For anybody with primrose and blue blood running through their veins, all roads lead to Croke Park this Sunday as Fergal O’Donnell’s men bid to upset the odds when they face Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The prize for winning their first Connacht title since 2001 is a Croke Park meeting with a team many would have on their shortlist as potential All-Ireland champions. Cork will, not surprisingly, be the hottest of favourites but then again isn’t that exactly as Roscommon would want it.
O’Donnell and his backroom team have being making all the right noises about putting the celebrations behind them and focusing on the task ahead. Yet it is only when the ball is thrown in at 2pm on Sunday that we will find out the mental state of the players.
History has shown that when a so-called weaker county wins a provincial decider they often struggle to perform in their next outing. Westmeath 2004 and Roscommon 2001 spring to mind. O’Donnell has first-hand experience from 2001 when Galway gained quarter final revenge for their earlier defeat in the Connacht championship at the hands of the Rossies, so he will do his best to have his players mentally tuned in.
Before last weekend I would have been less optimistic about Roscommon’s chances. Yet Cork were not overly impressive as they shook off the challenge of a plucky Limerick side after extra time. Before last weekend most people would have been of the opinion that Sam McGuire would winter in Kerry, Tyrone, or Cork. Personally now I think it’s a two-horse race between Kerry and Tyrone and having seen Tyrone in the Ulster final they will take some beating.
Roscommon surprised many with their Connacht final performance but will need to improve on that again if they are to progress to a semi-final. Donie Shine showed his class in Castlebar but is sure to be in receipt of close attention come Sunday. If Roscommon are to have any chance they will need a greater spread of scorers.
Goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey and David O’Gara are injury concerns ahead of the game but both are expected to be able to line out.
A large Roscommon contingent is expected to make its way to GAA headquarters on Sunday. They main thing they will be looking for is a competitive performance from this relatively inexperienced side. While Cork are the most likely winners, anything is possible in championship football.
Westmeath club championship round-up
Last weekend Garrycastle enjoyed a facile 1-13 to 0-3 win over a disappointing Castledaly in Pairc Ciarain in round four of the championship. In fairness to Castledaly they were very much understrength and never got going against an impressive green and red outfit.
Garrycastle themselves were without a host of regulars but showed their strength in depth with an eye-catching performance. This win guarantees Anthony Cunningham’s men a place in the knockout stages and they look likely to claim a semi-final spot.
This weekend the remainder of the round four games are down for decision. Athlone take on Corralstown/Kinnegad in Moate at 7pm on Friday. We have won our first three games while Kinnegad have struggled so far and are still seeking their first win. Yet when both sides met recently in the league it was the reds who came out on top. A win would put Athlone through to the knockout stages, something we haven’t achieved in a few years. Kinnegad need to win to stave off any threat of relegation. With so much to play for this should be a ding dong battle. Anytime these two sides have met in recent years there has never been much between the sides and this occasion will be no different.
On Saturday in Ballymore at 5.30pm last year’s beaten finalists St Loman’s are up against Tubberclare. The Saints are without a win so far and will be pushed all the way by Tom Lennon’s men. Tubberclare still have their injury concerns and despite their confidence-boosting win over Kinnegad in their last outing I think the Mullingar outfit might just sneak it.
At 7pm also in Ballymore, Tyrrellspass and St Malachy’s go head to head. Tyrrellspass have also struggled so far in this year’s campaign and will be keen to collect both points on offer here. They should be able to do so but it won’t be straightforward.
On Sunday Maryland will be looking to get back to winning ways against Killucan in Cusack Park at 7.15pm. Both sides have two wins under their belts and a win here would secure a place in the knockout stages. If there is going to be a draw this weekend I expect it will be here.
On Monday evening Mullingar Shamrocks and The Downs will battle it out in Cusack Park at 6.30pm. The Downs will be encouraged by their win over Tyrrellspass but might find the going tougher here against Shamrocks.
Why any game is fixed for the Monday of the August bank holiday weekend baffles me. In my opinion, and having talked to a lot of players about this issue, the August bank holiday weekend should be left free of games. This is after all the peak holiday season. Are there not enough other weekends in the year? Bad enough that some of us to have to miss out on the craic at the Galway Races but any player taking the field on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday can forget about getting away anywhere for the long weekend. Time for common sense to prevail.
