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Roscommon GAA thread

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "You wouldn't want to be confusing the goals Armagh coughed up to Rob Finnerty and Enda Smith in their opening NFL games with an 'ability to get goals at the right time'. More a case of Armagh's ability to self-destruct in those moments."
As were the two goals Galway handed to Kerry on Saturday evening. Self-destruction writ large on both of those. Plenty soft goals being scored this time of year, many from ropey kickouts into a strong wind. Donegal got away with a few yesterday, as did Dublin against Monaghan and Cavan against Tyrone. Derry let in a howler against Kildare. Galway had at least half a dozen very good goal chances against Mayo too, only taking two of them.
We've shown an ability to create goal chances, as have Roscommon. It's risk reward in terms of pressuring kickouts and the team in possession. Plenty risk playing football in these conditions.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2723 - 16/02/2026 13:26:12    2656784

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "You wouldn't want to be confusing the goals Armagh coughed up to Rob Finnerty and Enda Smith in their opening NFL games with an 'ability to get goals at the right time'. More a case of Armagh's ability to self-destruct in those moments."
They were both Armagh goalkeeping errors. Ability to get goals at the right time, Tierney v Armagh wouldn't have won the game without it and Carey yesterday after the great piece of skill by Duggan.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 686 - 16/02/2026 13:34:25    2656789

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Attacking has never been our problem

Also anybody else think Senan Lamb's goal should have stood? Seemed to have taken a deflection of the Armagh player?

GerBo (Roscommon) - Posts: 91 - 16/02/2026 12:56:22
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Unfortunately in many important big league or championship games attack and our wasteful shooting has proved very costly.

You aren't the only one that thinks it , the Senan Lambe fisted effort took a clear deflection off Armagh player and a goal should have been awarded. We would be 3-15 to 0-9 ahead at that stage.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4271 - 16/02/2026 15:51:37    2656827

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Very happy so far and Mark Dowd is doing a good job. Midfield continues to be a problem for Roscommon. We were wiped there in the second half yesterday. What's Roscommon 's best midfield partnership. Have we any natural midfielder coming through from underage. Roscommon had some great midfielders down the years. Our last semi final in Croke park in 1991 had Newton and Killoran. Neighbouring parish men and two fine natural midfielders.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2607 - 16/02/2026 18:53:13    2656871

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Replying To endgame:  "Very happy so far and Mark Dowd is doing a good job. Midfield continues to be a problem for Roscommon. We were wiped there in the second half yesterday. What's Roscommon 's best midfield partnership. Have we any natural midfielder coming through from underage. Roscommon had some great midfielders down the years. Our last semi final in Croke park in 1991 had Newton and Killoran. Neighbouring parish men and two fine natural midfielders."
Did John Newton play mich club football in Ros?

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1265 - 16/02/2026 20:10:59    2656889

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Replying To endgame:  "Very happy so far and Mark Dowd is doing a good job. Midfield continues to be a problem for Roscommon. We were wiped there in the second half yesterday. What's Roscommon 's best midfield partnership. Have we any natural midfielder coming through from underage. Roscommon had some great midfielders down the years. Our last semi final in Croke park in 1991 had Newton and Killoran. Neighbouring parish men and two fine natural midfielders."
And pretty much wiped Armagh out 1st half to lead by 12 points and score 2-14

Best partnership is probably the two that started yesterday. The two stand out Midfielders on Roscommon successful U20 teams, you need a lot more patience with a new partnership. Also worth to note midfield is more than just the Midfielders. Breaking ball is key and that responsibility falls to each and every player in the middle 8.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3840 - 16/02/2026 21:32:57    2656909

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Replying To moros:  "Did John Newton play mich club football in Ros?"
Played for Garda mainly I think but his home parish club would have been Shannon Gaels.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2607 - 17/02/2026 02:00:02    2656931

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Replying To endgame:  "Played for Garda mainly I think but his home parish club would have been Shannon Gaels."
Native of Shannon Gaels territory.
His oul man was a legend there.
Ended up at Leixlip in Kildare.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 367 - 17/02/2026 09:42:54    2656948

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Very impressed by the 1st half performance at the weekend. We punished Armagh when we got the chance and players stood up to the challenge. I thought the tackling and pressure on the Armagh defenders in the opening 20 minutes was fantastic, something Armagh have done to other teams in the past. The only negative was our kickouts in the 2nd half but that is something that can be easily rectified.

Armagh pegged back the score and put us under some small pressure towards the end but its hard to maintain that level of scoring throughout an entire game. The breach was as clear as day and we settled after that. Thought Duggan and Neary did well when they came on.

Yet again, Diarmuid, Enda & Daire Cregg were exceptional. Great to see the three of them in flying form. The Heneghans had good games while Ruane and McCormack showed how important they are to our set up.

Dowd has some selection headaches coming up but that's whats needed for us to win another Connaught title and push on in the All -Ireland series. A strong bench is key and when the Brigits lads are back in the fold, the players from the opening 3 games will feel they've done enough to challenge in every position.

Huge game Saturday night but nothing to fear against Galway.

Rossfan93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 95 - 17/02/2026 10:47:50    2656968

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "And pretty much wiped Armagh out 1st half to lead by 12 points and score 2-14

Best partnership is probably the two that started yesterday. The two stand out Midfielders on Roscommon successful U20 teams, you need a lot more patience with a new partnership. Also worth to note midfield is more than just the Midfielders. Breaking ball is key and that responsibility falls to each and every player in the middle 8."
The game has changed and midfield has changed but I still think it's a problem area for Roscommon.Ros Forwards are going very well and we have a number of pacey defenders. It'll be interesting to see Dowd's first championship game starting 15.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2607 - 17/02/2026 20:26:24    2657048

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Replying To endgame:  "The game has changed and midfield has changed but I still think it's a problem area for Roscommon.Ros Forwards are going very well and we have a number of pacey defenders. It'll be interesting to see Dowd's first championship game starting 15."
Look back on the 3-18 scored last Sunday, the majority of those scores came from good work on kickouts and a few scores came directly from Armagh kickouts.

2nd half Armagh chasing the game naturally pushed up and attacked each and every kick out, Roscommon while loads of bodies they appeared to be stuck in a zonal formation and Aaron Brady was directed to land and handful of his restarts to the sideline where I believe at least two was given as sideline balls to Armagh when should have gone the other way.

Problem area for Roscommon over the years has been defensively it's why so many previous managers has taken a more cautious approach when attacking. Yes under the new rules the best form of defense is to attack and play front football however defence will still win championships and forwards will win games, on the latter Shooting efficiency in games or even within games hasn't been consistent good enough in the past either. If Roscommon are as good on their shooting in their remaining games this year as they were last Sunday then Roscommon will win more games than they'll lose so it's all about finding that much needed consistent level regardless of what starting 15 is selected come championship time.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3840 - 18/02/2026 13:52:54    2657132

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Will it be Aaron Brady or Conor Carroll in goals come championship time. Elphin has a great tradition of goalkeepers for the county team. I wonder how many Brigid's players are definites to get in to the championship starting 15. Brian Stack and Ben O'Carroll. Maybe Ruairi Fallon and Conor Hand. Great that Mark Dowd has options. It's where any Manager wants to be. If Roscommon can guarantee safety in division 1, then eyes can turn to the championship. We haven't won Connacht since 2019. Galway are going for 5 Connachts in a row. Interesting year ahead.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2607 - 18/02/2026 19:11:14    2657208

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