Roscommon GAA Discussion Thread

rn

No, I'm not optimistic either. But it's doable.

megadodge

Mixed emotions after the Meath game.

A draw was probably a fair result, but Roscommon had enough chances to win it.

Considering the timid performances we've seen from them for quite some time now, there was definitely more bite and fight today. The defending overall was very good, but the really cheap turnovers by the forwards in the first half (most of which appeared to be punished by scores the other end) really cost Roscommon in the end.

Enda had his best game in the last two years. Not just the two-pointers, but his overall play was impressive too.

However, the really poor return from kickouts was simply unforgivable. Roscommon were nearly wiped out for the middle third of the game on kickouts from both sides. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again - Doyle has to play in order for Roscommon to win their fair share of kickouts. It's not that he wins clean ball every time, it's just that his physical presence alone means the opposition struggle to win the ball themselves. The bottom line is Roscommon as a team win more kickouts when he's on the pitch! It's that simple.

It's all to play for now against Cork and they need to play with the same spirit as today and just cut out the cheap turnovers. If they do, they can win.

theoneeyedman

Point lost.

Doyle did well when he came on, but he has been hit and miss this year. I wouldn't put all our failings on the midfielders, or even the goalie. We're getting cleaned out on breaking ball primarily. I don't know if it's been worked on specifically at training, but while there has to be systems of play available to improve breaks, much of it is down to heart and fire in the belly.

We worked hard this evening, a hit of energy in the team which is an improvement, but it's still a point dropped.

megadodge

I know they made it hard (very) on themselves, but the minors really showed their heart this evening. It was pure desire won that match for them, when everything seemed to be going against them. The seniors could certainly learn a thing or two from them in that respect.

Roscommon nearly paid for keeping faith in their free-taker who was having a bad day. He was eventually taken off, but the free-taking duties should have been taken off him before his withdrawal.

Even though they conceded what I thought were two soft goals, I thought without the ball Roscommon defended very well and that includes the forwards harrying their backs throughout.

Sam Hannon was outstanding, he just drove the team on again and again. His ball-control and decision-making are top notch for one so young.

Dara Curran showed why he's rated so highly, despite missing three goal chances. However, it was the way he created them and his general play and most of all, his ability to create space that marks him out as something special.

If they had their finishing boots on, Roscommon would have won it in normal time, but in the end they did well just to win at all.

There was a very good crowd from Roscommon at it and they really did a tremendous job in urging on the team, who responded as you'd wish a team would.

Next up is Tyrone, I believe, who will be very tough, but at least Roscommon are being represented by a team with a winning attitude and never-say-die mentality.

rn

That's the end of the Davy Burke era in Roscommon anyway. They've been tame enough this summer.

Aranoahi

Intermediate Championship: would like to see it introduced in 2026.

As an example: could be for the teams that finished 4th in groups; Clare, Derry, Mayo, Roscommon.

As these teams are now out of the 2025 AI Championship on June 15th.

Schedule could be: Intermediate Semi-Finals prior to Senior Semi-Finals. Intermediate Final prior to Senior Final.

Would be at least 1 Championship match in Croke Park. Maybe 2. And a reasonable chance of lifting a national title at the business end of the championship season.

gucci

Hmmm not really sure a B(C?) Plate type competition would be anything other than games for nothing.

Unfortunately Roscommon (and likely the other placed 4 teams) have showed F-all this season and just get into the original round of 16 by geographical circumstance as much as sporting merit. We haven't been good enough when it counts so on that basis the 4th placed teams should be put out to pasture for another year.

rn

Top 11 teams from year N + year Ns intermediate champions makes the race for Sam?

The big problem is still the provincial championships. 2 of them are generating cash for provincial council's and the third (Leinster) got a shot of adrenaline this year after being on life support for 20 years.

megadodge

Disappointing end to a disappointing season.

Again, despite knowing that a loss was the end of football til January, there seemed to be a lack of real bite to the team. It was only when all the subs came on late that they really looked like they desparately wanted to win. But it shouldn't take that long for that urgency to appear.

We did quite well on kickouts throughout (except the last 10 minuts of the first half), but unfortunately most of their scores came from attacks down the middle. However, a number of those attacks were as a result of Roscommon forwards giving the ball away cheaply. Not quite as many as the Meath game, but it still cost us.

There were a number of panicky kicks in the last 10 minutes, kind of 'we absolutely have to get 2 pointers' when we had enough time to win without them. And on the last play there was only one player who was going to shoot for a 2 pointer and I'm sure Cork knew that too. No fault on him, he had the courage to go for it and it didn't work out.

I felt sorry for Daire Cregg. Despite losing the ball badly three times in the first half and making a poor attempt at the goal, he still didn't let those things get the better of him and he kept going and got a number of impressive scores and really took the fight to Cork. He showed great leadership when older heads weren't.

Aranoahi

In fairness there is merit for a competition to be put between the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup.

The level between these two competitions does show the requirement for an Intermediate Championship.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547466#Comment_123547466

megadodge

How come I can't find anywhere selling tickets for the Minor semi-final on Sunday?

Anybody shed some light?

blowitupref

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123562517#Comment_123562517

https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/aimfc22

megadodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123562907#Comment_123562907

Yup, got it. Thanks.

It was only through my Club Rossie email that I could get a link. Going through ordinary Ticketmaster didn't find anything.

megadodge

The minors' run came to an end today, but it could have been so different.

Playing against the wind in the first half, things were tight between two well-matched sides, when late on Roscommon got a superb goal…. then the next few minutes will haunt them for years.

I haven't seen a replay, so open to correction, but the first goal looked like a comedy of errors when it appeared there were at least three Tyrone players to one Roscommon player as the ball bobbled around the square. The following kickout goes out over the sideline and from the resultant sequence of play the Roscommon player nearest their no. 11 let him sneak in behind to create an overlap that resulted in a second quickfire goal. Both were extremely preventable and it immediately countered the huge boost Roscommon's goal provided.

In the second half, a little panic possibly set in quite early and in spite of giving everything they had, they made too many mistakes and lost the ball far too often. The defense defended very well, but every time Tyrone won the ball at midfield, boom! at least two or three of them burst forward in support of the player on the ball, while the Roscommon players were left in their wake. Maybe tired, but the backs could only do so much defending in those circumstances.

However, they certainly went out on their shields and can be very proud of their achievements. They were a very well-coached and disciplined side with plenty of quality players who hopefully will bring their superb attitude to the higher levels of football within the county in the next few years.

Always_Running

Davy Burke gone after three years in charge. The departing statement showed more class than the Mayo one with McStay.

Rossie4ever

Any word on a new manager? It's all very quiet. Are we looking at another late appointment?

rn

Now that the dust is settled on championship 2025, I'd be of the opinion we were probably overly harsh on DB tenure this year. Probably more unlucky, than a bad job done. London the only lower division team we played. I'd be most disappointed by the Galway performance and result.

But also I would still add, his time was up. Ultimately team probably not gone back, as we'd pretty shocking championship exits before he arrived - but definitely haven't kicked on. We're very much in the 8-16 group of counties, as before.

megadodge

Terrible news about poor Don Connellan.

He was a superb footballer and seemed like a very decent, quiet man.

I can honestly say he was the only player I ever marked where I felt out of my depth. He went off injured after only about 15 minutes and I was so relieved.

RIP

blowitupref

Mark Dowd the new Roscommon senior football manager.

Roscommon GAA statement

Roscommon GAA is delighted to announce that Mark Dowd has been selected as the new manager of the Roscommon Senior Football team, subject to ratification at the next meeting of the Roscommon GAA County Board.

Mark, a native of Strokestown, brings a wealth of experience in both management and coaching at inter-county and club level.

He was part of the management team when Roscommon won the All-Ireland Minor Championship in 2006, and he guided Ballaghaderreen to the Mayo Senior Football Championship title in 2012. Mark also led the Roscommon U21 team to Connacht Championship success in 2015.

In addition, Mark was part of the coaching setup during Roscommon's Connacht Senior Championship wins in 2010 and 2019, and he played a key role in his home club Strokestown's Roscommon Senior Championship triumph in 2022. He is currently the manager of Roscommon Gaels.

Roscommon GAA County Chairperson, Brian Carroll, said:

"We are delighted to welcome Mark Dowd as the incoming manager of the Roscommon Senior Football team. Mark has an outstanding track record at both club and county level, and he brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for Roscommon football. We are confident that his leadership will help drive this team forward and build on the progress of recent years. I have had the pleasure of working with Mark on numerous occasions over the last 12 years and I know the Roscommon Senior Football team is in safe hands going forward. On behalf of Roscommon GAA, I would like to wish Mark every success in the role and assure him of our full support as he begins this exciting new chapter."

Mark will confirm his backroom team in due course.

Roscommon GAA also wishes to sincerely thank the selection committee for their hard work and diligence in bringing this process to a successful conclusion.

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123727784#Comment_123727784

Good luck to Mark, a decent man, a good appointment.

Backroom team is crucial as always.

White lighting

When the decision was seemingly made to go internal it always looked like it was Marks job.

One worry i would have is the backroom team, He really needs a highly regarded coach with him. Rogers is a good man to have involved seems to be a good coach/manager himself.

Not so sure on Iain Daly though has been in as a selector previously and seemed to bring half of Ballinlough in with him on that occasion.

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123736308#Comment_123736308

We've needed good, technical coaching for several years, as well as ruthless decision making. Like any squad with an aging profile like ours, tough decisions need to be made to be sure talented players have a pathway into the team.

I don't know if Dowd, Rogers and Daly meet the criteria in these areas. Daly and Rogers are very able, time will tell if they have it at this level, but i suspect they will need some support in the coaching side (with the new rules etc). Not to run them down, hopefully they can succeed, I wish them well - we need to give them every help, both resources wise and support wise