by Paul Healy If Seamus Killoran (and I must admit I doubt if he is) is one of those players who specifically enjoys the limelight, then he has a lot to thank Mr Derek Duggan and the then Miss Una Casserly for. It was Duggan's remarkable 65 metre last-gasp free kick which this season earned defending Connacht champions Roscommon, a replay against Mayo in the Castlebar provincial final. As midfield colleague Killoran was to go on and play a marvellous role in his side's subsequent success in the replay, you might expect that all the credit should go to Duggan for finally placing Killoran in the spotlight; not so, for a vital role was played too by Miss Casserly. In the hours that followed Roscommon's draw with favourites Mayo in Castlebar, the national press - anxious to fill newspaper columns with 'angles' on the game - probably went in search of the usual targets, people like Earley, McManus, O'Mahoney, McDermott and McHale. Then, as the dust on a marvellous encounter settled slowly, there arose a little story with a 'nice' angle - a human-interest angle that the vultures in the national press knew would interest not just Roscommon folk, but readers in all other parts of the country too. The lesser known of Roscommon's midfielders - that Killoran fella was due to get married, it emerged, two days before the Connacht final replay. The honeymoon would have to be postponed etc. etc. Not earthshattering, but it was worth a few paragraphs here or there. I mean, all Earley and McManus could do - on this occasion - was say things like "we feel we're a better team this year", "if we play with the same passion again", and "we're not underestimating Mayo". At least Killoran - a lesser-known player admittedly - was providing a news 'angle'. Photographers were dispatched instantly, and like the charge of the light brigade they summoned this Killoran chap and his wife to be - enter Una Casserly - to their clutches. Any sort of a human interest shot would suffice, was the probable instruction. Get her in a Roscommon jersey, or soloing a ball, or something. By a quirk of fate thus, an otherwise seemingly eternal journeyman footballer stole eight to ten paragraphs in five or six national and evening newspapers for a couple of days. Most GAA fans countrywide will have turned into the story; there was ammunition for double-meaning heckles too for Mayo and indeed Roscommon fans (should things go wrong) as the replay approached. Jokes about his wedding night etc. Killoran - thanks to Derek Duggan and Una Casserly - was NOTICED. It simply has not always been that way. 30-year old Elphin farmer Seamus Killoran is a regular fixture on the Roscommon team, midfield partner to current team captain and giant Dublin based Garda, the high fielding John Newton. He is a stalwart for many years with local senior club, Elphin, home of the great Aidan Brady. Yet year in, year out, Killoran has been removed from the headlines. There are two main reasons for this; one is the fact that he is largely unspectacular, the other is that he is overshadowed - in every sense - by Newton. Newton always finds the limelight. Maybe it's because he's always referred to as "the giant Garda" - I did it myself above. Maybe it's because he's that bit more distinctive, being that "giant Garda". Maybe it's even because his name so readily fits into a pun, loved by newspaper sub-editors i.e. "Newton's Law". Most probably it's for the very good reason that he's an exceptional fielder! Whatever the case, Newton is very definitely - in the eyes of the media and the fans - the king of the Roscommon midfield. Killoran is prince. Newton is a clean, cool hero; Killoran a compulsive tidier-up, akin to a housewife who follows despairingly in her husband's wake, frantically attending to his frailties. It is a familiar sight to anyone who wishes - like I do - to give this man some credit. Killoran springing towards the sideline, trying to retrieve a mislaid pass of SOMEONE ELSE'S, Killoran getting the ball, flicking back to Joey Connaughton - a little moment in a match perhaps, but often a vital one, and one sure to be forgotten by fans and media alike. Killoran harassing a stylish opponent, with locks of hair flowing, forcing the stylist to run across the goal rather than at it; Killoran picking up a broken ball in midfield, and threading a ball through to a half forward; Killoran most of all with that willing pair of hands, working, running, tackling, utterly excelling on loose possession. The Elphin man mind you, is no stranger to great high fielding either; but Newton with one or two classic high catches usually steals the limelight here too, Killoran destined to at best draw adjectives like 'workmanlike' and 'tireless' and 'dogged' from journalists. For years this has been Seamus Killoran's lot; consistency rewarded by indifference. Even in his county, maybe especially in his own county, he has huge critics. Some of his native town of Elphin; when will they realise that he is not meant to be spectacular, but is the embodiment of a workmanlike player? Just once before - prior to Mr Duggan and Miss Casserly taking the law into their own hands - did Killoran threaten to gain the recognition his consistent displays surely merit. The venue was Portlaoise, the occasion a splendid national football league quarter final between Dublin and Roscommon (1989). Killoran and Newton were superb. The national papers acknowledged Newton - and on this occasion they acknowledged Killoran too. People began to deem them one of the best midfield partnerships in the country. Roscommon went on to collapse in the semi final with Down, and Killoran's star drifted a little. If the duo were "one of the best midfield partnerships" in the country in 1989, then they certainly are living up to that billing in '91. hey are now one of the most experienced midfielders in the game, and their form against Leitrim and Mayo (twice) has been so impressive that both must have semblances of chances of winning an All Star this year (much depends on the All-Ireland semi final obviously). Newtown - as nice a gentleman as you will meet in the game - does, in fairness, remain the king in the Roscommon midfield. You suspect Seamus Killoran is very happy to see things remain that way. Newton is - when on song - a marvellous player, a classic high fielder, strong, good with the ball, capable of a score, and well capable of moving to full forward if required. Killoran is no genius. For example his distribution can be poor, and as for his shooting - well, suffice to say that if someone had to attempt a point for you, with your life on the line, you would not select him. (At the risk of being accused of blatant self-contradiction I must add he has scored some marvellous long-range points for the 'county'). Genius he may not be, but - and this is the nub - what even his detractors must now accept - now that Duggan and Miss Casserly have placed the spotlight on him this season - is that Seamus Killoran is a quality midfielder who on his day can compete with the best. Just as - on their day - Killoran and Newton are one of the best midfielders in the game. That's about the best one can say. What is significant about this year, is that Seamus Killoran is finally getting some of the recognition he deserves. He was superb in Roscommon's replay win over Mayo. But they wouldn't have really noticed if it weren't for Derek Duggan and Una Casserly (now happily Mrs Killoran). All credit to both of them for righting a wrong. Oh, and yes ... perhaps some credit also to Seamus Killoran. See what I mean ... I almost forgot. Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 16th August 1991 Tweet

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