be battling it out to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals with a win, while the remaining eight know they might only have one more game left in the championship.
Two years ago in Omagh, Roscommon beat Tyrone for the first time ever in the championship, and while that will have little relevance to what happens on Sunday, it will be in the players’ minds that they won the last time they met.
Tyrone will have watched how Roscommon have scored 5-46 against Mayo and Galway respectively. They will arrive in the Hyde with a plan to try and curb the home side’s scoring threat.
In fairness to Galway, they did a solid job in trying to keep Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith quiet. But what happened? Darragh Heneghan cut loose, blowing Galway’s best-laid plans out the window.
Roscommon have so many options up front, it will give the opposition massive headaches trying to solve the puzzle. Galway posted 2-22 and it still wasn’t enough to get over the line, so Tyrone know the challenge ahead is a big one.
Roscommon have played nine quality games to date — seven in Division One and two in the championship against Mayo and Galway, with New York just a run-out. Compare this to Tyrone, who failed to get out of Division Two and have only one championship game — the form line is in Roscommon’s favour.
Yet in championship meetings between the counties at minor, U-20 and senior level, Roscommon have only ever beaten the Red Hand County once, and this will give Tyrone confidence that they can rain on the Rossies’ parade.
There is no better team than Tyrone to use motivation as a tool to beat their opponents, and they will have watched all the glowing tributes and reports currently being bestowed on Roscommon.
Tyrone have been through savage Ulster championship clashes over the years and survived, so coming to King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park will not faze them. Players like Niall Morgan, Michael McKernan, Conn Kilpatrick, Darren McCurry and Darragh Canavan will relish this contest.
This game will also see two of the top goalkeepers in the country, Conor Carroll and Niall Morgan, calling the shots.
After beating Galway in a thrilling finish, Roscommon proved they can be trusted as they build consistency, performing to a high level in big games. If Roscommon can add Tyrone to Mayo and Galway, it becomes a very impressive run of victories and will prove the players can handle rising expectations.
In a week with lots of comings and goings in Westminster, my front bench remained loyal.
Who was the first team to win the National League and All-Ireland championship in the same year? It was Cork hurlers in 1926.
QPR, Frenchpark, was the first to make his feelings known. Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; John Croghan, Bundoran; Tom Mullaney, Boyle; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Pat, Sligo; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also let their voices be heard.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the oldest manager to win the Scottish top-flight title?
Answers by email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from Athlone.
Star pupil: Eoghan Cahill who scored 1-12 for Offaly during their thrilling Leinster SHC win over Wexford.
Crucial win for: Westmeath who won their first Leinster SFC title since 2004.
Much do better: Chelsea have now lost seven consecutive cup finals at Wembley.
Spot of bother: Roscommon’s Christy Ring Cup hopes rest on the shoulders of New York winning the Nicky Rackard Cup. The Statesiders will have to beat Mayo and Tyrone in the process.
Weekend highlight: Who said the provincial football championships were in the funeral home — they are alive and well with massive parties, and titles, on either side of the River Shannon.
What a cracker: While it's not knockout football, the clash of Kerry and Donegal will shape what routes both teams' respective championship journeys will take.
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