Roscommon senior footballers got their promotion push back on track with a convincing win over Cork in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Saturday.
While Cork got off to a good start (leading 0-5 to 0-3 after 20 minutes or so), once Roscommon settled into the game a series of scores before half-time laid the foundation for a big win. On another day the margin might not have been so substantial. Cork did miss a lot of chances, and struck the crossbar twice with goal attempts. But Roscommon were good value for their big win. It was good to see the attack flowing again, good too to see Roscommon being ruthless.
This was a performance which essentially banishes the memory of an unsatisfactory outing in Navan, where Roscommon lost to Meath. Whether it’s akin to the setback of Navan or the commanding display of last weekend in Cork, there will, as Van Morrison sang, be days like this.
The main thing is that the trend is good. It’s now four wins from five for Roscommon in Division Two. A real positive of this league campaign to date is the breadth of options now available to Davy Burke, with new players doing really well and established first-teamers returning in fine form.
Introducing… the ‘Meath Mourinho’
Meath senior football manager Robbie Brennan has a colourful, straight-talking style. His team is flying. Last Sunday, Conor Duke scored a controversial late goal (allegedly it came three seconds after the hooter had sounded) to secure a win over Westmeath.
Here’s what Brennan had to say about the finale to the game when asked by LMFM Radio: “I don’t know… I was giving out to the linesman like I was for most of the half so I didn’t actually see it, all I know is when Dukey rattled the net I was gone off like Jose Mourinho down the line like a mad man.”
The ‘Meath Mourinho’ was just as open when saying this of the new rules: “My own honest opinion is they’ve lost the run of what we’re trying to do. The whole idea here was to try and protect the game and we’re not doing that. That’s not Gaelic football… you turn your phone on and it’s 17-0 to somebody, it’s a joke to be honest with you the way it’s gone. It’s a mix of outdoor basketball with a breeze, soccer-style defending with eleven behind the ball in zonal stuff, and a bit of rugby thrown in for a few scrums around the middle – God forbid we forget our rugby brethren”.
Brilliant!
Wishing CBS well on Sunday
Roscommon CBS is a school with a proud sporting tradition. For decades, that was primarily in GAA terms, but like other schools in the region, Roscommon CBS now excels across a range of sports.
This Sunday in Longford, the current CBS Gaelic football team is on the cusp of greatness. After a fine campaign during which they have grown in confidence – impressing more and more in each outing – they enter an All-Ireland final with every chance of success. It won’t be easy however. Patrician High School (County Monaghan) have their own proud tradition, their own impressive journey this season to inspire them, and their own legitimate dreams of glory this weekend.
It’s likely to be close. It seems certain that the title will go to the hungriest team, provided they have a bit of luck on their side too. All of County Roscommon is behind the CBS. We wish the players, management and all at the school every success on Sunday. (See our preview on pages 38-44).
Don’t forget your ladder
(five years ago)
Five years ago this month, then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed the Irish people on the immediate threat posed by the emerging Covid-19 pandemic. The main concern then, and in the perilous months that followed, was for the health and welfare of our people. It was a health crisis, and very soon it was an economic one, and a wider societal nightmare.
Very quickly, sport was impacted greatly. The sporting world as we knew it came crashing down, with hundreds of sports forced to cancel competitions.
Massive international events such as the summer Olympics and Paralympics of 2020 were postponed and ultimately not held that year.
At first, the absence of competitive sporting action was a terrible blow for supporters. The only consolation was that TV companies, radio stations and podcast presenters stepped in with some creative ideas.
Suddenly, watching Alan Shearer (yes, even Alan Shearer) and Gary Lineker and other pundits such as Ian Wright and Micah Richards select their ‘Top 10s’ (players, matches, goals, etc) was a saviour for fans bereft because of the abrupt absence of live action. Suddenly, Aan Shearer was Billy Connolly (well, not quite).
Then there was a limited amount of live sport being played ‘behind closed doors’, i.e. with no spectators present. This was very welcome, although the lack of atmosphere undoubtedly took from the viewing experience. Still, we were grateful for some competitive sport to enjoy.
When GAA club games resumed, the novelty of an Irish solution to an Irish problem brought some amusement, with photos appearing of innovative supporters (a handful at least) bringing ladders to venues and catching some of the action by glimpsing over walls. One fan even placed a ladder against the wall in St Coman’s cemetery so that he could view a game in Dr Hyde Park!
Yes, it’s not a dream… we lived through such times.
The name game…
I see that Cusack Park in Clare is to be renamed ‘Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg’. Our thoughts are with our colleagues in the local media in Clare; we are here for them at this difficult time.
Costello shines in Spain
Olivia Costello’s tremendous progress continues. The Roscommon Town golfer had a sensational week at the Women’s Spanish Amateur Championship, underlining her class.
After a fantastic run in earlier rounds, Olivia reached last Sunday’s final, where she met Nagore Martinez Salcedo of Spain.
The Roscommon golfer went two holes up after four, and led by three after the first nine. However, the home golfer began to rein Costello in, finally making it all square after 15. The duo shared holes 16 and 17 before the Spaniard won the 18th, taking the title by the narrowest of margins.
This was a wonderful performance (all week) by Olivia Costello. It was a magnificent achievement to finish runner-up in this tournament, having defeated several top players in a high-quality field.
Serial winner Higgins spanning the decades
When John Higgins won his first professional snooker tournament (1994), it was the year of OJ Simpson’s arrest, Bill Clinton was US president, the first episode of Friends was released in America, and Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party in the UK.
Last weekend, Higgins became the oldest winner of a ranking tournament in 43 years, just short of his 50th birthday (in May).
Higgins defeated Joe O’Connor 10-6 in the final of the World Open, played in China. He did it in style too, winning the decisive frame with a century break.
Higgins is now the second-oldest winner of a ranking tournament in snooker history; the distinction of being oldest winner still lies with the late Ray Reardon, who was 50 when he won the Professional Players’ Tournament in 1982.
Playing to the crowd!
Here’s an annoying thing that some soccer players do (I’m sure readers will agree).
It’s a home game. Let’s say their team has been under pressure for 5/10 minutes… basically they’re being outplayed. Player X makes a good defensive tackle, or perhaps an average run forward which wins a throw, or a corner.
Then, in order to draw attention to the fact that it was their play that broke the other team’s momentum – however unspectacularly – Player X simply (but prominently) gestures to the crowd with their arms. It comes across as a rallying gesture, demanding more vocal support from the stands, while ensuring to convey the message that it was Player X who has suddenly lifted the whole team.
I’m sure there are times when this type of thing is totally genuine and heartfelt, but there are also times when it’s self-serving, opportunistic attention-seeking!
