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I was just looking at some Meath club championship fixtures (I didn't intend to and I did throw up a little bit in my mouth when I realised what I was doing) and I noticed these gems of commercial enterprise:

The Hoganstand.com Senior Football Championship
and
The Meade Potato Intermediate Football Championship

I almost feel sorry for the poor lads on the radio in Meath who have to grit their teeth and say those names every week.

I was wondering which are the best sponsorships you've seen, past or present? We really should set up a PayPal and gather together the 50 Euro or so it'd take to sponsor the Kilkenny Intermediate Football Championship.. or maybe we think big and aim for the senior championship? 

[Terrace Talk - Jimmy Murray (2001)]

We compiled a few Ros-centric documentaries on Stolen Sheep last year and I've been meaning to expend the horizons a little. There's a lot of radio documentaries out there that most of us are probably unaware of unless we caught them on their first airing. RTE's Documentary on One strand has a host of documentaries on the GAA and the ones I'm about to list (with credit to Spectator on SS) are mostly Roscommon/Connacht centric. Likewise Weeshie Fogarty has a real treasure trove of interviews and documentaries on his Radio Kerry website.

Anyways, I wonder what people can turn up to add to the collection? There's no need for any hard and fast rules, as long as it's something interesting to you or your area. Let's build up a bit of an All-Ireland tapestry.

(Right click and select 'Save Target as..' or 'Save link as..' to download the documentaries that are direct links)



Roscommon GAA related:



Terrace Talk - Jimmy Murray (2001) - Weeshie Fogarty in conversation with our great double All-Ireland winning captain at his pub in Knockcroghery. (http://www.terracetalk.com/interviews/GAA/84/Jimmy-Murray)


Terrace Talk - Dermot Earley (2006) - Fogarty again, this time framed with interviews of some Kerry greats (including Mick O'Connell) done just after Dermot's death in 2010 and heart of the documentary being an interview with Dermot in the immediate aftermath of the 2006 minor All-Ireland victory. The raw emotion in his voice would bring any Rossie to tears. (http://www.terracetalk.com/interviews/GAA/67/Dermot-Earley)


Ferns in Gorthaganny (1994) - This one isn't about football but it centers on an unmarked Famine-era children's burial ground in Gorthaganny and the guide is the parish's greatest son, Dermot Earley. His character and dignity reverberates in just about every sound-bite left behind but this documentary highlights a different side of Dermot's life. (http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-15121042m19sdocononegorthaganny.mp3)


Deperately Seeking Sam (2011) - You may have heard of Paddy Joe Burke, the Roscommon super-fan who moonlights as a barber. This follows his journey through the 2011 championship season, beginning in New York City in early May and ending in August on the storied patch of turf at Jones' Road. (http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2011/pc/pod-v-0110201137m42sdocononedesperatelyseekingsam-pid0-2262480.mp3)



Sort-of Roscommon GAA related:



Star Spangled Football (1997) - A documentary about the 1947 Polo Grounds final in New York City. It's a great insight into how everything alligned to allow something so unique to happen and, of course, we'd just lost to Kerry in an AI final replay (the drawn game being delayed by a late harvest) and we played Cavan in that year's All-Ireland semi-final for the right to play in that match. What might have been. (http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-doconone-starspangledfootball.mp3)


The Script of Hurt (2009) - The story of Mayo football since 1951. It shares alot with Keith Duggan's book, House of Pain, on the same subject but it's fascinating all the same. Everything from John O's attempts to reach the precipice again, The Curse itself, that broken crossbar in '92 to Ted Webb's death come up. (http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2009/pc/pod-v-270609-41m50s-doconone.mp3)



Non-GAA:



The Long Strike - The story of how, in 1968, on the Roscommon Leitrim border, the miners of Arigna went on strike for a five day week - a strike that divided the community when twelve men crossed the picket lines.
http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2009/pc/pod-v-290809-43m30s-strikenew-doconone.mp3


From the Miners to Posterity - Miners talk about their work and their experiences mining in Arigna, Leitrim. They talk about the conditions in the mines before unionisation, the dangers, including diseases and accidents and the family tradition among miners. (Broadcast 1972)
http://www.podfeed.net/episode/DocArchive+From+the+Miners+to+Posterity/2929389


Fingers Numb Faces Aglow - John Scally travels back in time to his childhood in Roscommon and to Christmas time where the world around his family and homeplace is still as vivid today as it was all those years ago. (Broadcast 1995)
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/fingersnumbfacesaglow.html


Primrose and Blue - Primrose and Blue tells the story of John Scally as he vivdly recalls memories of his childhood in 1960's Roscommon in Ireland. This is a window into the Ireland gone by - into a different time in an almost different country (Broadcast 1995)
http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2009/pc/pod-v-41m13s-primrose-doconone.mp3


Cruising on the Shannon - The Shannon is Ireland's longest river. This documentary takes a relaxing and beautiful cruise on the upper Shannon, from Carrick on Shannon through to Knockivar lock to the Islands of Lough Key in Co. Roscommon. All aboard! (Broadcast 1991)
http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2011/pc/pod-v-docononeheadwaters-pid0-2599728.mp3


Remembering Hanna Greally - A radio documentary about the tragic story of Athlone writer Hanna Greally who was admitted a psychiatric hospital at nineteen but didn't win her freedom again for almost 20 years.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/greally.html


The Staunchest Priest - Fr. Michael O'Flanagan was born in 1876 near Castlerea, Roscommon. Known as 'The Republican Priest', he was president of Sinn Féin from 1933-35 but was expelled from the party for participating in a Radio Éireann (2RN) broadcast in 1936 (Broadcast 1976)
http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2011/pc/pod-v-docononethestaunchestpriest-pid0-2384016.mp3


Nobody Ever Went to America to Learn How to Kill a Pig - Honourable mention to our neighbours for this documentary about the killing of a pig (Broadcast 1978)
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/pig.html

 
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013
Athleague Hurling Club is to lodge a complaint concerning the release of the contents of a bus toilet outside the club's grounds on Sunday.  After the  Roscommon v Armagh hurling game game it was discovered that "somebody pulled the lever" of the Armagh team bus and the contents of the bus toilet made for an unpleasant sight right outside the GAA grounds.

Athleague was hosting the National Hurling League clash between Roscommon and Armagh hurlers and members of the Athleague Club are disgusted with the incident.

Liam Ross, Hurling Officer with the Armagh Hurling Board, who travelled on the team bus with the Armagh panel, said he "hadn't heard anything about it" when contacted by the Roscommon Herald. "There was no mention of anything like that from anyone or the players on the bus home," he said.

Gerry Naughton, Chairman of Athleague Club, said his club was  going to make a formal complaint. "This behaviour is unacceptable," he said.

Armagh Hurling Officer Liam Ross did point out that the Armagh players were very disappointed that the showers weren't working properly. County teams normally use the new dressing rooms, but the county board instructed the Athleague club to make the old dressing rooms available for the teams on Sunday.

"The showers were very cold. It seems that there was no electricity in the dressing rooms. It wouldn't be a level you'd expect nowadays. I've no doubt that the Roscommon footballers wouldn't take it. It's not what we'd be used to  from the Athletic Grounds. I played there 30 years ago and nothing has changed," said the hurling officer.

County Board Chairman Anthony Flaherty said the county team had been using the showers in Athleague three times a week for training and there was never an issue with the showers.

http://www.roscommonherald.ie/2013/03/12/contents-of-team-bus-toilet-dumped-outide-athleague-gaa-grounds/

Jesus lads, I know it's tough losing to us so much but you won this bloody game! 

Almost time to throw in again, as always it's one of the very best competitions in the sport. We should beat Leitrim but beyond that everyone else has a shot at making the final. Sligo have to come good at underage at some point with all those good college teams they've produced and Mayo and Galway's records speak for themselves.


Preliminary Round

18th March - Galway v Sligo - Tuam Stadium F. Flynn(L) 4pm   

Semi-Finals   

23rd March - Roscommon v Leitrim - Kiltoom - S. Hehir(G)   4.30pm   

23rd March - Mayo v Prelim rd winners - MacHale Park/ Tuam Stadium   P. Neilan(R)   4pm   

Connacht Final   
6th April

All Ireland semi final
20th April - Connacht winners v Leinster winners

Is this going to be a relegation play-off, lads?

With the proliferation of smartphones everyone and their ball-boy seems to be taking pictures at all times so why not a thread to bring together GAA Board's undoubted photographic genius?

No rules beyond it having to be your own work and that the longest side is no more than 900 pixels, the later rule being there just to prevent massive pictures making the thread a pain for people not viewing it on-space age monitors.

Pictures can be of anything, GAA, other sports, wildlife, landscape, a sighting of a Healy-Rae.

[2013 U21 HASTINGS CUP TOURNAMENT]

It's about time for a thread, it starts in only five days! After Cavan and Roscommon both made the AISF last season as well as both contesting the AI Final in successive years the standard should be quite high, especially considering the strides Longford are making at underage. It seems like all the counties have come to value the tournament more and more in recent years. Wicklow's addition is an interesting statement of intent by the Garden County, going as far as to agree to be a travel-only team in the tournament.

You'd expect Cavan to emerge from Group 2 while the meeting at the weekend of Roscommon and Longford is likely to decide who will be playing them in the cup final.


2013 U21 HASTINGS CUP TOURNAMENT

Rd. 1 - 5th January 2013

Group 1                                               Group 2
Roscommon V Longford                        Leitrim V Cavan                 
Wicklow a Bye                                      Offaly a Bye


Rd. 2 - 12th January 2013

Longford V Wicklow                              Cavan V Offaly
Roscommon a Bye                                Leitrim a Bye


Rd. 3 - 19th January 2013

Wicklow V Roscommon                        Offaly V Leitrim
Longford a Bye                                      Cavan a Bye


Please note that Wicklow have agreed to travel.


The top team in each group will contest the Hastings Cup Final and the 2nd placed team in each group will contest the Hastings Shield Final - both of these Finals to be played on 26th January 2013 at a Longford venue.

Will the Rossies dole out more pain to Armagh or can Kilcoo shock the world and end Cross' championship before Christmas?

Barring disaster Brigids v. Cross will be a tie between the two best teams in the country right now. Breffini or Pearse Park? Sure we have to opt for the neautral Leinster venue in the interests of fairness 

[Roscommon]

Well, if the Ulster lads can have their fun..

(* denotes defending champions)

Roscommon

SFC Quarter-Finals
15/9 (5:30pm) - Castlerea St. Kevin's v. Pádraig Pearses, Kiltoom
16/9 (2:00pm) Elphin v. Clann na nGael, Dr. Hyde Park
16/9 (3:30pm) - St. Brigid's** v. Western Gaels, Dr. Hyde Park
16/9 (5:30pm) - Roscommon Gaels v. St. Faithleach's, Strokestown

Semi-Finals
Roscommon Gaels/St. Faithleach's v. Castlerea St. Kevin's/Pádraig Pearses, Dr. Hyde Park
Elphin/Clann na nGael v. St. Brigid's**/Western Gaels, Dr. Hyde Park


Galway

SFC Semi-Finals
16/9 (2:30pm) - Tuam Stars v. Corofin*, Tuam Stadium
16/9 (4:15pm) - Salthill-Knocknacarra v. Killererin, Tuam Stadium


Mayo

SFC Semi-Finals (Dates TBD pending Sam)
Ballaghaderreen v. Knockmore
Crossmolina Deel Rovers v. Ballintubber*


Leitrim

SFC Final
TBD - Melvin Gaels v. Glencar/Manorhamilton*, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada


Sligo

SFC Semi-Finals
15/9 (6:00pm) - Coolera-Strandhill v. St Mary's, Markievicz Park
16/9 (4:00pm) - Curry v. Tourlestrane*, Kilcoyne Park


Brigid's look better than last year and should retain the Roscommon championship barring the upset of the year. I'd have fancied Ballagh to halt Ballintubber's three-in-a-row but with Andy gone I'm not too sure - they dispatched Garymore with ease in their quarter-final without him. Deel have been on form too so plenty can happen in Mayo yet. Tuam Stars are getting heat in Galway but all four semi-finalists there look like they have a shot at wining the title. Hard to look beyond Manorhalmilton in Leitrim again. Been hearing good things about Turlostrane's form in Sligo so maybe they'll make it two-out-of-two.

Thoughts?

Don't tear up our pitch too badly, Red. Our minors need it the next morning. 

After last year and last weekend we won't be going into this game with any fear.

The clash of gaaboard.com titans, a game for the ages.

Beforehand I'd have said Armagh would be the toughest draw we could get but on recent form there isn't a big gap between the teams. The home draw for us is almost as important as the opponents this time as our home record in the qualifiers is far superior to our away form and after a big loss the last thing we'd need is being dragged off to Armagh.

What'll attendence be like? It has the potential to be the best of the bunch in Round 1.

So some Galway supporter kept leaning back in his seat on Sunday, intent on breaking my kneecaps, at one point he somehow managed to end up perched on top of the back of his seat (he was no spring chicken, either) and almost fell backwards into my lap. He was best buds with the Galway u21 manager and never once bothered to turn around or apologise. Those feckers are always acting like they own the gaff. 

Him and his Galwegian army also stood up in place for the entirety of half-time. I wouldn't have minded but the Cumann na Bunscoil games were the only chance I had to see Rosies running rings around Galway.

I was clapping all our points twice as hard just because my hands were so near his ears.

I didn't clap many times.

But it got me thinking - what's your most, hmm, memorable moments in the stands, either yourself or surrounding hilarity ?

[Saturday February 4th, 20127:00 PM]

About time to throw a thread up, we're only a week out from the start now!


Saturday February 4th, 2012
7:00 PM

Antrim vs. Sligo (Casement Park)


Sunday February 5th, 2012
2:30 PM

Longford vs.Offaly (Glennon Brothers Pearse Park)
Wexford vs. Cavan (Wexford Park)
Roscommon vs.Tipperary (Dr. Hyde Park)


Saturday February 11th, 2012
7:00 PM

Cavan vs. Longford (Kingspan Breffni Park)


Sunday February 12th, 2012
2:30 PM

Offaly vs.Roscommon (O'Connor Park)
Tipperary vs. Antrim (Semple Stadium) 
Sligo vs.Wexford (Markievicz Park) 


Saturday March 3rd, 2012
7:00 PM

Antrim vs. Offaly (Casement Park)
Cavan vs. Sligo (Kingspan Breffni Park)


Sunday March 4th, 2012
2:30 PM

Longford vs. Roscommon (Glennon Brothers Pearse Park)
Wexford vs. Tipperary (Wexford Park)


Sunday March 11th, 2012
12 45 PM

Tipperary vs. Cavan (Semple Stadium)


Sunday March 11th, 2012
2:30 PM


Offaly vs. Wexford (O'Connor Park)
Sligo vs. Longford (Markievicz Park)
Roscommon vs. Antrim (Dr. Hyde Park)


Sunday March 18th, 2012
2:30 PM

Cavan vs. Offaly (Kingspan Breffni Park)
Longford vs. Antrim (Glennon Brothers Pearse Park)
Wexford vs. Roscommon (Wexford Park)
Sligo vs. Tipperary (Markievicz Park)


Saturday March 24th, 2012
7:00 PM

Tipperary vs. Longford (Semple Stadium)


Sunday March 25th, 2012
12:45 PM

Antrim vs. Wexford (Casement Park)


Sunday March 25th, 2012
2:30 PM

Offaly vs. Sligo (O'Connor Park)
Roscommon vs. Cavan (Dr. Hyde Park) 


Sunday April 8th, 2012
2:30 PM

Cavan vs. Antrim (Kingspan Breffni Park)
Longford vs. Wexford (Glennon Brothers Pearse Park)
Tipperary vs. Offaly (Semple Stadium)
Sligo vs. Roscommon (Markievicz Park)


Saturday April 28th, 2012
TBC

NFL Divison 3 Final: 1st Placed team vs. 2nd Placed Team


N.B. the venues listed seem to only be provisional, from what I read in the paper the Roscommon vs. Tipp game will actually be played in Kiltoom, so similar changes for other games are likely.

I'd just like to appeal to people who will be watching on streams to share good streams they find here - I'm going on holiday tomorrow and there's zero chance I'm going to miss the two finals on Sunday but I'd prefer not to have to pay the $29.99 PPV price Setanta are attempting to charge - as there's plenty of people here that want to see the All-Ireland and it'll be easier for everyone if we make an effort to share information.

I know there'll be a bar in some corner of most cities showing the games, but I'm sure there's plenty like me that'll be in America or elsewhere where the program for the day starts at a time that going anywhere but your nearest armchair isn't all that appealing.