Roscommon GAA Discussion Thread

Suckler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122186114#Comment_122186114

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.

MacDanger

What's the feeling like in Roscommon for Saturday's match?

megadodge

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.

Rossie4ever

Any word on how bad Enda's injury is?

Rossie4ever

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

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

megadodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224925#Comment_122224925

That would be a disaster for Roscommon. He has been one of the few shining lights this year.

Rossie4ever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224948#Comment_122224948

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.

blowitupref

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224925#Comment_122224925

It's a long process for any GAA player before they get selected for Aussie rules. That's just trial and numerous young GAA players partake in that and progressing no further. What I'd question is the timing of those trials, they (the AFL teams) clearly don't care at all about the players some of which Daire Cregg Included who should be allowed to focus fully on their championship matches.

megadodge

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.

rn

Well now how nice is it waking up this morning? Credit to the team that's our best championship result since Armagh in 2018. And one of best performances since Mayo quarter final in croke park.

I said before the game I felt everything would have to go right for us and everything go wrong for Tyrone for us to come away with the win. And that seemed to be the way it turned out.

I didn't travel. But looking at highlights last night it did strike me that the biggest factor in our win was Tyrone were very very poor on defence. Uncharacteristically so. We seemed to be unmarked. But credit to our guys, we also brought our shooting boots and could score from distance (unlike Mayo in the Derry game and that cost them big time)

Tyrone brought a lot more directness in 2nd half, but we kept score board ticking over.

I would argue that performance and result was born out of the 3 performances in our group. We played well I thought v Dublin and 12 points margin was flattering to them. I actually thought we put in a decent effort v Mayo - the result didn't go our way. We put in a 65 minute performance v Mayo, more than we did all year. And the Cavan game was a banana skin game for us. Losing simply wasn't acceptable - but we've lost to Division 2 teams the last 2 years at this level of championship. An expected win for Roscommon is rarely delivered outside Connacht.

Conversely Tyrone believed their own hype. Everything was going for them. 2nd in their group after 3 good performances, 2 good results. Recent memories for a lot of players of dismissing us easily enough in championship. Conn Fitzpatrick 2 game ban overturned. They were at home in Omagh. The omens were great.

They completely underestimated Roscommon (sure we all did). And paid a heavy price for a terrible opening 35.

Always_Running

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121851283#Comment_121851283

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.

Rossie4ever

Best of luck to the players and management tomorrow. We are well capable of winning this game but it will be tough as Armagh are a good team. Hopefully there will be a big Roscommon crowd tomorrow at the match.

megadodge

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.

Always_Running

High fitness level does seem to require more work for Roscommon and playing a 3rd match in 14 days yesterday probably highlighted it. Playing with 14 men for half the game is the last thing any team would have wanted off the back of that schedule and the goose was cooked with a real give away 2nd goal to put six points between the teams.