U-17 footballers one step from provincial glory
Roscommon minor football captain, Dara Curran, will be aiming to lead his side to provincial championship success against Mayo on Friday evening. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Having been the front runner since the race started, the Roscommon U-17 footballers will be hoping to finish the job against an improving Mayo side in Castlebar on Friday evening.
One of the biggest obstacles potentially preventing Shane Moran’s side from clinching provincial glory is the reality that they have been idle for nearly five weeks.
After a turbo-charged start to the round robin series with great wins over Sligo, Galway and Mayo, the Primrose and Blue had secured their passage to the final. It afforded management the opportunity to give the panel a run against Leitrim in their final group game.
Since then Roscommon have been flexing their muscles with a block of quality training and challenge games against Kerry and Cork. It brought the players back down to earth with a bang as the Munster duo taught the young Rossies a severe lesson in terms of what a provincial showdown and All-Ireland quarter-final will look like.
Galway and Mayo had to battle through the minefield of a semi-final clash last Friday evening. The Green and Red came through that test and, as a result, will be full of confidence.
Mayo were very impressive against the Tribesmen, bagging three goals. On home soil alongside their U-20s being crowned Connacht champions, a feel good factor is sweeping through the county.
Roscommon will need Tadhg Rogers, Shay McGuinness, Alex Oates, Seamus Hussey, Dara Curran, Dean Casey, Sam Hannon and Luke Shally in top form if they are to climb the mountain.
Roscommon won the group game with a bit to spare but there is no doubt that Mayo are now a different animal, scoring 12 goals in their last four games.
After a wonderful campaign, it would be a disappointment if Roscommon didn’t close out the deal by winning the provincial crown. If Roscommon’s early form holds, they can do it. If not, Mayo are primed to pounce, which would inflict a second provincial final defeat on the Primrose and Blue inside two weeks.
Like the recent U-20 cracker, this one will also go the distance.
So far in the Nickey Rackard Cup, the Roscommon senior hurlers have been like a guest at an afternoon tea party — sampling everything on offer with a defeat, draw and victory from their opening three games.
With two more afternoons of food tasting to come against Fermanagh and Louth, Kevin Sammon’s men know that a cheese and pickle sandwich will not suffice. Only two main courses will keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.
The Primrose and Blue’s performances to date wouldn’t warrant a place in the decider. After losing to Mayo, they snatched a fortunate draw against a superior Sligo side. Last day out against Armagh when they were nine points to the good, they hadn’t the conviction to go for the jugular. Instead, Armagh cut the deficit to two points entering injury time before a late Micheál Hussey point secured the win.
To stay in the hunt, Roscommon need Mayo to beat Sligo, win their last two games and hope that they can pip Sligo on scoring difference.
Currently, the Yeats County have a +26 headstart on Roscommon, which requires the home side going on a scoring spree against Fermanagh next Sunday. Even if Roscommon can fulfill that criteria, they still have to go to Louth and win.
Louth gave Mayo a serious game last time out. At one stage, they looked like winners, only for Mayo to hit ten of the final 11 scores to win by six points.
If Louth beat Armagh on Saturday, they will have something to play for, which makes the final game potentially damaging in terms of aiding Roscommon’s scoring difference.
In my view, Louth would beat Roscommon based on current form, but that’s for another day. Roscommon have to take care of Fermanagh in a ruthless manner and win by at least 15 points or greater to stay in the hunt.
Country singer Derek Ryan’s hit song “Hold On To Your Hat” seems appropriate for Sunday's thrilling finale to the RDFL Premier Division title race.
Moore United and St. John’s Athletic are going for glory on the last day of the league season. Someone is going to “lose their hat” as Moore United, if they avoid defeat, will win their second Premier League title in three seasons.
St. John’s are having a fairytale season, but they have to win on Sunday to claim a historic first-ever league title. The Lecarrow-based club will have home advantage and a bumper crowd to rival the large attendance at the recent Connacht Junior Cup semi-final with Castlebar Celtic.
St. John’s have also reached the Challenge Cup final against Glen Celtic but have yet to lift silverware.
In a gripping three-way love affair for league glory that blossomed over the past few weeks, Boyle Celtic beat St. John’s and Moore United clipped Boyle Celtic’s wings. Consequently, the last men standing go head to head on Sunday.
Moore United have a side laden with pace, power, and goalscoring ability. St. John’s have been like a Willie Mullins’ horse, jumping some huge fences. But this would be the biggest of them all if they can clinch the three points, securing a first-ever league title.
Backed by a vociferous home support, they have a real chance but Moore United will not be overawed by entering the lion's den. It should be a terrific occasion and a fabulous ending to the RDFL season.
In a week of sizzling temperatures, it was also hot in the Tuesday Teaser chamber.
Can you name the last team to beat Armagh in normal time in the All-Ireland SFC? It was Tyrone in the group stages of the 2023 All-Ireland SFC.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to cool down. John McManus, PP Castlerea; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Paddy Boland, Youghal; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Pat, Sligo; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also stayed in the shade.
This week’s Teaser: Apart from Paddy Neilan last Sunday, can you name the last referee from the province to have taken charge of the Connacht SFC final?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from Dublin.
Star pupil: Paul Conroy — the Galway midfield maestro has kicked 0-14 during the Tribesmen’s Connacht championship success, including six two-pointers.
Crucial win for: Leeds United who edged out Burnley on goal difference to clinch the Championship title after the promoted duo finished level on 100 points.
Much do better: The most arrogant team in club rugby, Leinster, blew up again, bottling another Champions Cup campaign by losing against Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Spot of bother: This time last season, Luton Town were a Premier League club. In August, they will begin life in League One after two successive relegations.
Weekend highlight: After 133 years, Goodison Park said goodbye to its last 3 p.m. Saturday game against Ipswich Town — the Old Lady was full of emotion, passion and sentiment.
What a cracker: Louth have waited 15 years to get another crack at Meath in a Leinster SFC final. On Sunday, they get that opportunity to try and right the wrongs of 2010.
“Let the “M” in May stand for more miracles, money, manifestation and motivation.
The Mayo U-17 footballers are going for a four-in-a-row of provincial titles when they play Roscommon on Friday evening.
Of the 16 teams in the All-Ireland SFC draw, Monaghan must be the happiest of all as they will fancy their chances of topping their group in the company of Louth/Meath, Clare and Down.
