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Roscommon GAA thread

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Replying To endgame:  "Jimmy Murray was an exceptional leader and that's what's needed. Before 1943, Roscommon hadn't won Connacht since 1914. They had lost by a point to Galway in the Connacht finals of 1941 and 1942. Murray said before the '43 Connacht final that we'll beat Galway today or they'll carry me off on a stretcher. Roscommon beat Galway that day and went on to beat Cavan in the All Ireland final and retained Sam the following year v Kerry. Murray was a man of steel with iron leadership. Roscommon beat this year's All Ireland champions by 10 points. We limped out of the championship against Monaghan because the team were happy with winning Connacht and had no real ambition beyond that. Well done to Mayo on their fight and energy yesterday though it always hurts to see red and green flying high in Ballaghaderreen."
That's for sure and Dan O Rourke was meant to be a serious driving force as well. Have to hand it to Andy Moran he is some leader and had the belief Mayo would win an All Ireland.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 554 - 27/07/2026 23:15:05    2687674

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "That's for sure and Dan O Rourke was meant to be a serious driving force as well. Have to hand it to Andy Moran he is some leader and had the belief Mayo would win an All Ireland."
Did I hear correctly that some of the Rhubarb panel gave up jobs so they could live at home and avoid long distance travel to training?

We need all our lads at home if possible or working close enough.
Avoiding long bus journeys mid week would be a great help.
If that means not having the full squad together till weekends so be it.
I expect Comerford will be staying.
Wonder will there be any changes to backroom?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 801 - 28/07/2026 10:12:24    2687706

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Did I hear correctly that some of the Rhubarb panel gave up jobs so they could live at home and avoid long distance travel to training?

We need all our lads at home if possible or working close enough.
Avoiding long bus journeys mid week would be a great help.
If that means not having the full squad together till weekends so be it.
I expect Comerford will be staying.
Wonder will there be any changes to backroom?"
Living/working in your home county has huge advantages. The main one being not travelling long distances to and from training and helping rest/ recovery times. The majority of the Kerry team/panel are primary/secondary school teachers teams based in Kerry. Jack O Connor and one of their top coaches ( AMG) are both retired which gives them and the players extra time to do extra individual/team video analysis. Many of players and management team are therefore basically full time sports professionals at the business end of the season. When they are not training they can meet up for coffee as friends which helps build team moral. They can also be in bed at 10.00pm while many county players are cramping up in the back of cars travelling long distances.
What caught Kerry this year is that a lot of their top players had long term injuries ( O' Shea, O' Sullivan, White, O' Connor etc) and they did not have it in the legs against Mayo. Mayo certainly deserved their win and should have won by more.

While Dublin were the best team ever, being in bed at 10.00pm had huge advantages when they drew/pipped Mayo by a point in a couple of All Irelands. Andy Moran was very much aware of those major advantages.
Unfortunately for Roscommon we do not have many major businesses/industries in the county unless Sean Mulryan can get that city built in Athlone. (Hopefully on the Roscommon side !)

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 937 - 28/07/2026 11:17:11    2687723

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Did I hear correctly that some of the Rhubarb panel gave up jobs so they could live at home and avoid long distance travel to training?

We need all our lads at home if possible or working close enough.
Avoiding long bus journeys mid week would be a great help.
If that means not having the full squad together till weekends so be it.
I expect Comerford will be staying.
Wonder will there be any changes to backroom?"
Mayo management were definitely trying to get as many relocated back nearer Mayo as possible.
Hopefully Sherlock stays on as well. I think they can build something. They'll be more experienced and wiser next year.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 554 - 28/07/2026 11:56:07    2687740

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Replying To letsgetgoing:  "Living/working in your home county has huge advantages. The main one being not travelling long distances to and from training and helping rest/ recovery times. The majority of the Kerry team/panel are primary/secondary school teachers teams based in Kerry. Jack O Connor and one of their top coaches ( AMG) are both retired which gives them and the players extra time to do extra individual/team video analysis. Many of players and management team are therefore basically full time sports professionals at the business end of the season. When they are not training they can meet up for coffee as friends which helps build team moral. They can also be in bed at 10.00pm while many county players are cramping up in the back of cars travelling long distances.
What caught Kerry this year is that a lot of their top players had long term injuries ( O' Shea, O' Sullivan, White, O' Connor etc) and they did not have it in the legs against Mayo. Mayo certainly deserved their win and should have won by more.

While Dublin were the best team ever, being in bed at 10.00pm had huge advantages when they drew/pipped Mayo by a point in a couple of All Irelands. Andy Moran was very much aware of those major advantages.
Unfortunately for Roscommon we do not have many major businesses/industries in the county unless Sean Mulryan can get that city built in Athlone. (Hopefully on the Roscommon side !)"
Hopefully is right. Mulryan is a visionary and I hope there is the political will to really push that on. Yea unfortunately Roscommon have not had the best political representation over the years. All well and good electing independents but if they have no influence it isn't much good. When you compare our neighbours, consistently have influential government ministers and even a taoiseach. So it's no fluke that Castlebar fought to get an IT and pharma and other multi national companies set up in Westport, Castlebar and Ballina, along with huge greenway and outdoor recreation push all over the county. Not the same political leadership in Roscommon. We now have a scenario where despite east Galway being a tiny part of the constituency we have two out of three TDs from Galway. No surprise that basics such as getting funding to repair the Courthouse in Roscommon town is stalled. One of the TDs is purely farming focused and while that sector is relevant, farmer numbers are dropping as farms consolidate with time. There is limited future employment there and it won't help attracting our youngest and brightest back to the county to get good jobs.

I heard it said that the team of the 40s was one of the few counties to be doing collective training at that time, which was seen as very progressive. Most of the Roscommon team were civil servants, guards, army, doctors or business owners based in or near Roscommon which gave them a big advantage.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 554 - 28/07/2026 12:14:52    2687756

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "That's for sure and Dan O Rourke was meant to be a serious driving force as well. Have to hand it to Andy Moran he is some leader and had the belief Mayo would win an All Ireland."
Didn't Dan O'Rourke of Castlerea also become President of the Gaa. Roscommon of the 1940s were a serious force. And we were a small county then as well. The championship in 2027 will be very open and I really hope our young team give it a real go.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2769 - 28/07/2026 20:20:07    2687898

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Replying To endgame:  "Didn't Dan O'Rourke of Castlerea also become President of the Gaa. Roscommon of the 1940s were a serious force. And we were a small county then as well. The championship in 2027 will be very open and I really hope our young team give it a real go."
Dan was a Laythrum man believe it or not.
The squad lived in the CBS in Roscommon when doing the collective training .

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 801 - 28/07/2026 21:55:37    2687914

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Dan was a Laythrum man believe it or not.
The squad lived in the CBS in Roscommon when doing the collective training ."
Heard that alright, the O Rourke sisters must be connected?
CBS was instrumental in driving football on in the late 30s and 40s. Won 3 Connachts in a row in the early 40s, think Jimmy Murray was involved in the team.

@endgame he was president as well. A serious operator.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 554 - 28/07/2026 23:08:11    2687924

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Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for the well wishes since Sunday. I spoke to a few who drove down Sunday and Monday thru Roscommon and there was people out clapping.

The feeling is still surreal and I do sincerely wish every single county could experience winning an All Ireland title and every county should and can aspire to win an All Ireland. No reason why Roscommon can't push on next year and be at the business end in Croke Park….the raw materials are there.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12227 - 29/07/2026 10:22:05    2687953

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "Heard that alright, the O Rourke sisters must be connected?
CBS was instrumental in driving football on in the late 30s and 40s. Won 3 Connachts in a row in the early 40s, think Jimmy Murray was involved in the team.

@endgame he was president as well. A serious operator."
The O'Rourke lassies are descendants of his alright.
One of the Offaly u20s in 2021 was also a descendant.
Can't recall his name offhand.

Plenty of Football Club action this weekend plus a Ladies All Ireland Final.
Pity about a few games clashing with the girls.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 801 - 29/07/2026 10:59:49    2687957

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for the well wishes since Sunday. I spoke to a few who drove down Sunday and Monday thru Roscommon and there was people out clapping.

The feeling is still surreal and I do sincerely wish every single county could experience winning an All Ireland title and every county should and can aspire to win an All Ireland. No reason why Roscommon can't push on next year and be at the business end in Croke Park….the raw materials are there."
Thanks Yew Tree.
Particularly delighted for the players who soldered for years, O'Shea, O'Connor brothers, Hennelly, Durkin, etc. We don't like them when they play the Rossies but you really have to admire them for sticking with it.
Should make for a good match up in the National League and a real boost to the Connacht Championship and also other counties.
Enjoy the next few weeks and months.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 937 - 29/07/2026 11:32:38    2687964

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "Heard that alright, the O Rourke sisters must be connected?
CBS was instrumental in driving football on in the late 30s and 40s. Won 3 Connachts in a row in the early 40s, think Jimmy Murray was involved in the team.

@endgame he was president as well. A serious operator."
Still is today the CBS. At least it lands All Irelands for the county. Got to an A final in2015 as well. Savage results

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1482 - 29/07/2026 12:22:55    2687981

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Any predictions for Championship? I'll give mine anyways

Senior
Winner - Boyle (the year of the underdog and ending long famines)
Runners Up - Brigids
Dark Horse/Surprise Package - Oran (finally end their KO games drought)
Relegated - Elphin

Intermeidate
Winner - Tulsk
Runners Up - Doms
Dark Horse/Surprise Package - Michaels (repeat the dose of last year)
Relegated - Pearses B

Junior
Winner - Ballinameen
Runner Up - Aidans
Dark Horse/Surprise Package - Kilglass (Have a nice group, so could open up for them to make the last 4)
Relegated - Ros Gaels B

GerBo (Roscommon) - Posts: 111 - 29/07/2026 17:29:36    2688054

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "Heard that alright, the O Rourke sisters must be connected?
CBS was instrumental in driving football on in the late 30s and 40s. Won 3 Connachts in a row in the early 40s, think Jimmy Murray was involved in the team.

@endgame he was president as well. A serious operator."
Great-grandfather Dan O'Rourke is to Lisa and Aoife.

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Dan O'Rourke made his land and facilities available to Roscommon footballers for collective training something that was well ahead of its time. He had a shed built beside Tarmon School near Castlerea town to provide sleeping quarters for players travelling from across the county, while his family provided meals and hospitality. This unique arrangement created the foundation for what became known as the "Six Glorious Years" of Roscommon football, which saw the county win multiple Connacht titles and two All-Ireland senior championships in 1943 and 1944.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4446 - 29/07/2026 17:34:37    2688055

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Replying To The_analyser:  "Great-grandfather Dan O'Rourke is to Lisa and Aoife.

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Dan O'Rourke made his land and facilities available to Roscommon footballers for collective training something that was well ahead of its time. He had a shed built beside Tarmon School near Castlerea town to provide sleeping quarters for players travelling from across the county, while his family provided meals and hospitality. This unique arrangement created the foundation for what became known as the "Six Glorious Years" of Roscommon football, which saw the county win multiple Connacht titles and two All-Ireland senior championships in 1943 and 1944."
Minor 39 and41.
Junior ( was our main team) 1940.

5 AIs in that 6 years, 5 in 82 years since.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 801 - 29/07/2026 18:57:37    2688069

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Lesson's in history aren't going to land us All Irelands. Nice to be nostalgic and all that but a clear plan involving a number of strategic planning would only get us possibly getting to win one. No proper centre of excellence yet a huge stumbling block. Will it arrive in this decade!

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1482 - 29/07/2026 20:35:45    2688082

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