Roscommon SFC final (Hyde Park, Sunday 4pm )
Reigning Roscommon and Connacht club champions St Brigid’s put their title on the line again this Sunday when they take on Elphin in a repeat of last year’s county decider. On that day the men from south Roscommon had five points to spare. They then went on to collect the Connacht title and were narrowly beaten by Crossmaglen in the all-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day.
Having failed to fully ignite yet in this year’s campaign they still find themselves back in a final where they should once again prove too strong for Elphin. A little bit like Mullingar Shamrocks in Westmeath, Elphin are certain to have learned from last years defeat at the same stage and are sure to put up a good fight.
Despite missing the likes of Ger Aherne, Robbie Kenny, Mark O’Carroll, Ian Kilbride, and John Tiernan, Noel O Brien’s men should have enough strength in depth to retain the Fahy Cup.
Meanwhile in the Roscommon Intermediate decider, favourites Padraig Pearses needed a last gasp point from the boot of Aaron Fehilly to share the spoils against a gutsy St Dominic’s outfit in Kiltoom last Sunday.
Pearses looked set for a comfortable victory when they held a five point lead after 23 minutes. The Saints refused to read the script however and clawed their way back into contention with a string of fine points and indeed had one hand on the Jimmy Murray Cup until Fehilly converted a 45 four minutes into injury time.
The general consensus is that Dominic’s might have missed the boat. Pearses have more scope for improvement throughout the field. The men from Knockcroghery will have other ideas but I expect Pearses to shade the replay which takes place in Kiltoom tomorrow, Saturday, at 4.30pm.
