2007 was a successful year for Roscommon club St. Dominic's who lifted the county intermediate football championship title and claimed their first under 14 Division 1 football title in over 60 years. Proud to be associated with the Knockcroghrey-based club are The Whelan Group, who have been football team sponsors for the past six years. Top Roscommon dual club St. Dominic's will have senior championship football to look forward to for the first in a decade this year following their victory in the 2007 intermediate championship. The triumph was the highlight of a memorable year which also saw St. Dominic's win a rare under 14 Division 1 title. Sadly, the club's president and most famous member, the great Jamsie (Jimmy) Murray, didn't live to witness either success, having passed to his eternal reward at the beginning of the year. Jamsie remains the only Roscommon man to lift the Sam Maguire, and did so on two occasions, in 1943 and '44. He also holds the unique record of leading a team out onto Croke Park on five All-Ireland final days, twice in '43 including a replay and twice in '46 when the Connacht side lost to Kerry, also after a replay, while he was the victorious captain in '44. For the past six years, The Whelan Group has sponsored the St. Dominic's football team and, unsurprisingly, were thrilled with their achievements last year. "We're proud to be associated with them and everyone here was delighted to see them enjoy a very successful 2007," says Mick O'Toole, who is assistant manager of The Whelan Group's quarry in nearby Lecarrow. "Our plant manager Gerry Donnelly has had a lifelong involvement with St. Dominic's and that's how the connection came about. Gerry's three sons Patrick, Dermot and Matthew all play underage football with them. They seem to be a very progressive club, promoting both football and hurling equally, and everyone in The Whelan Group wishes them all the best in their quest for further glory this year." Since being formed in 1972 by managing director Patrick Whelan, The Whelan Group has established itself as the largest independent supplier of quarry and bitumen products and readymix/precast concrete products in Ireland. With a turnover in excess of EUR70 million, the Group's expertise and knowledge of how to handle multi-core projects is second to none. The Whelan Group also offers a professional service to their clients while being committed to quality construction, appreciable finish and timely completion. The Group's headquarters is located in Fountain Cross, Ennis, while they have quarry plants in Darragh and Tullagower (both Co. Clare), Mitchelstown, Mallow and Carrigtwohill (all Co. Cork), Kilfinane, Co. Limerick and Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon. Through their vast experience, The Whelan Group have built up an asphalt capacity of up to 9,000 tonnes a day, while stone production is up to 10,000 tonnes per day. The Group's net worth is in excess of EUR70 million. St. Dominic's are one of a handful of clubs in Roscommon who will field senior football and hurling teams in 2008. The club takes in the parish of Knockcroghery, Rahara and St. John's and caters for all aspects of the GAA - football, hurling, camogie, Scor, ladies football and handball. There is a strong tradition of Gaelic games in the parish, which is situated just south of Roscommon town and stretches from Ballymurray in the north to Kiltoom in the south and from Athleague village in the west to the Shannon. In the 1930s, there were three senior teams in the parish, but these amalgamated in 1941 to become St. Patrick's. St. Patrick's immediately established themselves as a major footballing force and featured in no fewer than nine senior championship finals between '41 and '51, winning six on the trot between 1942 and '48. Not surprisingly, the great Roscommon team of that era was backboned by St. Patrick's players, the most famous of which was Jamsie Murray. In 1973, the club changed its name to St. Dominic's. It is one of the largest and most progressive clubs in the county, currently catering for 25 teams from underage to senior and boasting one of the best grounds anywhere in Connacht. Approximately 60 trainers are involved with those teams, while membership has increased by over 70 per cent in the past three years and currently stands at 200 adults and 450 juveniles. St. Dominic's have placed a big emphasis on its underage structures over the past few years and this has yielded four under 12 county titles and an under 14 Division 1 championship last year. The successful under 14 team was managed by former Roscommon All-Star corner back Enon Gavin, while ex-Carlow midfielder and Irish Compromise Rules player Willie Doyle oversaw the wins at under 12 level. October 14 2007 was a red-letter day for St. Dominic's as they defeated Michael Glavey's by 2-12 to 1-7 to claim their fourth intermediate football championship and their first since 1995. In the semi-final, they beat a much-fancied St. Croan's and were even more impressive in their defeat of Michael Glavey's, exorcising the memories of their 2006 final loss to Kilmore in the process. The team, which featured county players Michael Finneran and Mark Miley, was jointly managed by John McGowan and Denis Fallon with Tommy Gilleran and Kevin Mullarney acting as selectors. St. Dominic's are eagerly looking forward to making their return to the senior championship in 2008 when they will meet Roscommon Gaels and Kilmore in the group stage. Last year, in memory and honour of Jamsie Murray, St. Dominic's presented the Roscommon county board with a new cup called Corn Jamsie Murray. A replica of the Sam Maguire, the cup will be presented to the county intermediate champions from this year onwards. 2007 was also notable for the selection of St. Dominic's clubman Liam Murray as Roscommon Sports Personality of the Year. Liam received the award after playing a starring role in the Roscommon hurlers' Nicky Rackard Cup and National League Division 3 successes, and he will have the honour of captaining the county side this year. St. Dominic's fields hurling teams at all levels, from under 12 up to senior. In 2006, the club won both the junior and under 12 hurling championships. St. Dominic's three senior hurling championship wins were achieved in 1967 (under the guise of St. Patrick's), '94 and '99. Last year, the club's commitment to hurling development was recognised by the awarding of the Michael Cox trophy to them by the Roscommon Supporters' Club in Dublin. Since forming in 2001, St. Dominic's ladies football section has gone from strength to strength and currently fields teams at under 12, 14, 16, minor and junior level. The highlights so far have been the under 12 Division 1 and under 14 Division 2 successes. St. Dominic's has a proud camogie tradition dating back to the 1930s. Included in their list of achievements is a five-in-a-row of senior triumphs and victories in all the grades. Last year, the club won the under 12 'A', minor (Brid Cox Cup) and junior league titles. This year they will field teams in under 10, 12, 14, 16, minor, senior and junior. St. Dominic's are one of the oldest and strongest Scor clubs in the county, competing in nearly every discipline each year. The club has won countless Roscommon and Connacht titles over the years and has produced All-Ireland winners in Ballad Group, Dancing and Recitation. You could say it is a model GAA club. The club's executive officers for 2008 are - chairman: Canon P Lavin; secretary: Larry Shine; treasurer: Geraldine Beattie-Green; PRO: Billy Morris. Tweet

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