Vincent Brooks preview Sunday’s Oscar Traynor Cup Quarter-Final which sees the Roscommon and District Football League team take on the Inishowen League side on Sunday.
This Sunday the Roscommon and District Football League make the long journey to Buncrana where they play the Inishowen League in the Oscar Traynor Cup Quarter-Finals. The Game is being played at the Magin Park Buncrana which is the home of the Inishowen League. Kick Off time is at the earlier than previously advertised time of 12.30pm.
It’s five seasons since the Roscommon and District Football League team reached the Semi-Final of this National competition and they will be hoping to beat the Inishowen Football League and advance again.
Interestingly enough the last time the sides played the Roscommon and District Football League team beat the Inishowen League 3–2 at Buncrana on their way to reaching the Semi-Finals! Colm Killackey from Ballymoe, Liam Lynch and Henry Loughnane scoring the goals on that occasion.
To reach the Quarter-Finals the Roscommon and District Football League team beat the Mayo League 2–1 at Lecarrow and then drew 0-0 away to Galway before travelling to Clare and coming away with an impressive 1-1 draw with the current Cup holders. They had a home game against the Cavan/Monaghan League and following a rather hectic game the Roscommon and District League advanced to the Quarter-Finals with a 3–0 win. Gregory Grogan Garry Canavan and Peter Farrell were the goal scorers for the home side but great credit must go to the team as a whole who worked very hard to secure a win.
Inishowen topped their group and as a result went straight into the Quarter Finals. They beat the Sligo Leitrim League 3–2 at Sligo and then beat the Donegal League 2–1 at Buncrana. Their last outing was at home to the Cavan-Monaghan League and after being 2–1 down at half-time they came back to win 7–3.
Enda Concannon, his assistant Sean McDonnell, and their coaching staff, are getting the best out of the panel of players. In the Dysart player Noel Fallon they have a talented goalkeeper while their defence, after a very shaky start against Cavan Monaghan, went on to give a very fine display. Captain Enda Kenny, Joe Woods, John Connaughton, Cormack Clogher and Garry Canavan looked very comfortable playing at this level while Darragh Concannon, Dominic Bligh, Peter Farrell, Gregory Grogan, Ronan Curran and Jack Higgins were all impressive. There are injury worries for Enda Concannon he may add two replacements to his panel.
Inishowen have some excellent strikers such as Terence Doherty, Brendan McLoughlin and Mathew Henry who will keep the visitors on their toes. If the Roscommon and District Football League team can hold their opponents scoreless for the first twenty minutes they will then have a real chance of winning this game and a place in the Semi-Finals.
The Roscommon and District Football League Panel in full is as follows:
Joe Hunt (Ahascragh United), Rory Mannion (Lough Harps), Noel Fallon, Andy Higgins (Dysart), Des Hope, Joe Woods, Cormack Clogher, Garry Canavan (Ballinasloe), Darragh Concannon, Enda Kenny, Alan Duffy (Moore United), Ronan Curran, Dominic Bligh, Jack Higgins, Peter Farrell (Castlerea Celtic), Tommie Hurley (St Johns Athletic), John Connaughton, Gregory Grogan (Ballymoe FC).
Manager: Enda Concannon, Assistant Manager: Sean McDonnell, Coaches: Lloyd Kelly Adrian Carberry.