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Roscommon GAA thread

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Took a day off before I could look back on the game on TV which sometimes gives an additional perspective. No doubt the best team won and fully deserved their 9 point win. The foundation was laid at midfield which led to Galway having 60% possession to Roscommon's 40%. As both teams were fairly accurate with their shooting, winning possession and aggression primarily decided the game. From my viewing Galway players cleaning caught 12 LONG kickouts (D'Arcy 7, Silke 2, Kelly 1, Thompson 1, Conroy 1) while Roscommon only managed 4 (Nolan 2, Cunnane 1, Neary 1). I have not included short kickouts and breaking ball in those figures. What was clear all day was that Galway were much better coached in blocking Roscommon players (legal & illegal) from competing for the ball allowing Cian D'Arcy clean runs. I was on the sideline looking at the match and John Divilly the senior Galway coach was loundly giving continuous instructions to the Galway players at that side of the pitch. I did not notice any Roscommon coach giving the same advice and motivation at the terrace side to the Roscommon players. I did not give enought credit to Ben O Carroll in a previous post who played very well. Only Ben and the two Murtagh brothers scored from play from the starting 6 forwards and 2 midfielders which is unusual when your kicked 18 points. Two of our starting backs really struggled and alternative players have to be considered along with a couple of additional changes elsewhere. (Don't like naming players on an open forum) Two additional things worth mentioned were 1. Roscommon should have had a clearcut penalty in the first half when Gleeson took Ben O Carroll down. Best of luck to a fine Galway team and there is no reason why you can't bring Sam over the Shannon again. Roscommon have an awful lot of work to do but teams can turn things around sometimes. ( Cork, Leitrim etc, etc) letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 716 - 22/04/2025 18:41:31 2603723 Link
Replying To letsgetgoing: "Took a day off before I could look back on the game on TV which sometimes gives an additional perspective. No doubt the best team won and fully deserved their 9 point win. The foundation was laid at midfield which led to Galway having 60% possession to Roscommon's 40%. As both teams were fairly accurate with their shooting, winning possession and aggression primarily decided the game. From my viewing Galway players cleaning caught 12 LONG kickouts (D'Arcy 7, Silke 2, Kelly 1, Thompson 1, Conroy 1) while Roscommon only managed 4 (Nolan 2, Cunnane 1, Neary 1). I have not included short kickouts and breaking ball in those figures. What was clear all day was that Galway were much better coached in blocking Roscommon players (legal & illegal) from competing for the ball allowing Cian D'Arcy clean runs. I was on the sideline looking at the match and John Divilly the senior Galway coach was loundly giving continuous instructions to the Galway players at that side of the pitch. I did not notice any Roscommon coach giving the same advice and motivation at the terrace side to the Roscommon players. I did not give enought credit to Ben O Carroll in a previous post who played very well. Only Ben and the two Murtagh brothers scored from play from the starting 6 forwards and 2 midfielders which is unusual when your kicked 18 points. Two of our starting backs really struggled and alternative players have to be considered along with a couple of additional changes elsewhere. (Don't like naming players on an open forum) Two additional things worth mentioned were 1. Roscommon should have had a clearcut penalty in the first half when Gleeson took Ben O Carroll down. Best of luck to a fine Galway team and there is no reason why you can't bring Sam over the Shannon again. Roscommon have an awful lot of work to do but teams can turn things around sometimes. ( Cork, Leitrim etc, etc)" A very informative and thoughtful post. I haven't been able to face watching it back! Think I'd need a brandy beforehand. I noticed Dvilly as well giving instructions on the terrace side. Our sideline didn't seem to be able to do anything to combat Darcy. And maybe he was just unplayable but could they have had someone like Fallon to track him at kick outs after the first two or three he won. Ben O'Carroll did very well against one of the top man markers in the country which was a positive. We really lacked dynamism in the middle third and like the Brigids poster said, it is strange what has happened to Conor Hand. He was so effective for us in the league but seemed to fall out of favour in the last few games. FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 59 - 22/04/2025 22:19:52 2603770 Link
John McManus and Conor Hand picked injuries in the warm up on Sunday ruling them out from playing any part. The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4017 - 23/04/2025 12:14:15 2603841 Link
Replying To The_analyser: "John McManus and Conor Hand picked injuries in the warm up on Sunday ruling them out from playing any part." Must have been an intense warm up....... More intense than the match performance it seems. 4 weeks now to save our season and 4 weeks for Davy Burke to prove he has a future as an Inter County manager. Meanwhile best of luck to the Under 20s tonight. Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2260 - 23/04/2025 12:25:43 2603848 Link
Well done to our U20 footballers and management for reaching the Connacht final tonight. A tough battle whereby Sligo threw the kitchen sink at us. 0-6 to no score after ten minutes could have proved costly be thankfully we recovered to lead by 1 point at half time and out scored Sligo by two points 2nd half could have been more as at least two other goal chances wasn't taken and some bad wides. Tough challenge v Mayo next Wednesday in Tuam but regardless it's a achievement In itself to reach the final with 10 starters who will be U20 again next year. The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4017 - 23/04/2025 22:01:29 2603938 Link
Replying To The_analyser: "Well done to our U20 footballers and management for reaching the Connacht final tonight. A tough battle whereby Sligo threw the kitchen sink at us. 0-6 to no score after ten minutes could have proved costly be thankfully we recovered to lead by 1 point at half time and out scored Sligo by two points 2nd half could have been more as at least two other goal chances wasn't taken and some bad wides. Tough challenge v Mayo next Wednesday in Tuam but regardless it's a achievement In itself to reach the final with 10 starters who will be U20 again next year." Strange game in ways in Behan tonight. The goals brought Roscommon back in to it after a dominant Sligo start. This is a young Roscommon team with several players underage again next year. There's some lovely football in this team but they will need to be far more economical and accurate in front of goal if they're to seriously challenge Mayo in the final. I felt that Roscommon's hammering of Leitrim last week did them no favours. The tight game against Sligo tonight will help but the scheduling of the Final for next week in Tuam favours a rested Mayo team. Still plenty of reason for hope in underage football in Roscommon after last Sunday's Salthill debacle. endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2369 - 24/04/2025 03:15:41 2603972 Link
Replying To endgame: "Strange game in ways in Behan tonight. The goals brought Roscommon back in to it after a dominant Sligo start. This is a young Roscommon team with several players underage again next year. There's some lovely football in this team but they will need to be far more economical and accurate in front of goal if they're to seriously challenge Mayo in the final. I felt that Roscommon's hammering of Leitrim last week did them no favours. The tight game against Sligo tonight will help but the scheduling of the Final for next week in Tuam favours a rested Mayo team. Still plenty of reason for hope in underage football in Roscommon after last Sunday's Salthill debacle." We looked on for a hammering after 10 minutes. 10 into the 2nd half we looked like winning it handy. Sligo had other ideas though. A great tussle and must have been great entertainment for any neutrals looking in. A game which deserved to be in a proper County ground not the Bekan training arena. Anyway on to the Final and hopefully a Connacht title to relieve the gloom around the Senior squad. Mayo deservedly the favourites but that team will fight to the end and maybe snake an oul win. Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2260 - 24/04/2025 10:59:12 2604004 Link
Replying To endgame: "Strange game in ways in Behan tonight. The goals brought Roscommon back in to it after a dominant Sligo start. This is a young Roscommon team with several players underage again next year. There's some lovely football in this team but they will need to be far more economical and accurate in front of goal if they're to seriously challenge Mayo in the final. I felt that Roscommon's hammering of Leitrim last week did them no favours. The tight game against Sligo tonight will help but the scheduling of the Final for next week in Tuam favours a rested Mayo team. Still plenty of reason for hope in underage football in Roscommon after last Sunday's Salthill debacle." Match against Leitrim gave the young rossies practice for goals which came in handy last night, Sligo's best period in the game was the opening ten minutes, they flew out of the traps and everything they hit went over Rooney,Niland,Walsh to name but three should go on to be established seniors for Sligo. Roscommon never panicked and the opening goal was well worked between Curran and Rory Carthy. 2nd goal came soon after came from a poor pass by Sligo keeper however it was a good finish with a defender on the line and wasn't Eoin Collins the goal scorer U17 last year? After the 3rd goal a good individual effort by John McGuinness Roscommon got control of the match and never lost it after that or looked like losing. Sligo goal in the 2nd half gave them hope though and it was goal could and should have been cleared three times before scrambled into the net. The scheduling overall is big issue for Roscommon for this final and moving forward something the Connacht GAA will need to look at tweaking. The final will be Roscommon's 4th match in 21 days while Mayo's first in 14 days. This is Mayo's strongest U20 team since they last won it in 2018 with the likes of Ryan O'Donoghue,Flynn etc and with that scheduling disadvantage it's going to be tough for Roscommon to be competitive against them but as you say regardless good players coming through which would be the main success for this and any underage team. Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 386 - 24/04/2025 12:33:17 2604027 Link
An honest appraisal of the Galway game on the Shannonside podcast from Cathal Cregg and Conor Devanney. I really enjoy listening to Conor but there was nearly a view that we should just accept that we sit about 8th (at best) in Ireland and shouldn't really expect too much more. I think this is a real shame if that is the height of the county's ambition. Especially when you see what Monaghan have been able to achive.... until last year frequently finishing in the top 6 in Div 1 and making two all Ireland semi finals in the past ten years. They did that while playing in a provincial championship that's more competetive and more taxing on a teams resources than the Connacht championship. Why should Roscommon not be aiming for something similar. Well done to the u20s the other night. Hope they can give a good account of themselves against Mayo in the final. FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 59 - 25/04/2025 15:43:28 2604246 Link
Replying To FullOfPorter: "An honest appraisal of the Galway game on the Shannonside podcast from Cathal Cregg and Conor Devanney. I really enjoy listening to Conor but there was nearly a view that we should just accept that we sit about 8th (at best) in Ireland and shouldn't really expect too much more. I think this is a real shame if that is the height of the county's ambition. Especially when you see what Monaghan have been able to achive.... until last year frequently finishing in the top 6 in Div 1 and making two all Ireland semi finals in the past ten years. They did that while playing in a provincial championship that's more competetive and more taxing on a teams resources than the Connacht championship. Why should Roscommon not be aiming for something similar. Well done to the u20s the other night. Hope they can give a good account of themselves against Mayo in the final." The thing i have noticed big time, is the differences between both set of players, is Monaghan can produce well conditioned players who can cope with the modern day physicality of inter county football. hontherossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 124 - 25/04/2025 16:26:23 2604256 Link
Replying To FullOfPorter: "An honest appraisal of the Galway game on the Shannonside podcast from Cathal Cregg and Conor Devanney. I really enjoy listening to Conor but there was nearly a view that we should just accept that we sit about 8th (at best) in Ireland and shouldn't really expect too much more. I think this is a real shame if that is the height of the county's ambition. Especially when you see what Monaghan have been able to achive.... until last year frequently finishing in the top 6 in Div 1 and making two all Ireland semi finals in the past ten years. They did that while playing in a provincial championship that's more competetive and more taxing on a teams resources than the Connacht championship. Why should Roscommon not be aiming for something similar. Well done to the u20s the other night. Hope they can give a good account of themselves against Mayo in the final." Fully agree with you. Roscommon have a great gaa tradition and we should not limit our ambition. I hope to see Roscommon in an All Ireland final some year and winning it. There's no outstanding team out there. Dublin, with all their resources, have lost for the last two years to Louth at U20. Ros will rise again but change is needed from Salthill last Sunday. The next managerial appointment after Davy Burke is one the County Board needs to get right. endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2369 - 25/04/2025 16:45:51 2604260 Link
I doubt It's a case of putting a limit on ambitions more reaching a point of where the team is at. Monaghan's two semi final appearances was by topping their group (can't be reached that way any more) and two years ago reached it by beating Armagh on a penalty shootout. This summer I would expect 7 of the Div 1 teams (Donegal,Dublin,Tyrone,Armagh,Kerry,Mayo,Galway) to reach the last eight so long as they aren't paired against each other in the last 12 game. And if that happens it would leave 1 spot open to reach All Ireland quarter final between the likes of Monaghan,Roscommon,Derry,Cork,Cavan,Meath etc. Monaghan look in the best form among that group of teams to grab that spot but things had change come June. Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3588 - 25/04/2025 17:34:32 2604272 Link
@ endgame, you are corrct, we are going through a time in football where the gap between the top teams has been reined in and it is a shame we seem to have stagnated instead of pushing on to the next level. And when you mention u20s, Monaghan have had very little success at that grade with very few Ulster final appearances, we had three all Ireland finals in 12 years. And have a few more Connachts. There is a talent pool there but it doesn't seem to be brought on like it could be. I would love to see them make a semi final. It would really bring football in the county on. @ hontherossie that fits in with your point on conditioning and the set up of the teams when it comes to senior. Monaghan seem to have an ability to get more out of their senior squads. Did Banty and O'rourke bring in a template and standards that seem to have stood well with them since. They have no fear either in who they play. Physicality, tackling, defending seem to be issues for a long long time while the county board pay out big money for managers and coaches. FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 59 - 25/04/2025 17:40:01 2604274 Link
Replying To FullOfPorter: "@ endgame, you are corrct, we are going through a time in football where the gap between the top teams has been reined in and it is a shame we seem to have stagnated instead of pushing on to the next level. And when you mention u20s, Monaghan have had very little success at that grade with very few Ulster final appearances, we had three all Ireland finals in 12 years. And have a few more Connachts. There is a talent pool there but it doesn't seem to be brought on like it could be. I would love to see them make a semi final. It would really bring football in the county on. @ hontherossie that fits in with your point on conditioning and the set up of the teams when it comes to senior. Monaghan seem to have an ability to get more out of their senior squads. Did Banty and O'rourke bring in a template and standards that seem to have stood well with them since. They have no fear either in who they play. Physicality, tackling, defending seem to be issues for a long long time while the county board pay out big money for managers and coaches." We have some good lads coming on stream now. Is there any S&C or other development plan for them. We'll know our Group opponents next Wednesday but expectations haven't been as low for a Championship since 2012... Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2260 - 25/04/2025 18:54:28 2604284 Link
Looked at the game again last night. It was absolutely shocking and the worst I've seen our seniors since they were hammered by mayo in I think 2008/2009 in Castlebar. We were completely flat, rudderless and lacking any fight once the goal was scored. Burke needs to get a good hold of the players and go back to basics and find some way of getting a bit of pace and direction into our attack which has to be said is overrated for the past number of years. I was delighted to hear Conor Devaney call him out on his antics on the sideline too. It serves no purpose and if anything looks petty and amateurish. Does himself no favours with ref decisions either which is understandable . Keith Doyle needs to start too. Outstanding in most league games, he is not being favoured by some of the coaching staff. I'd be gone if I was dropped again for the effort being put in. Players also need to show a bit of leadership and demand a change in the over and back lethargic build up. There's only a couple of years left in our more experienced lads. Time is running out. On another note congratulations to the u20s. Very good achievement to get to the final. I've seen mayo up close and I think they can win the all Ireland so to pull off A win would be monumental but you never know at this age. If Ros hold it to 6/7 points it will be admirable and that's not being defeatist. Ros2013 (Roscommon) - Posts: 529 - 25/04/2025 20:29:03 2604302 Link