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Roscommon GAA thread

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Replying To rossy15:  "With all respect to everyone involved what's the point in going up to division one again - don't need favours off anyone we need the roscommon team to play to their potential consistiently if that's what they've been doing then we're a division 2 team plain and simple -"
I wanted to get out of division 2 because with the likes of Kildare getting promoted and then Derry and another big team dropping down we will find it very hard to even get up next year if results don't go our way next week. I don't understand burke not picking our strongest team yesterday I really don't. Thought Ben O'Carroll should have been taken off at half time yesterday and I'm a massive Ben O'Carroll fan. I dont think burke has a clue of his strongest 15 and only couple of weeks away from championship. We have to go out and beat westmeath next week and pray everything else works in our favor.

dave1988 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1216 - 17/03/2025 10:48:07    2596870

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bookies have us odds on to get promoted, but if meath win do they not going up on the head to head rule

hontherossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 121 - 17/03/2025 11:47:31    2596878

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "The point is avoiding becoming a 4th seed in the All Ireland series group stage should Roscommon as expected lose to Galway in the expected Connacht semi final. Going up to Division one again guarantees you'll be playing for Sam again in 2026. Only takes a injury hit season or poor run of form to fall into the Tailteann cup.

Finally only promoted team that don't need a favour off another team now is Monaghan as if they beat Down they will be promoted."
Seeding is a joke. Some provisional finalists could come from D3 and they are guaranteed top 2 seeding.
Going up yo D1 and coming straight back down means nothing.
Roscomm are a D2 team at best. Concentrate on finishing in top half and avoid TC cup

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3149 - 17/03/2025 12:09:38    2596882

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Lack of defending capability a major concern.
Also our much vaunted forwards butchered so
many opportunites ...
I saw on another forum 8 of Cavan's 1st half points came after we fumbled/lost ball in attacks.
Poor day"at the office for players (Hand, McKeon excepted?) and management.

An awful lot of expectations dampened or indeed ended today."
Interesting stat and while we were leading 1st half we didn't deserve to and I'm sure all rossies in attendance felt if we didn't improve 2nd half we would get beaten.

Any defence in modern football needs it's protection. I watched a nice harmless Galway v Dublin game on Saturday night between two of the best defensive teams in the country but in that match neither put much effort into team defending. Four goals scored and should have been 10. Zero chance that either of those teams will defend in that manner come championship time.

Now back to ourselves can we adjust and improve defensively for the championship? The three forwards and two midfielders who will drop back to protect the six man defence need to work like tigers to close down space and produce turn overs.

In one way I'm glad such hype talk in the media will now be ended all the ever talked about was our forwards when midfield and defending remains the most important. Our League faith will be sealed next Sunday, first and foremost we need to bounce back from yesterday's disappointment and finish the campaign on a winning note and we won't get anything easy against our neighbours regardless that they are relegated. If it's not good enough for promotion then so be it and move on to the fully focus on championship whereby we'll have two weeks to prepare for the trip to London than playing four consecutive weekends in a row.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 3983 - 17/03/2025 12:34:20    2596887

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Need to get behind the team now and not be slating them. You'd wonder if some of these "experts" do be happy when we get a few bad results so they have something to give out about. Little to no praise then when we're going well.

We are bound to be a bit sluggish sometimes, I'd much rather a poor finish to the league and have a good crack at the championship. All the negative talk about the team after a few bad results is so unfair and helps absolutely nobody. You'd forget we still have a very realistic chance to go up

TobeaRossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 161 - 17/03/2025 13:43:48    2596896

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You have to first of all give credit to a very good Cavan team who were first to the ball, transitioned better and were more cohesive. Having missed two goal chances and were very close with several two point attempts, it could be argued that they could have won by more. All is not lost however as our scoring difference + 19 is better than Meath + 10 and Cavan -4. Westmeath have been very unlucky in several of their league matches this year and the pressure will be off them next Sunday. I think that Cavan will beat Cork at hone, but Louth might put it up to Meath at home which might impact our chances of promotion.
There has been a lot written over the past few weeks of our talented forward line and our difficulties in defence. Some interesting statistics below:

* We have the second best points differential after Monaghan. Monaghan are nearly definitely promoted even if they lose at home to Down.
* Roscommon defence have conceded the lowest total number of scores (120 points) in division 2 so far this year. Monaghan 137, Meath 135, Cavan 138, Cork 139, Louth 140 Down 149 and Westmeath 159. I think that might surprise some people.
* Westmeath who have been regulated have scored more (140) than Roscommon (139). Next week will not be an easy game.
It is therefore not correct to just say that we have good forwards and a poor defence. Issues to solve all over the field as do many other teams, including Meath and Cavan. Life is not such a black and white affair as a couple of glass half full merchants would like us to believe. Cavan put it up to us in the championship last year and we came out the next match and gave our best performance of the year against Tyrone. I certainly have not given up on the team but consistency is a major worry.
Time to make definitive judgements at the end if the year.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 702 - 17/03/2025 14:52:03    2596904

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Replying To hontherossie:  "bookies have us odds on to get promoted, but if meath win do they not going up on the head to head rule"
It depends on whether Cork also win. If it is a 3-way tie, it is decided by overall scoring difference and at this point it looks very likely that Roscommon would have the edge. The head-to-head applies only when just two teams are tied. So if one of Cork or Meath wins and the other does not, ye are screwed. If they they both win or they both fail to win, ye should be ok.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1029 - 17/03/2025 15:08:51    2596906

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "It depends on whether Cork also win. If it is a 3-way tie, it is decided by overall scoring difference and at this point it looks very likely that Roscommon would have the edge. The head-to-head applies only when just two teams are tied. So if one of Cork or Meath wins and the other does not, ye are screwed. If they they both win or they both fail to win, ye should be ok."
It's Cavanand Meath we need to win, not Cork

D.Hyde (Roscommon) - Posts: 259 - 17/03/2025 15:47:17    2596911

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "It depends on whether Cork also win. If it is a 3-way tie, it is decided by overall scoring difference and at this point it looks very likely that Roscommon would have the edge. The head-to-head applies only when just two teams are tied. So if one of Cork or Meath wins and the other does not, ye are screwed. If they they both win or they both fail to win, ye should be ok."
But first we have to bate the Westies...... and then see what happens Meath and Cavan.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2171 - 17/03/2025 16:38:45    2596918

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Replying To D.Hyde:  "It's Cavanand Meath we need to win, not Cork"
Yes. If Meath and Cavan win, and Roscommon win, all three teams will be on 10 points and Roscommon will be promoted on scoring difference. (barring a very big Meath win overtaking us on scoring difference). However, if only one of Meath and Cavan win, whichever it is, Roscommon will not be promoted even if they win against Westmeath because in that case just Roscommon and one of Meath or Cavan will be on 10 points and we lose out on a head to head to either of those teams both of whom have beaten us. If Meath and Cavan both lose, Roscommon will be promoted regardless of the result against Westmeath. ( barring a heavy defeat taking us below Meath on scoring difference).

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2345 - 17/03/2025 20:51:06    2596947

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We are too soft. Not near aggressive enough. We let teams bully us at will. Management look to be out of their depth also. Burke blaming the players after the game is all good and well but he needs to take a hell of a lot of flack too. Cavan are a decent team but we should be beating them with a bit to spare especially at home. It seems Ulster teams in particular can just intimidate and push us about. We should be going into every game like it's an All Ireland final but no. We just bounce from mediocrity to decent and back to mediocrity again. Take Monaghan for example, they bust a gut every match they play. Mayo the same. Might not always win but they die with their boots on. We just fall away once the tough gets going. Very disappointing especially considering this is our strongest panel in a long time. Where has the teak toughness of past Rossie teams gone?????

ComainRos (Roscommon) - Posts: 146 - 17/03/2025 21:14:50    2596950

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Replying To ComainRos:  "We are too soft. Not near aggressive enough. We let teams bully us at will. Management look to be out of their depth also. Burke blaming the players after the game is all good and well but he needs to take a hell of a lot of flack too. Cavan are a decent team but we should be beating them with a bit to spare especially at home. It seems Ulster teams in particular can just intimidate and push us about. We should be going into every game like it's an All Ireland final but no. We just bounce from mediocrity to decent and back to mediocrity again. Take Monaghan for example, they bust a gut every match they play. Mayo the same. Might not always win but they die with their boots on. We just fall away once the tough gets going. Very disappointing especially considering this is our strongest panel in a long time. Where has the teak toughness of past Rossie teams gone?????"
Agree with this
But we've been like this under a number of different managers it's been a long time since we've seen a team tough Ross team imho

rossy15 (Roscommon) - Posts: 638 - 17/03/2025 22:29:15    2596960

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Replying To endgame:  "Yes. If Meath and Cavan win, and Roscommon win, all three teams will be on 10 points and Roscommon will be promoted on scoring difference. (barring a very big Meath win overtaking us on scoring difference). However, if only one of Meath and Cavan win, whichever it is, Roscommon will not be promoted even if they win against Westmeath because in that case just Roscommon and one of Meath or Cavan will be on 10 points and we lose out on a head to head to either of those teams both of whom have beaten us. If Meath and Cavan both lose, Roscommon will be promoted regardless of the result against Westmeath. ( barring a heavy defeat taking us below Meath on scoring difference)."
Monaghan are on 10 points. They play Down. If Monaghan were to lose, they would stay on 10 points but likely be promoted on scoring difference. If Monaghan lose, it virtually assures Roscommon of promotion if we win in Mullingar. It is a bit complicated alright. Paddy Power have Roscommon 4/6 to be promoted. Certainly a Down win would be good for us on Sunday.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2345 - 18/03/2025 02:12:53    2596971

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Not sure what to think after Sunday, I know it's only the league and long way to go this year and few to come back / get minutes into but we have not had an impressive 70 minute performance in any game this year against teams we should be beating by 7/8 points if we want to get to where we think we can. I know we better Cork by 13 points away but cork missed 4/5 good goal chances and had a lot of wides. We have played decent in spells but still I haven't seen near enough to make me think we can beat Galway in 5 weeks time. Defensively we are all over the place and do not have the backs capable of one on one defending with these new rules. Our forwards haven't clicked as a unit yet and to be honest I dont think some of these lads aren't as good as we make out. Easy to be pessimistic following Sunday but has Burke improved us? I don't think he has and I just fear we have lost crucial years of key players inter county careers to average coaching and that for all the good forwards we have, poor coaching / lack of quality in defence has cost us over the last few years. Stack needs to come in at full back if he is fit Sunday, I think Frost is better then Higgins, Neary needs to start he has bite to him that we are severely lacking. Dolan not good enough and Burke should stop persisting with him when he has the likes of Ruane there who has the physicality needed at least. Ronan Daly will be a help if we can get into the team I would try him at 6. Nolan and Doyle have played well but can we play them together as neither is very athletic especially if Harney is at 11 too, feel we can only have 2 of them at most in the team at same time. Hand has been good and should keep his place, cox isn't a starter he can't take on a man and doesn't offer near enough. All we can do is get a win Sunday and see what happens, a final vs Monaghan would be no harm as we need to get some lads minutes and see can we can decide on 12/13 lads for championship as we have been making 4 or 5 changes most games and haven't had been able to get a flowing yet.

Rossie2020 (Roscommon) - Posts: 193 - 18/03/2025 11:46:24    2597017

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There will be some looking at scor beo in Mullingar this Sunday! Very disappointing showing against Cavan. I thought Doran would be instilling a badly needed stealyness to the team. Managers comments a bit wayward but maybe it was just the emotion of the disappointment. That starting 15 should have been good enough to get the team into a winning position, all bar Hand have plenty of county experience at this stage and he is playing like a lad who's been at it for a few years anway...highlight of the league so far. With Derry on the way down and possibly Tyrone, Div 2 will be extremely tough next year. Lets call a spade a spade, it's been the weakest Div 2 has been at in a good few years and we are making hard work of it. A good champonship though and the league will be forgotten. Big performance needed against Westmeath to at least finish on a positive note whatever happens in the other games. Que sera sera.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 27 - 18/03/2025 12:10:34    2597026

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Replying To Rossie2020:  "Not sure what to think after Sunday, I know it's only the league and long way to go this year and few to come back / get minutes into but we have not had an impressive 70 minute performance in any game this year against teams we should be beating by 7/8 points if we want to get to where we think we can. I know we better Cork by 13 points away but cork missed 4/5 good goal chances and had a lot of wides. We have played decent in spells but still I haven't seen near enough to make me think we can beat Galway in 5 weeks time. Defensively we are all over the place and do not have the backs capable of one on one defending with these new rules. Our forwards haven't clicked as a unit yet and to be honest I dont think some of these lads aren't as good as we make out. Easy to be pessimistic following Sunday but has Burke improved us? I don't think he has and I just fear we have lost crucial years of key players inter county careers to average coaching and that for all the good forwards we have, poor coaching / lack of quality in defence has cost us over the last few years. Stack needs to come in at full back if he is fit Sunday, I think Frost is better then Higgins, Neary needs to start he has bite to him that we are severely lacking. Dolan not good enough and Burke should stop persisting with him when he has the likes of Ruane there who has the physicality needed at least. Ronan Daly will be a help if we can get into the team I would try him at 6. Nolan and Doyle have played well but can we play them together as neither is very athletic especially if Harney is at 11 too, feel we can only have 2 of them at most in the team at same time. Hand has been good and should keep his place, cox isn't a starter he can't take on a man and doesn't offer near enough. All we can do is get a win Sunday and see what happens, a final vs Monaghan would be no harm as we need to get some lads minutes and see can we can decide on 12/13 lads for championship as we have been making 4 or 5 changes most games and haven't had been able to get a flowing yet."
As someone else said, are our defensive issues nearly as much down to the lack of defensive work by those in front of the backs than the backs themselves? We have some great offensive players but in the modern game they need to be tacklers too. Nearly every Mayo player knows how to tackle and put pressure on the man in possession.

We seem a long way off Galway at the moment and have a lot of work to do. When you consider the last time we were in Div 2, we got promoted with Galway and edged out Derry. Galway went on to the AI final that year, Derry were flying on the crest of a wave under Gallagher and won Ulster.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 27 - 18/03/2025 12:25:38    2597029

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "As someone else said, are our defensive issues nearly as much down to the lack of defensive work by those in front of the backs than the backs themselves? We have some great offensive players but in the modern game they need to be tacklers too. Nearly every Mayo player knows how to tackle and put pressure on the man in possession.

We seem a long way off Galway at the moment and have a lot of work to do. When you consider the last time we were in Div 2, we got promoted with Galway and edged out Derry. Galway went on to the AI final that year, Derry were flying on the crest of a wave under Gallagher and won Ulster."
Defensively Rossies are wide open and a defeat like yesterday was coming. You have quality forwards but if you can't get the other side right you'll further regress from last year.

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 145 - 18/03/2025 12:48:37    2597040

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Replying To PeterQ92:  "Defensively Rossies are wide open and a defeat like yesterday was coming. You have quality forwards but if you can't get the other side right you'll further regress from last year."
Bringing 14 back could clog up the area and hide our defensive frailties.
11 v 11, and there's too much space around for forwards.....

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2171 - 18/03/2025 13:13:31    2597055

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U20 group format Connacht championship gets underway this Wednesday at 5:30pm. We start with our hardest game on paper against Mayo in MacHale Park who are picking from three U17 winning teams.

Team named that includes just three of the Connacht winning starting team from last year.

Patrick Gaynor (Western Gaels)
Keelan Kelly (Padraig Pearses)
Cillian Campbell (St Barry's)
Ruadhan Henry (St Michael's)
Daniel Hagney (Michael Glaveys)
Eoghan Carthy (Roscommon Gaels)
Eoin Collins (St Croans)
Niall Heneghan (Michael Glaveys)
David Higgins (Western Gaels)
Brendan Murphy (St Brigids)
Rory Carthy (Roscommon Gaels)
Cathal McKeon (Boyle)
John Curran (Castlerea)
Rob Heneghan (Michael Glaveys)
John McGuinness (Roscommon Gaels)

Subs Seán Kelly (Clann na nGael) Conor Kelly (Boyle) Eanna Nolan (Western Gaels) Liam Óg Coyle (St Aidans) Eoghan Murray (Oran) Jack Nevin (Padraig Pearses) Mickey Moran (St Dominic's) Ruairí Kilcline (St Dominic's) Alan Conroy (St Croans)

Best of luck to the young rossies tomorrow

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 3983 - 18/03/2025 17:07:14    2597114

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Replying To Jack L:  "Seeding is a joke. Some provisional finalists could come from D3 and they are guaranteed top 2 seeding.
Going up yo D1 and coming straight back down means nothing.
Roscomm are a D2 team at best. Concentrate on finishing in top half and avoid TC cup"
I'm guessing that's a WUM post to rile up the rossies on here?

Means nothing is utter nonsense of a statement. Playing against the best teams and players is where any team with ambitions wants to be and Roscommon have finished 3rd place twice in in Div 1 and wouldn't have played as often in Div 1 and finished in the top two in Div 2 the last decade if they were a D2 team at best.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3561 - 18/03/2025 20:17:06    2597142

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