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Tipp 0-6 Longford 0-5 after 25 minutes.
Willie H doing the commentary 

Christ, are we not suffering enough?

Vintage Willie there, commentating legend.

Barry Grogan 'puts the bacon in the oven and maybe even makes a dinner of it'  ... for those unfamiliar with the Rossie radio maestro, this may be interpreted as Barry Grogan winning and lining up a scorable Tipp free, with the game in the melting pot.

Longford's Reilly ' twists and turns like he's in a dancehall, kicks a Hairy-Mary and scores a Hairy Mary' ... never heard that one before but i suspect, all jiving aside, he was describing a kick akin to the better known 'Hail-Mary' which may have been borderline???

Congrats on promotion Larries, well deserved.

Deserved win for the Larries all right. They're the best team we've played in this division so far & must fancy their chances of making it to Div 2 now. Some cracking points from McElvanney there today.

Muppet, is this action by the MCB against Club Mayo a consequence of their supposed proposal of Tommy Lyons as a replacement for Johnno - if indeed they proposed him at all in the first place, that is?

It's unbelievable that such a good supporters club is being told to take a hike.

Club Mayo have laid out their side of the story, with a download also available which outlines their views on the situation.

http://www.clubmayo.ie/540.php

clubmayo had nothing to do with any proposal for the position of manager. It was a malicious rumour designed to undermine the organisation at home.

So were Club Mayo being asked to fundraise and provide financial support which went outside of their normal remit by that stage, do you reckon?

Muppet, is this action by the MCB against Club Mayo a consequence of their supposed proposal of Tommy Lyons as a replacement for Johnno - if indeed they proposed him at all in the first place, that is?

It's unbelievable that such a good supporters club is being told to take a hike.

Club Mayo have laid out their side of the story, with a download also available which outlines their views on the situation.

http://www.clubmayo.ie/540.php

Caruso Dineen put in one of his best performances in the county jersey, Devanney was a serious danger all day and McDermott exerted alot of influence in these second half.

Seanie Mac well up there as MOM contender for me - Tipp put it up to us today and came back from behind several times to almost reel us in. They look like they might need a Plan B when it comes to their style of play though as most teams know how to defend against them at this stage. Indiscipline and a lack of clinical finishing didn't help them today either, but teams will know they're in a game when playing Tipp & I can see them still being well up there when it comes to the shake out. Fair play to the James Horan and the Mayoites for putting out such a strong team against our depleted panel in the FBD, that game and the way we had to battle back in the second half in Ballinlough really stood us in good stead for today's contest!

Like Tourlestrane in the semi (also against Brigids), Corofin came out with all guns blazing in the first half and imo drained their tanks more than they should have with the second half to come. They got lots of men behind the ball in defence & attacked with a quicksilver Hussein Bolt type speed that had Brigids floundering at times. They had obviously studied the video of the Brigids v Tourlestarane game closely. Brigids gameplan played into their hands in the first half though. Instead of going fast and direct, Brigids dilly-dallied around the middle third giving the Corofin cavalry time to arrive and flood the sector, swarming the man with the ball. Then when the Brigids midfield lost competitiveness towards the end of the first half, Corofin took a strong hold on possession and pressed home their advantage with late points. They really should have been 6 - 7 points more ahead at that stage, some bad wides and of course the contentious dis-allowed goal cost them big time.

The ref seemed to take the approach that he wasn't going to let any messing develop from the start, imo. There's history between these two sides & when Corofin started with some tough tackling from the off, he took action early. Corofin looked to me like a team who had decided beforehand that this was a way to get at Brigids and put them off their more natural footballing game, and with Brigids on occasion retaliating, it inevitably descended into a card fest. While Corofin have some reasons to be sore I don't think the reffing was as biased as some here are trying to make out, tbh. Definitely some of the frees given were baffling and \ or soft, but having said that they went for and against both teams over the course of the game. As such, there's no justification for saying the ref went out to be a 'homer' or biased towards Brigids imho. Corofin's early tough tackling approach might have contributed towards setting the tone for his handling of the game though, i reckon.

When the game was there to be won, Brigids got stuck in and had more in the tank for the second half than Corofin, outscoring the Galway champions by 0.7 - 0.3 over the final half hour. Hard Luck to Corofin, it's never easy to lose a close final like that, especially with some contentious calls going against you. Congrats to Brigids, they showed fantastic grit and courage to dig out that second half performance after getting the run-around at times during the first half.

Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the ref's decisions, nothing can justify the treatment he was subjected to at the final whistle lads.

well done to the Andy Moran on his All-star the town of Ballaghaderreen will be delighted.

Spot on R4L. Congrats to Andy, well deserved All-Star award & a very popular winner with all in Ballagh.

[GAA: Brilliant Ballaghaderreen blow big chance as Cross' get lucky again]

Ciaran McDonald drills a wonder goal from a free through nearly the entire Ballaghadereen team to get a draw in the Mayo Club Final a few years back. It was the last kick of the game between Ballagh and Crossmollina

Any links to it?

Seems it was McDonald's kick but Peader Gardiners fist that directed it in. Shows how the details can be lost in your brain over time. Seems it was the County Final of 2006.

Crossmollina come back was with 14 men.

http://www.deelrovers.com/?sec=displaynews&itemId=178

Still don't know how Ballagh let that one slip, it was devastating at the time ... but it was some ball MacD drilled in from a free at the end of injury time, with the flick on from Gardiner completing the rescue for Cross. Seriously tough one to take for Ballagh at that stage, especially when losing the replay by a goal, but they came back to carry the Moclair Cup back over the border into Ros within two years when beating Charlestown in '08.

Sometimes almost walking on water wasn't even enough when MacD was playing against you 


http://www.westernpeople.ie/news/mhmhidsnql/

Western People   Wednesday, November 01, 2006 :


GAA: Brilliant Ballaghaderreen blow big chance as Cross' get lucky again

Lynch Breaffy House Hotel and Spa County Mayo Senior Football Final

By: Anthony Hennigan at McHale Park, Castlebar


Crossmolina 2-8 Ballaghaderreen 1-11

IF IN search of excitement you can head to the Funfair, for entertainment, the Circus, those fond of drama might head for the Theatre, but for lovers of all three, there are only a minority of places able to deliver on all counts at the one time.

McHale Park entered that latter category on Sunday last, as the famous old ground, witness to many a seismic struggle in its time, was location for the most absorbing of senior club football finals that anyone could have wished for.

Deadlocked at the long whistle, only by Peadar Gardiner's deftly flicked equalising goal in the fourth minute of injury time, champions Crossmolina had somehow hauled themselves back from the brink. And while Maroon clad players hugged openly, part in joy, part in relief, their Ballaghaderreen counterparts sunk to their muddied knees in despair, wondering just how they had allowed what seemed certain victory to slip from their grasp.

While their dream of ending the club's 34 year long wait for a Moclair Cup triumph remains alive for another week at least, one can't help but wonder how a team, so young and relatively inexperienced, will react to the realisation that they failed to apply the rubber stamp having held a three point lead not once, but twice, in second half stoppage time, having earlier owned a five points lead also.

Leading from first score 'til Gardiner's match-leveller, Ballaghaderreen, though rank under-dogs, applied themselves to the daunting task with aplomb. In fact, in the incessant rain, some of their players did everything but walk on water.

No matter that they were faced by tradition, quality and medal-laden opposition, in Barry Regan and cousins, Andy and Derek Moran, Ballagh' boasted three forwards that all day long, simply proved too hot for Cross' to handle.

Likewise, at midfield, Barry Kelly and James Kilcullen refused to respect reputations and enjoyed dominance, albeit aided but not solely due to Crossmolina's half-time loss through injury of Gabriel Walsh.

And in defence, while confronted by players possessing raw explosive scoring power, men such as Stephen Drake, David Kilcullen, Gary Conway and Joe McCann reached new levels of performance.

Combined, the aforementioned enabled Ballaghaderreen to confirm their arrival as a serious force to be reckoned with and yet, on the day, their best exhibition yet still wasn't good enough.

Stretching every last sinew, expending the last ounce of energy, draining every last drop of sweat, playing off instinct and from the heart, Crossmolina managed to grind out a result in much the same fashion as they had done in the semi-final against Ballina Stephenites - except this time they were just thankful to have drawn.

Unable to dictate proceedings and forced to play catch-up throughout, it's a game largely unfamiliar to the Deel Rovers, but their blushes were spared thanks to the magic, the genius, the artistry, call it what you will, of Ciaran McDonald. In deepest injury time, and with his side 1-11 to 1-8 in arrears, Mac (who had kicked all of Crossmolina's four previous points) hammered a 25 metre free into a crowded danger zone, knowing that the slightest of touches could reap a priceless, if highly unlikely, major. Hey Presto. The 'Wizard' pulled it off; his thunderbolt of low trajectory received the faintest of flicks from captain, Peadar Gardiner, and the leather flew past a motionless Ballagh' defence into the back of the net, goalkeeper Ollie Flanagan's resulting kick-out being the last action of a pulsating contest.

Alas for the East Mayo outfit, it could all have been so different. Dispelling any fears that nerves may unhinge their challenge, Frank Kelly's team could have goaled after just 38 seconds.

Winning Joe Dillon's high delivery, Andy Moran held off his marker before unleashing a powerful shot that was only prevented from shaking the net by the outstretched hand of corner-back Jonathan O'Boyle.

Two 45s later, the second of which was played short, Derek Moran dissected the uprights to open the underdogs account, theirs and the game's next score being the first of the day's three goals.

With Cross' hindered by inaccuracy, Ballagh' were to experience no such early difficulty at the opposite end and when Michael Solan fed a fine pass into Barry Regan, the full-forward displayed razor sharp instinct and aware-ness to play in fellow county panel-list Andy Moran, who coolly slotted the ball under the body of goal-keeper, Paul O'Donnell.

Only six minutes on the clock, their supporters were in dream-land, however, a reality check was quickly dished up by Thomas Jordan's team who hit three unanswered points in as many minutes, the first a Ciaran McDonald free and the latter pair both courtesy of Joe Keane, the first of which was the consolation for a Paul McGuin-ness close range shot that was stopped by Flanagan, Gardiner's run and McDonald's pin point pass both being integral components to the build-up of the goal chance.

But harrying and hassling in swarms, and attacking at break neck speed, there was an effective simplicity about much of Ballaghaderreen's best work - so too their next score, Andy Moran and Michael Solan laying up wingback Stephen Drake who launched the ball over the bar from 45 metres with plenty of air still left to spare.

By way of response, Crossmolina's Joe Keane, at this stage the intended target for most of McDonald's deliveries, kicked his third point in a row only for Derek Moran to superbly double his personal tally and for Michael Solan to curl over an almost replica point to that of the aforementioned, leaving the white and green 1-4 to 0-4 in front by the 21st minute.

Despite rainfall now leaving what were already tricky conditions even more troublesome, Ballaghaderreen continued to prosper and while Barry Regan saw his 30th minute fisted goal attempt smartly tipped away by Paul O'Donnell, there was still time for Regan to open his own account, thanks to Andy Moran's clever cross-field pass, and for Ciaran McDonald to uncharacteristically kick a 30 metre wide, before the half was called to its conclusion by referee Mel Kenny, who had a sound game throughout.

Winning a fair share of midfield ball, driving from the half-back line and evasive in their attacking movements, Ballaghaderreen were deserving of their four points interval lead, but one felt that there could yet be more to come from Cross'.

Keane and McDonald had been causing problems down the centre but with Stephen Rochford playing from deep and Brian Benson tied up in the corner, there was something slightly one dimensional about the champions forward plan. But the bigger problems were in defence, in the full-back line to be precise, where Regan and Andy Moran were wreaking havoc in the absence of regular number 3, Tom Nallen. For a period after the restart, younger brother James, while having a fair game at midfield, sat in front of the last line to try and quell this threat, but his talents were needed elsewhere as the half started the way the first had finished - Crossmolina missing the target after 20 seconds through Joe Keane and Barry Regan converting the first of his four second half frees for Ballagh'.

Keane, however, redeemed that early miss in emphatic fashion when scoring his second championship goal of the season in the ninth minute. Not availing of the chance to clear the danger, Frank Kelly's team paid a heavy price, and when the ball emerged from a melee of players, it was Stephen Rochford who popped over the pass from which Keane applied the finish.

Two points now being the margin, that was down to one by the 45th minute as a brace of Ciaran McDonald frees bettered Derek Moran's third point of the game.

In the energy sapping conditions, both side's called for fresh legs though in Crossmolina's instance, it was injury (as was the case when Henry McLoughlin replaced Gabriel Walsh at half-time) that forced the withdrawal of Mark Leonard - Enda Lavelle replacing the wing-forward who had, unknowingly at the time, sustained a suspected fractured jaw. Pearce Hanley and David Loftus were introduced for the leaders who, in the aftermath of McLoughlin's 48th minute straight red card dismissal, were able to restore a three points lead, 1-9 to 1-6, thanks to successful efforts by Derek Moran and Barry Regan (free), a narrow wide from the former around that time not looking as if would prove all that costly.

McDonald swung over his fourth point but when following that with a wide only to see Regan, in the 60th minute, add another free to his tally, it looked as if there would be no way back for the Deelsiders, especially when McDonald and Regan exchanged frees again in the 1st and 3rd minutes of an allotted five minutes injury time.

However, with all of Crossmolina's last four scores coming from dead balls, it was obvious that a pattern had developed. At all costs, fouling included, Ballaghaderreen were trying desperately not to concede a second goal, so it was somewhat ironic that it was from yet another indiscretion (over-exuberant tackling) in front of their posts that eventually led to the chance for McDonald to weave his spell by way of his last goal-creating kick.

This draw a bore? Not on your life!

CROSSMOLINA: Paul O'Donnell, Ronan Rochford, Damien Syron, Jonathan O'Boyle, Declan Keating, Damien Mulligan, Peadar Gardiner ( c ), Gabriel Walsh, James Nallen, Paul McGuinness, Ciaran McDonald, Mark Leonard, Stephen Rochford, Joe Keane, Brian Benson.
Subs used: Henry McLoughlin (for Walsh h/t), Enda Lavelle (for Leonard 43).

BALLAGHADERREEN: Ollie Flanagan, Joe McCann, Declan McGarry, Tomás Regan, Stephen Drake, David Kilcullen, Gary Conway ( c ), Barry Kelly, James Kilcullen, Andy Hanley, Joe Dillon, Derek Moran, Andy Moran, Barry Regan, Michael Solan.

Subs used: Pearce Hanley (for A. Hanley 43), David Loftus (for McGarry 45), Barry Solan (for Loftus 56), Maurice O'Gara (for Dillon 60+3).

Referee: Mel Kenny (Westport)

That's an interesting discussion reading back through it RossMatt - the conclusion by the end was that it's the Mayoites themselves who are DB's greatest critics, believe it or not!

And sure I won't hear a word against Stephenite - didn't he also proclaim himself on that thread to be a great admirer and adherent of the stolen sheep congregation. Amen to that - there is only one true faith 

This one was, erm ... a tad controversial at the time too ... 

Mixed the good with the bad at times, did DB.

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=5433.75

Are they setting about developing a siege mentality in Donegal for next year then?

Fair play to KD. Self-serving or not, he's dead right to stick up for his own county.

[Leitrim 0-6 Roscommon 0-7 (2006 league game)]

Connacht final 1993 Mayo 1-5 Roscommon 0-7,Leitrim 0-6 Roscommon 0-7 (2006 league game) were two of the worst games i've been too

Can't agree about the Leitrim league game R4L.

While the quality of fare on offer was arguably only middlin, the game was another in a long line of epic dogfights against the Laythrumites down the years.

It had a lot going for it ; monsoon-like weather which made this year's Connacht Final breeze and showers look positively glorious.

The big Laytrum crowd giving it socks under the shed all through.

Big Seamie getting attacked for the second game in a row against one of our neighbours.

The boul Marty Sludden dispatching only two Laythrumites to the line when they were clearly on a war footing.

13 man Laytrum's plucky second half showing against the all odds to lead late in the game.

And of course not forgetting The Rossies late comeback culminating in Cregger's wonderful winner.

Aye, a game that could go down in legend yet imho ( especially if i have anything to do with it anyhow  )



' 93 on the other hand ... totally agree. Have managed to wipe most of it from the memory banks at this stage, although Dempsey's goal is still stubbornly hanging in there ...

Mayo has to win midfield in terms of primary possession and breaking ball ... Its vital that when Kerry win any ball out there that they are harassed so if the supply goes in to Donaghy at all its disrupted and of poor quality. ... Horan is very defensively minded and will concentrate on smothering Kerry forwards and midfield and then hitting scores on the counter attack.

The FB position must be of huge concern for Mayo. Donie Shine is a big man but not the fastest and he gave Alan Feeney the complete runaround in the CF. Star has surprising mobility and pace for a big man and could destroy AF far more than Donie did, especially if Kerry resort a two man FF line. Don't forget he'll create a lot of scores for the other forwards as well as taking the odd score himself. Caff, i dunno, a few question marks there too after Sunday - is Cunniffe an option for FB Mayoites? I don't see enough of Mayo to really have a solid opinion on it. Ye also needs to factor in that JO'C will probably have Star take an odd soujorn out the field just to muddy the waters too.

Mayo's best option imo is to follow Ross Matt & Az' advice whilst trying to hit Kerry on the break. Otherwise i can see the Kerry forwards mesmerising the Mayo defence with their movement and pace if given the latitude tbh. I'd forget about putting McG back at FB btw despite the arguments for it as Star is too fast, physical and wily for McG in a defending role imo. Also, as Az said Kerry play a much more mixed game now. Their forwards are all quicksilver, but i noticed Paul Galvin was well capable of spraying the ball around with accurate foot passing earlier in the summer, not that Kerry are short of playmakers or anything like that.

The second half 'keeping the opposition scoring down' trick has worked well so far for Mayo, but there are a number of supplementary reasons for that and it'd be foolish to assume the game against Kerry will follow a similar pattern. In Connacht, terrible weather conditions facing Mayo's opponents in the second halves as well as them being poorer quality opposition, and against Cork dominating the middle third physically against complacent and tired looking opponents who'd hit the wall and allowed themselves to become rattled and desperate. Kerry will suffer none of these ailments. They'll give as good as they get physically, won't lack ideas, heart or motivation and will probably have a spare five point plan all of their own in reserve. I can see where Moysider is coming from too. Problems need to be identified and plans to be hatched all right Moy.

It's a big test for JH and Mayo. Going to be fascinating to see how they approach it and what gameplan they implement.

Very impressive display from Mayo. Recovered well from a tentative opening and got to grips at midfield, then started laying into Cork, especially AOS. Great drive from there to the finish to keep Cork living off scraps. Horan has certainly brought grit and toughness to Mayo, both mentally and physically. Kerry with their ageing defence and suspect midfield are vulnerable I reckon, if Mayo stay grounded. Best of Luck Mayo.

Whats important for us though is that we took them on in Croker and competed well for 3 quarters of the match and had them on the back foot for most of the 1st half. We have to learn from this. We have to mature physically and mentally. Above all we need to capitalise on our periods of dominace by coverting obvious scoring opportunities like all the top sides do. We need to bring in a few more players but as the minors showed yesterday they are on the way. Roscommon football is in a healthy state. Progress is slow and painful but it is progress.

Congrats Tyrone on a well deserved win & Good Luck against the Dubs next weekend.

You have things fairly well summed up from a primrose and blue perspective Ross Matt. Promotion from the upcoming league campaign should also be targeted imo. Playing the upper tier counties there regularly is the only avenue open to Ros, if we're to develop the ability to last the pace and maintain concentration for the full duration of games against better opposition. Steady progress is continuing in the overall set-up, lads are gaining experience and the seniors have developed a more solid look this year. While we're still well short of the top teams at senior the graph remains very much on the up. Saturday's final quarter drop in performance was disappointing, but with a few younger lads to come in and hopefully progression in the league, we can continue to improve and become more competitive at a higher level down the line.