Roscommon GAA Discussion Thread

Decision making in the second half was a big factor, taking the ball in to contact unnecessarily cost Roscommon scores and the resulting turnover ended up as a Dublin score.

The Dublin bench is phenomenal though, it's a hard slog against the first 15 but many Dublin subs would be automatic starters on many other teams.

A lot of that ended up pretty much as I expected - decent patches in the first half against a very average team, in good position at half-time, show very little desire early in the second-half to actually go on and win the game, inevitably concede a preventable goal or two, wake up waaay too late and really go for it. Lose.

Mayo were there for the taking. And we still didn't beat them.

Early on Roscommon pressed up three times on Mayo's kikcouts and caused huge problems, including forcing a Mayo player to pass directly back to his goalie for a tapover free. And what happens next? Roscommon don't contest another Mayo kickout for 20 minutes. WHAT THE F*CK!!! Obviously the team were playing to instructions, but why would you instruct a team to stop doing something that was clearly working? If I had enough hair I'd have been pulling it out throughout the first-half.

And again, just like Dublin, on our kickouts there was absolutely nobody REALLY looking for the ball, giving the goalie no option but to kick it long where we (shock horror) lost most breaking balls.

In general, there's simply not enough Roscommon players supporting other Roscommon players in possession, giving them an option, helping them when in trouble or simply forcing the opposition to allocate numbers to cater for your dummy runs, etc. There just seems to be a general lack of honesty in the team at present.

I seldom miss a game, but I'm seriously considering not bothering going to another game this season (might only be one), because I'm watching a team that simply isn't giving everything they have. There are a few exceptions, but there seems to be a malaise in the team and it's just pathetic to look at.

Looks like the AFL are after Daire Cregg going by this article

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41409974.html

Disaster is right for us but it would be a great opportunity for him. I'm finding it hard to be optimistic for the future for Roscommon seniors if he goes and if a few of the more senior players decide to call it a day after this season ends.

Well let's be straight about it, I sure didn't see that coming!

After not going to the Cavan game on a point of prinicple because of the terrible 'effort' against Mayo, I decided to go to Omagh not even in hope or expectation, but just to see the team for the last time in 6/7 months. I'm glad I did.

As silly as it sounds for the first time all year Roscommon really looked like they wanted to win the bloody game. Without meaning to throw a dampner on it, Tyrone definitely helped them. Their first half was as bad as I've ever seen from a Tyrone team. They were terrible. But even with a 6 point lead at half-time, knowing Roscommon's tendency to fade in the second half I couldn't really relax until the game was actually over.

There was definitely more energy about Roscommon than there has been all year, although it can still be improved on the breaks, when I really think enough players aren't bursting their guts to support the player in possession. Robbie Dolan epitomised this energy as he was literally everywhere, even competing for long kickouts despite his size.

As we know, Roscommon are very good finishers and today Diarmuid and Darragh Cregg gave an exhibition of top-class finishing. Tyrone on the other hand were constantly looking for Darragh Canavan (and he is class) and not looking to take on the shot themselves. It really was shocking to see them not trying from what looked like reasonable range. Having said that, Roscommon defended very well and didn't just turnover Tyrone numerous times, but blocked or half-blocked a large amounts of shots, which in this day and age is something you don't see much of (and may be becuase of Tyrone's attacking hesitancy).

Anyway, a really enjoyable result, but I would prefer if we did not get Kerry in the draw. Roscommon's infuriating unpredictability could see them show way too much respect for Kerry in the same way they do for Mayo and getting beaten easily. However, I really think Roscommon could beat Armagh and while Donegal have serious speed on the counter-attack it's still winable.

In the end Roscommon proved to be good enough and didn't need a kind draw to reach the last eight.

As I said a few month ago reaching Ireland Quarter final should be achievable for any team playing in Division one . Last year and 2022 Roscommon appeared to be maxed out by June and ended up losing to teams (Clare,Cork) they should be beating. This year timed their run better were fresher,fitter for the challenge of Tyrone away and got a deserved win. Interesting match against Armagh next, recovery after that match last Saturday will be key against what is a rested opponent.

Just back and only for the Galway result afterwards I'd be in a much worse mood.

The lack of energy was back with a vengeance in the first half. Roscommon (unusually) really struggled to score, or even look like scoring. I thought Armagh had their homework done on Roscommon's shooters, but that's where others have to take up the mantle, although fair play to Higgins, McCormack and Stack in that regard, they did their bit. Roscommon actually defended quite well, but their approach play was soooooo slow, just as it has been for a lot of the year. They just look like a team that doesn't have a high enough fitness level to make the lung-bursting runs that are part of the modern game.

I know the red card had a huge bearing on the game, but it was only after it happened that Roscommon seemed to awake from their slumber. If they had played with that sort of life in the first half it could have been a lot different, because truthfully that Armagh team are very ordinary. They will not win their semi-final, no matter who it's against.

Very interesting weekend on the club front.

Brigid's losing to Pearses will have pleased the four remaining teams. I thought Pearses deserved to win. They just seemed that little hungrier and I also thought Brigids were a little flat all day.

The Gaels should have beaten Boyle by a lot more, but never really looked in trouble. They are capable of beating Pearses, whereas I'm not sure they believe they can beat Brigids.

Faithleachs had a great win against the odds. It would be nice to see the Murtaghs win a county title, but I'm not sure they're good enough.

Glaveys, similarily, have some fine players, but I'm not convinced they're good enough either.

I think it's between the Gaels and Pearses and as a former Gaels man myself I would love to see what is a very promising but very young side go all the way.

Saw the Geals once or twice this year, they look good. It's quite possible Pearse's have played their final already, so I'd fancy Geals.

St Brigid's will be ruing bringing Anthony back, looks like poor, backward looking decision. I'm not sure he'd have made good use of Ben if he did have him available

Pearses won by a mere 2 points in the end, after controlling the match from early on.

Just as I said previously, they have a strong, experienced team and they looked that for most of the match, scoring some lovely scores on a tough day to play football. But the Gaels did themselves proud with a fantastic last 10 minutes where they nearly stole it in the end.

They were 6 points down and deservedly so, but suddenly all the indescision and mistakes that typified their game disappeared and they totally dominated the last period of the match reducing the lead to only one point and were possibly unlucky not to get a draw. However, if they did, Pearses would be scratching their head wondering how they ended up in that position.

Pearses will be tough opposition in Connacht. Moycullen are the one team that possibly could beat them (assuming they win Galway, which I expect them to), but they won't fear anyone.

The Gaels are exceptionally young but they showed enough guts and promise to make them serious contenders next year.

What are you thinking now after Corofin beat Moycullen comfortably? sets up a 2019 rematch in Tuam with Pearses that Corofin won by 6 points but it was level with 42 minutes played and Corofin pushed clear with a Liam Silke goal.

Well done Pearses. Easily the better team for most of the match, even though there was maybe an element of their old habit of 'hanging on' for some of the second half.

Their first half performance was superb, probably as good as the club has ever produced. Their attack really is way ahead of what they had a few years ago. Ross Munnelly definitely has had an influence there. They look dangerous any time they have the ball now and throw in the fact that they remain very good defensively, they could be going a long way yet. Hopefully.

Pearses win today was similar to the margin and manner Brigids beat Corofin last year.  Be interesting to see can Pearses go as far as Brigids, good balance to their team with nice blend of youth and experience.

The bookies and their punters strangely underestimated Pearses, only two years ago they won Connacht beating the best in Galway,Mayo and took out Brigids on route to winning Roscommon this year.

Will be Paul Carey be part of the Roscommon senior panel next year? Conor Ryan who was a county U20 player this year looks ready to made the step up to senior county level.

I heard on the radio this morning that after Glin losing in Derry, the bookies had Corofin installed as favourites for the All-Ireland club title. I nearly crashed the car!!

Honestly, how could anybody have come up with logical reasoning for that?

Only heard later then that Pearses were around 3/1 to beat Corofin and 7/1 to win Connacht. If only I had looked. They were two very good value bets.

And I'm not aftertiming, just a few posts back I said I didn't think Corofin were anything special and Pearses were well capable of winning Connacht.

Just shows there's always value bets out there if you look hard enough.

https://www.roscommonherald.ie/news/new-name-for-dr-hyde-park-under-five-year-sponsorship-deal_arid-37924.html To