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The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Ros Comáin) or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Roscommon. The county board is also responsible for the Roscommon inter-county football, hurling, camogie and ladies football teams.
History
Roscommon were a glamour team of the 1940s, winning back to back All Ireland's, and have contributed some of the great personalities to GAA history.
Gaelic football
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 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 team-captain was having his hair combed 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 Roscommons 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. Roscommons next period of success came in the late 70s 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 Mick Finneran's 35th second goal gave them 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 (1983, 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.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championships: 2
- 1943, 1944
- All-Ireland Junior Football Championships: 1
- 1940
- All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championships: 2
- 1978
- All-Ireland Minor Football Championships: 3
- 1951
- National Football League: 1
- 1979
- Connacht Senior Football Championships: 19
- 1905, 1912, 1914, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1990, 1991, 2001
Hurling
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 achievement was beating Wexford in the 1984 Centenary cup competition, and since 1994 they have contested the revived Connacht championship final with Galway.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior "B" Hurling Championships: 1
- 1994
- All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championships: 2
- 1965, 1974
Ladies' Gaelic football
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championships: 1
- 1978
Trivia
In the 1989 Connacht minor final, Roscommon trailed by two points when they awarded a penalty which would be the last kick of the game. Peadar Glennon steadied up to take the kick. then Shane Curran ran in and blasted the ball into the net. Roscommon collected the cup, did a lap of honour, then learned that the goal had been disallowed because Glennon was in the area when the kick was taken. The match was replayed, and Roscommon won.
External links
"Roscommon GAA"