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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The glory and pain
BY ANTHONY HENNIGAN
“Who’d have thought 12 months ago that we’d be here and that Mayo wouldn’t?”
That was the question posed by Roscommon manager Fergal O’Donnell, last Sunday, after his team shocked Sligo to win the 111th Connacht Championship. Who indeed could have foreseen such a transformation after the Shannonsiders 20points drubbing by Mayo in 2009.
“The reality is that Mayo and Galway will be back and stronger than ever so today was our chance,” admitted O’Donnell, in the wake of a surprise but thrilling 0-14 to 0-13 victory over the Yeats County. It took a 69th minute converted free by man of the match Donal Shine, his 10th point in total, to separate the teams.
“12 months ago we were naïve ourselves as a management, but you learn from all the big games,” continued O’Donnell. “I’ve learned that with the few successes we’ve had playing and managing in Roscommon and believe me we’ve had a lot more disappointments when you get your chance you’ve got to take it.
“If it went to a replay I think we’d have struggled to win it because this was our day, it was set up nicely for us. We came in under the radar,” said O’Donnell honestly. The former midfielder was proud at the courage displayed by his team after they let slip a six points first half lead in front of 23,573 spectators at McHale Park in Castlebar.
“A lot of the time this team hasn’t fought, and when Sligo got on a roll, and with their huge support, you would have said they were going to win it, or at least force a draw, but in fairness the lads stuck to the game plan.
“It’s a great win, especially coming from where we were. It’s been a very difficult year, the league campaign, the Cavan game in particular (a 13points defeat in Round 1), was very disappointing. We lost to Sligo by seven points too, so we don’t mind if we’re the Wimbledon of Connacht. We’re delighted to have the Nestor Cup,” joked O’Donnell, in reference to his side’s underdog status.
Across the tunnel, the mood was much more sombre as Sligo manager Kevin Walsh sifted through the embers of defeat. He couldn’t help but wonder did the huge expectation heaped upon Sligo influence their below par performance. However, there were other possible factors too, he admitted.
“We had three big games (against Mayo and Galway) and I’m just wondering how much that took out of the lads mentally as much as physically. But in fairness, they didn’t die, they kept coming back only that a few old frees kept Roscommon ahead. I’d like to look at a few of those decisions again.”
Sligo trailed 0-10 to 0-4 in the first half but Sean Davey and Alan Costello kicked superb equalising points in the 63rd and 67th minutes only for Donie Shine and Roscommon to have the final say.
“We did really well to come back and level but we took some wrong options towards the end, we could have popped the ball inside to the danger area. We kind of owned the second half and it’s very disappointing not to get over the line,” rued Walsh whose team was later drawn to face Down in the fourth round of All-Ireland Qualifiers. The manager has only six days to try and rejuvenate his players.
“The Connacht trophy is gone by the wayside but one of our goals would have been to play in Croke Park at quarter-final stage and that’s still there for the lads if they want it. It’s something we’ll have to decide collectively,” he added.
* Sligo’s clash with the Mourne men is fixed for next Saturday at Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan at 7 pm
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