Gallagher happy with progress
April 30, 2011Eamonn Gallagher can reflect on a satisfactory first year as Rosemount manager. After a couple of tough years when they were threatened by relegation, the black and ambers showed a marked improvement under the watch of the former Westmeath hurler, who is one of the most successful and respected managers on the local club scene.
As well as reaching the knockout stages of the intermediate championship for the first time since 2005, Rosemount won Division 3 of the All-County League. These achievements represented significant progress for a club whose long-term goal is to return to the senior ranks where they operated for 72 unbroken years before their shock relegation in 2000.
"My task is to try to get Rosemount back up to where they were. They have a huge tradition, but have been out of the spotlight for a few years. They are heading in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go. The lads know that themselves," says Gallagher, who is committed to the Roses for another season.
"I was happy enough with how things went last year. We reached the quarter-finals of the championship and won Division 3 of the league. We have a nice, young squad who are very enthusiastic. If we can keep them all together and not lose anyone to emigration, which is a huge issue for the GAA now, we'd like to think they can make further progress next year. We hope to push on from where we left out last year," he continues.
The Dalystown man, whose selectors last year were 'Mixie' Molloy and Jim Whelan, sees the Division 3 success as an important step for the Fr O'Growney Park outfit.
"It was vitally important that we got out of Division 3. With no disrespect to the teams in Division 3, we need to be playing at a higher level. In Division 2, we'll be getting games against three or four senior clubs as well as the top intermediate teams. If we're able to compete against these teams, it will give us confidence and belief going into the championship.
"The signs didn't look good for us when we lost our opening game to Moate All-Whites, but the lads recovered well and won their remaining matches to gain promotion. They're looking forward to playing in Division 2 now."
Gallagher's first championship game in charge of Rosemount ended in a 1-8 each draw with St. Mary's at Moate. The 'Bridge started strongly and had built up a 1-3 to 0-1 lead before they were reduced to 14 players following the 17th minute dismissal of former county star David Mitchell.
Despite their numerical advantage, Rosemount still trailed by 0-3 to 1-4 at the break but points from Danny Fielding and midfielder Declan Keane had reduced the gap to three before Fielding rifled home an equalising goal on the stroke of full-time. When Cathal Keane kicked Rosemount in front moments later, it looked like victory was theirs, but a last-gasp point from Eoin Gorman earned the 'Bridge a share of the spoils.
The Roses suffered their first defeat of the campaign when they succumbed to Tang by 0-9 to 1-15 at Ballymore. A Dean Reddan goal had Tang 1-7 to 0-6 ahead at half-time and they quickly extended their lead to six points after the resumption. Rosemount clawed back a couple of points before Ronald Mullen was desperately unlucky to see his shot hit the woodwork in the 44th minute. If a goal had resulted, the gap would have been down to the minimum. It proved a turning point as Tang outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-1 in the closing quarter to run out comfortable winners.
Rosemount were still without a win after three rounds, having had to settle for their second draw of the campaign against Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall. A Cathal Keane goal eased the black and ambers into a six-point lead after 20 minutes, but a similar score from Eric Sullivan left Finea just a point adrift, 1-5 to 1-6, at the interval.
Eamonn Gallagher's charges resumed with three unanswered points from Donal Boland and David Malynn, but they would register just one further score in the remaining 23 minutes as Finea fought back to secure a 1-10 each draw courtesy of Ronan Doolin's injury-time effort.
The victory Rosemount so desperately craved finally came against Ballymore in round four. Although Ballymore opened the scoring through Brian Finerty, it didn't take Rosemount long to stamp their authority on proceedings. Donal Boland capitalised on a poor clearance to find the net in the third minute and further scores from Cathal Keane, Boland and David Malynn had them perched on a 1-6 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
Keane extended Rosemount's advantage on the restart and they were never threatened after that, running out winners by 1-9 to 0-7.
A 0-13 to 0-6 victory over Ballinagore was enough to secure Rosemount's place in the quarter-finals by virtue of their superior scoring difference to St. Mary's. Ballinagore led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break, but Rosemount dominated the second half despite having full back Stephen Darcy sent off. Shane Tone, Cathal Keane, Danny Fielding, Cyril Elliffe and John Keane were all on the mark for the Roses, who set up a quarter-final meeting with Ballynacargy at Ballymore.
Despite an excellent performance, however, Rosemount suffered a heartbreaking 2-8 to 2-9 loss to a team that has appeared in the last three intermediate finals. Forced to start without the injured John Keane once again, the black and ambers got off to a great start when the double All-Star's brother Cathal bagged the opening goal inside six minutes. They led by 1-4 to 0-2 after 26 minutes, but Bal' struck for an unanswered 1-2 before half-time to go in on level terms, 1-4 each.
A fisted goal by Declan Keane helped restore Rosemount's five-point lead early in the second half, 2-6 to 1-4, but a Declan McGuinness major kept Ballynacargy in it. The Roses still held a three-point lead entering the final 10 minutes and would have put the result beyond doubt had substitute DD McCormack taken a goal chance.
Following that let-off, Ballynacargy fought back to level before corner back John Keena kicked the winning point on the hour mark to break Rosemount hearts.
"We led up until the last few minutes and it's disappointing to think that we didn't finish off the job," the Rosemount manager ruefully reflects.
"Hopefully, the lads will learn from the experience and will show a bit more ruthlessness if they find themselves in a similar position this year. The challenge now is to build on last year. The intermediate championship is the hardest to win and you need a lot of luck to get over the line. When I won the intermediate championship with Killucan in 2005, we reached the senior semi-final the following year. That gives you an idea of how competitive the intermediate championship is."
If Rosemount are to make further progress, much will depend on the fitness of John Keane, whose inter-county career has been ended by a long-standing knee injury.
"If we have John back for the start of the championship, I'll be very happy. He missed a lot of last year and has had an awful time of it with injury," the former Westmeath hurling manager and football selector concludes.
The Rosemount team which faced Ballynacargy in the IFC quarter-final was: Eoin Carberry; Enda Boland, Eamon Boland, Paddy Wade; Luke Kelly, Paddy Boland, Shane Tone; Declan Mullen, Declan Keane; Danny Fielding, Cyril Elliffe, Donal Boland; Cathal Keane, David Malynn, David McCormack. Subs used: DD McCormack and John Keane. Tweet
