Roscommon GAA

Roscommon Senior Football Championship

Roscommon were a glamour team of the 1940s, winning back to back All Irelands, and have contributed some of the great personalities to GAA history including 2 Presidents - Dan O'Rourke (1946–49) and Dr Donal Keenan (1973–76).

Roscommon's rise from Junior status to Senior All-Ireland champions in the four years leading up to 1943 was one of the great romances of its time. In the All Ireland final they drew with Cavan, before winning the replay with two quick goals from Frankie Kinlough and Jack McQuillan. Kinlough scored the goal and Donal Keenan the points the following year when Roscommon beat Kerry. Roscommon were captained by Jamesie Murray from Knockcroghery.

Legend tells how Roscommon lost a six-point lead in the final three minutes of the 1946 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Kerry, Tom Gega O'Connor and Paddy Kennedy scoring the goals. Roscommon were beaten in the replay (Gerry Dolan made one of the greatest saves in Croke Park history against Laois in that year's semi-final). The injured team-captain, Jimmy Murray, was having blood wiped from his face to "look right" for the presentation when Kerry struck for two late equalising goals. Defeats in 1947, 1952 and 1953 semi-finals ended the party.

The 1940s successes were the pinnacle of Roscommon's achievements. They also reached the final in 1962. That year was memorable for they were losing the Connacht final to Galway by 5 points when Roscommon keeper Aidan Brady swung on the crossbar, breaking it in two. During the 15-minute wait to get it replaced, Roscommon moved the great Gerry O'Malley to midfield in a re-organisation and he inspired their comeback to enable them to win the Connacht Championship. However, Kerry, once again, led by the great Mick O'Connell defeated them in the All-Ireland final thanks in no small way to an off-the-ball incident which led to O'Malley being stretchered off very early in the game. Roscommon's next period of success came in the late 1970s when they won 4 Connacht titles on the trot from 77-80. they reached the final in 1980 against Kerry. They looked like causing an upset when John "Jigger" O'Connor's 35th-second goal helped them to an early 1-2 to 0-0 lead, but this was the Kerry team regarded as the greatest in history, and they eventually won by 1-9 to 1-6. A series of minor championships (1981, 1984, 1989 and 1992), and an All-Ireland Under-21 final in 1982, showed the impact of that success and in 1990 and 1991 Roscommon emerged from Connacht again, succumbing to Meath by a single point in the 1991 All Ireland semi-final.

Nine unsuccessful seasons followed before, in 2001, Roscommon regained the Connacht title following a brilliant win and performance over eventual All-Ireland champions Galway and a very dramatic end-of-match victory over Mayo. However, they failed to make any further progress in the 2001 All Ireland Championship and the decade that followed was amongst the least successful in the team's history.

On the field, outside of a very exciting run in 2003, the senior team failed to record any notable successes since their 2001 Connacht Championship title win until 2010. The success of the county's Minor team in winning the All-Ireland title in 2006 offered hope, however.

In 2010 Roscommon captured their 20th Senior Connacht football title. In the first round they defeated London in Ruislip 0-14 to 0-6. In the semi final played in Dr Hyde Park Roscommon beat Leitrim 1-13 to 0-11. In the final played in McHale Park, Roscommon overcame favourites Sligo on a scoreline of 0-14 to 0-13. Roscommon were subsequently beaten in the All-Ireland Quarter Final in Croke Park by Cork 1-16 to 0-10.

Roscommon beat Galway in the 2017 Connacht Senior Football Championship final on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-12.

On 5 September 2018, after 3 years in charge Kevin McStay stepped down as Roscommon manager, "I feel I have brought the team as far as I can at this stage and a new voice and direction is now required" he said on his departure. Anthony Cunningham, former Galway hurler and hurling manager took over from McStay. Roscommon won the Connacht title in Cunningham's maiden year at the helm, defeating Galway in Salthill to claim their 23rd JJ Nestor Cup.

Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship

Roscommon hurlers' one appearance in an All Ireland semi-final was back in 1910, when they were beaten by 10 goals to one point by Tipperary. Their biggest achievements to date are winning the All Ireland Senior B in 1994, the All Ireland Intermediate in 1999, Nicky Rackard Cup Final in 2007 and 2015, both of which were won in Croke Park. Another notable victory was the defeat of Wexford in the 1984 Centenary cup competition in 1984. They competed in the newly formed Christy Ring Cup in 2005 and 2006 but were relegated to the Nicky Rackard cup after poor performances.

All Irelands (10)

• All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship: 1
  • 1994
• All Ireland Intermediate Championship 1999
• Nicky Rackard Cups: 2
  • 2007, 2015

• All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championships: 3
  • 1965, 1974, 2001
• All-Ireland Under 21 B Hurling Championship: 2
  • 2007, 2012

• All-Ireland Minor Special Hurling Championship: 1
  • 1969

Provincials (36)

• Connacht Senior Hurling Championships: 2
  • 1906, 1913

• Connacht Minor Hurling Championships: 8
  • 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
• Connacht Under-21 B Hurling Championships: 8
  • 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championships: 5
  • 1966, 1967, 1968, 2013, 2015
• Connacht Junior Hurling Championships: 13
  • 1952, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1974

Leagues (2)

• National Hurling League Division 3:
  • 2007
• National Hurling League Division 3A:
  • 2011