Ultan Harney was a ‘true warrior’
BRAVEHEART: Ultan Harney gave Roscommon supporters a myriad of memories during his intercounty career. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
I didn’t get an opportunity in recent weeks to acknowledge Ultan Harney’s retirement from the Roscommon senior football team.
Two words best summed up his contribution to the Rossies — true warrior. The Clann na nGael powerhouse lived his football life on the edge, relished being in the trenches, and the thought of combat football brought out the best in him.
To copper-fasten his dedication and commitment, he is on the A-list of Roscommon players who have won Connacht championship medals at minor, U-21 and senior level, which is testament to Ultan’s quality.
At senior level, Ultan made 68 appearances, scoring 2-29, and had the wonderful habit of hitting important scores.
I first got to know Ultan as a First Year student in St. Aloysius College and, straight away, it was obvious that here was a young footballer who would run through a brick wall with no fear. His greatest asset also proved to be his greatest weakness, as injuries piled up throughout his playing career because of his passion.
Ultan didn’t like the physio room and, on several occasions, he came back too quickly from broken bones, knocks and bruises, which resulted in setbacks and further time on the sidelines.
He quickly made the transition from club to college, to development squads, to county minor, U-21 and senior, carving out his own unique niche as a physical footballer.
He was part of a cracking group of young footballers who decorated the Primrose and Blue from underage to senior level and, if my memory serves me right, only Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith remain on the senior team from that talented group of footballers who grew from little acorns in 2008 as U-14 players to big oaks over the next 18 years.
From early on, I felt that Harney would be ready-made for the army — strong, fit, demanding physical contact, but also possessing a very astute football brain. Ultan also achieved the great honour of winning a club SFC medal with Clann na nGael in 2018, which meant a lot to him.
Mam (Kathleen) and Dad (Eamon) had a huge influence on his career and were there when injuries occurred to lift his spirits. Later, his wife Kayleigh proved to be the rock and now has him under her feet all the time!
In 2015, Roscommon won a thrilling Connacht U-21 football final against Galway after extra-time in Tuam and, less than 18 hours later, Ultan Harney, Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh were introduced by John Evans for the Roscommon seniors against Westmeath in the final round of a promotion-clinching Allianz NFL Division Two encounter, with the three wise men answering the call.
The hope now is that another Ultan Harney will emerge from successive provincial-winning U-17 and U-20 teams. The good news is that Clann na nGael have him all to themselves now.
Once the draw for this season's Connacht Club SFC came out of the oven, deep down a potential semi-final clash between the Galway and Roscommon champions set the pulses racing.
It has now come to pass and the main course on the à la carte menu is Salthill-Knocknacarra and St Brigid's, with diners asked to be seated in Pearse Stadium by 3.30 p.m. ready to sample the feast in front of them.
In their last two games, St Brigid's have scored 3-49 as their attack is more potent and dangerous than any cyber attack. This is the game that Shane Cunnane and Eddie Nolan will be required for as two of the All-Ireland favourites go head-to-head.
The Roscommon champions look like a team that have tailored their season to peak in the provincial championship but Pearse Frost’s injury is a headache they could do without.
Salthill put so much into winning Galway that there is a feeling they might come up short in this heavyweight clash, but there is no doubt about the quality, class and experience they have on the field.
The home side got more from their tough quarter-final victory than St. Brigid's did from their canter.
Sunday’s shootout will bring the best out of both teams. A win would complete a hat-trick of victories for St. Brigid's against Galway champions, as the Green and Red defeated Corofin in 2023 and Maigh Cuilinn last season, and now chase down Salthill.
On the only occasion that Cork have an Allianz football and hurling league double-header in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the Roscommon footballers are in town on Saturday night, February 20th.
Mark Dowd’s men play the Rebels in a Division One clash, which is the curtain-raiser to the Munster hurling derby as the home side welcome All-Ireland champions Limerick to the banks of the lovely Lee.
The last time the Primrose and Blue were down south in 2024, it was also a double-header with Cork and Kilkenny hurlers on first. Amazingly, once the full-time whistle blew in the small-ball game, there was a mass exodus from the ground as if every fire alarm had gone off before the football encounter had even got underway.
This time round, it will be so different as, by full-time in the football match, the venue will be packed to capacity for the eagerly awaited hurling battle. For Roscommon supporters spending the night in Cork, this will be a special treat as they sit back and watch a rip-roaring contest.
The football clash, which is game four in the National Football League, will be pivotal to how both counties' Division One campaigns might end up.
As the Democrats were trouncing the Republicans across the Atlantic in the midterm elections, my Teaser gang were creating their own blue wave.
Can you name the English goalkeeper who has saved the most penalties in the Premier League? It was David James with 13.
Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen, had the safest pair of hands, followed by Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; QPR, Frenchpark; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Pat, Sligo; John Croghan, Bundoran; James Healy, Mount Talbot; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston; Marcus Ward, Lytham, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, showing that they were capable net-minders.
This week's Teaser: Can you name the last footballer to win a Connacht SFC medal and a Leinster SFC medal in the same year?
Answers by email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week's Teaser came from London.
Star pupil: St. Brigid’s corner-forward, Ben O'Carroll, is back to his brilliant best, scoring 1-7 against St. Mary's and bringing his personal tally to 4-40 for the season.
Crucial win for: UCD, who defeated Drogheda United to regain their place in the SSE LOI Premier Division for next season.
Must do better: Gowna, after losing an 11-point lead against Crossmaglen Rangers in the Ulster club SFC quarter-final.
Spot of bother: St. Brigid's full-back Pearses Frost picked up an arm injury against St. Mary’s. Hopefully, it is not as serious as first feared.
Weekend highlight: David Moyes equalling Harry Catterick's all-time record of 592 games as manager of Everton is an incredible achievement for the current Toffees boss, who will set a new record next time out against Brentford.
What a cracker: Before Garth Brooks hits Pearse Stadium next May, the footballers of Salthill-Knocknacarra and St. Brigid's take centre stage.
You can be sure, by name-checking a famous song, that "The Thunder Rolls".
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."
St Brigid's have faced Galway opposition ten times in the Connacht Club SFC, with the Roscommon holders leading 7-3.
Watch out for Premier League clubs chasing the signature of Republic of Ireland star Jack Moylan when the transfer window opens in January.
The Cardiff City striker is in a rich vein of form with ten goals and, internationally, his partnership with Troy Parrott is an exciting prospect for the Boys in Green.
