Congratulations to our Fleming's SuperValu Roscommon sponsored U 13 Hurlers who had a super win on Saturday November 25th versus Athleauge/Tremane in the County League Final played in Dr. Hyde Park.
Eventually winning 6-8 to 1-8 the Gaels boys were on top from the very start and played excellent hurling that was full of determination and skill throughout.  We are very lucky to have this group who really are a credit to their families and Club.  

To the delight of all the Gales supporters present our captain Daniel Nerney raised the Joan Staunton Memorial Cup aloft.  

The Team are delighted to be the first team to receive this beautiful Cup , presented in Joan's memory by her 3 sons.   
It was touching to see the Staunton and Bracken families present at the game.  While hurling is played in Roscommon, Joan’s memory will live on.  May she continue to Rest in Peace.

Pictured Below:
1.  Player of the Match Cathal Mulry.
2.  Captain Daniel Nerney being presented with the Joan Staunton Memorial Cup by the Staunton family.
3.  The Fan Club

A First for Roscommon Gaels Ladies 
U16 Div 1 Football Championship and League County Final 2022

Roscommon Gaels 2-07 St Barry's 0-12

All roads led to Dr Hyde Park on Saturday for the County Photos U16 Div 1 County League & Championship Football Final against strong favourites St Barry's. It was decided by Roscommon County Board that both league and championship would be played for in one game.  On a beautiful November Morning, the tension in the air was palpable.  From the throw in the Creta Construction sponsored Gaels ladies were on the front foot but with some early nerves on display hitting 3 consecutive wides.  It was St. Barrys who opened the scoring with a pointed free but Roscommon Gaels quickly cancelled this out with a great team-move that finished with the ever-dependable Molly Rose Finneran crashing the ball to the net.  Roscommon Gaels were beginning to settle with a point from Shauna Walsh and another fine move that led to our second goal from Grace Geraghty.  The Gaels ladies were relentless, with their backs and midfielders well on top, they had Barry's on the back foot. There was great football on display from both teams and further scores from Molly Rose Finneran, Siofra Hession and Shauna Walsh they went in at the break, Roscommon Gaels 2-04 St Barry's 0-6.

St. Barry's started the second half on the front foot scoring a well taken point from Cara Cox.  Roscommon Gaels again linked up well before Shauna Walsh landed a brilliant point from distance. With St. Barry's players, Erin Hagan and Holly Rogers now coming to terms with our midfield,  Barry's began a sustained period of pressure. This led to a further two points and the margin was down to one point. The Gaels defence were magnificent all day and worked incredibly hard to keep the Barry's attack at bay. The Gaels full back line of Eve McNeill, Sarah Purcell and Kate Harlow were on top form during this period, however, a questionable penalty award handed our opponents the chance to go in front. 
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St. Barry's hadn't bargained on our keeper Jane King pulling off a great save to keep us in the game. This save will live long in the memory and it acted as a great boost to the entire Gaels team. The Gaels launched goal machine Grace Campbell and with her first touch Grace was narrowly wide with a bullet from just inside the big square.  With the game entering the last five minutes Barry's struck for a good point to level the game. It was now down to who wanted it more. A lung bursting run from Alannah Sutton followed by a majestic finish pushed the town team in front again. With the clock hitting full time Roscommon Gaels were awarded a free 30 meters out. Siofra Hession went short to Alannah Sutton who returned the ball to Siofra and she struck a great point under pressure to put them two up. Frantically awaiting full time whistle, St. Barry's were awarded a free which was converted to leave the bare minimum in it. The hard -working Martha McSharry continually turned over the Barry's half back line to keep Roscommon Gaels on the attack and their determination to hold out was epitomized by half forward Anna Kiernan winning a ball in front of their own goal and driving out the wing to win a free out. This was the last play of the game and the much welcomed final whistle sounded for the Gaels Ladies.

The ability to win the dirty ball and fielding was superb, this was epitomized by the blocks and hand-on defending from Ciara Killeen, Emma O Farrell and Amy Winston throughout the game.  Emma Hough and Siofra Hession worked tirelessly in midfield all day while up front Shauna Walsh led the attack with 0-3 from play. Goals win games and Molly Rose Finneran and Grace Geraghty will long be remembered for theirs today.  There were emotional scenes as this is the first ever Div 1 U16 LGFA title won by a Roscommon Gaels team - a brilliant team performance by the girls and Management.  Captain Emma O'Farrell raised the Cup and shield and gave a superb speech which showed just how much it meant to the group of girls.  Well done to the Management team of Declan Walsh, Teresa and Andy Hession and Ray McSharry who guided this group of players. A special thanks to Dr Liz Sweeney McSharry for her assistance.  Thanks to all the parents for your support in all-weather all year.  Thank you to Liam McNeill for providing the meal after the match. Thank you to our jersey sponsor Creta Construction. Thank you to everyone who has supported the team in the build up to the Final too!  Thank you to the huge crowd of Supporters that have come to all our matches throughout the Year specially the golden ladies - You know who you are!  

Team & Scores: Jane King, Eve McNeill, Sarah Purcell, Kate Harlow, Ciara Killeen, Emma O Farrell, Amy Winston, Siofra Hession (0-2), Emma Hough, Anna Kiernan, Shauna Walsh (0-3), Alannah Sutton (0-1), Grace Geraghty (1-0), Molly Rose Finneran (1-1), Martha McSharry.
Subs: Grace Campbell, Like McCaffery, Daniella Kerr, Sarah Reilly, Molly Tully, Jessica McSharry.

​Roscommon Herald, Tuesday October 18, 2022
By Ian Cooney at Dr. Hyde Park

Roscommon Gaels:   0-10
Pádraig Pearses:       0-08

"For Roscommon Gaels, this was all about the result.  With losses in the U13 and U17 county finals followed by a poor performance by the seniors in their county semi final against Strokestown, there was a danger that plenty of honest endeavour over the last few months would have very little to show for it.  But a commanding second half performance by a more economical crop of U15 footballers handed the club some thing tangible and went some way towards easing the disappointments of the past few weeks at dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.

It didn't look that way at the break as Pearses' greater percentage in the possession stakes had yielded a 0-06 to 0-04 lead.  But Roscommon Gaels' craving to get the ball into their towering full forward Leo Anic on the edge of the square unleashed a directness from which other players reaped a dividend.  Anic didnt exactly cause havoc, but his presence spooked the Pearses defence, allowing players like Tom Biesty and Matthew Finneran pick up the crumbs when possession broke their way.  Biesty was particularly influential, especially in the final quarter, when he kicked two points from play.  Further out the field, the impressive Samuel Malec Hannon saw plenty of ball and, for the most part, used it wisely.  

Bertie Satchwell brought a greater physical presence to the Gaels' armoury when he was positioned in the middle third for the second half.  Then there was Daniel Fleming - small in stature but the player with the biggest heart on the field as the Gaels defence enticed Pearses into their web and executed a number of crucial turnovers.  

Pearses' persistence with handpassing the ball was meat and drink to the Gaels rear-guard who directed their opponents down the central channels before, invevitably forcing error.  Daniel Mooney was the only Pearses forward to trouble the scoreboard from play, and those points were booming efforts from distance.  But far too often, Pearses' ploy of working the ball through the hands resulted in possession being lost in traffic, and the Gaels were able to counter-attack quickly.
  
Overall, it was a contest that lacked quality as mistakes and nerves were the order of the afternoon.  Padraig Pearses midfielder Keelan Kelly nudged his side in front, and when Mooney disected the posts in the fourth minute, the South Roscommon side's early dominance had been rewarded. But the game became stuck in a rut, with very little quality for the remainder of the half.  Sam Malec Hannon guided an effort just inside the post to open the Gaels account before Anic made his presence felt, after being picked out by  Malec Hannon, by gaterhing the ball and pointing on the turn to the left of the goal.   Both sides remainded tentative, although Mooney scored one of the points of the afternoon to edge Pearses back in form. 

However, scores during the remainder of the half were confined to frees - a double for Malec Hannon, while Ross Glynn and Mooney (2) added to Pearses' account to give their side a two point interval lead. But Roscommon Gaels threw off the shackles in the second half and looked far more purposeful.  Two frees from Malec Hannon got them back on level terms before Bertie Satchwell ambled forward and split the posts with aplomb to propel his side into the lead for the first time.

The Gaels were purring now and a brilliant run by the lion hearted Daniel Fleming allowed Beisty set up Matthew Finneran for a good score to leave the Gaels 0-08 to 0-06 ahead after 47 minutes.  Within the next three minutes, Biesty tagged on two more scores before Pearses launched a mini-comeback.  Glynn and Kelly (free) grabbed late points and they almost snatched it when substitute John Price parried the ball goalwards, but there was a Gaels defender on the line to avert the danger. 
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Soon afterwards, Michael Brehony blew the final whistle and the Gaels finally had something to celebrate".  

Great celebrations were had by Team, Management and Parents back at the Club Lounge following the game.  
Well done to all invovled.  A great success for both team and Club.  




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October 22nd, Ballintubber 

Roscommon Gaels: 4 - 13
Kilmore/Shannon Gaels:  1-04

Our Div 4 Under 15 team played Kilmore/Shannon Gaels in the Division 4 Championship Final on the 22nd October in good conditions at Enfield. This Gaels team had lost their group game to the same opponent by a single point, so the lads were out for revenge!  With a full panel to pick from - 26 players togged on the day.

Roscommon Gaels started  the first half playing against the wind and soon got to grips with the game around the middle of the field gaining some early scores on the board which settled the lads into the game.

The first goal came from Cian Kiernan after a long pass from midfield and a good run-in driving it to the back of the net. Two further goals were to follow for Cian in the game who ended with a personal tally of 3-6. The half time score was 2-09 to 0-4 in favour of the Gaels.

With an 11 point lead at half time the Gaels were able to introduce a number of subs early in the second half. David King replaced the injured Myles McSharry at half time.  

The second half continued with Roscommon Gaels adding a number of early points to put the game out of reach for Kilmore/Shannon Gaels.  Mark Biesty finished the goal scoring by adding a 4th goal late in the second half. The game finished on a score line of 4-13 to 1-4.

It was a great team performance with all 20 players that took the field making a massive contribution.
This ended a great season for the Under 15’s adding the Division 4 title to the Division 1 title won the previous week.