All-Ireland Intermediate Semi-Final
(Allenwood v Calliehanna, today, 1pm, Pairc Teilteen, Navan)
(Castlerea v Cyr na Maltra, today, 2.30pm, Leash Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise)
all ireland junior semi-final
(Rahardane v Listowel, 1pm today, Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore)
(Ava v Milltown, today, 1pm, Westmeath, Downs)
In Connacht, Roscommon often do not receive their fair dues.
Either the draw went well or Galway/Mayo, who were excellent that year, didn’t show up that day.
The engine of the Fair Play Corps is driven by misplaced and condescending arrogance.
No wonder it’s frustrating. Sligo U20 captain Canis Mulligan felt it too. Even if the pressure valve wasn’t fully released when the final whistle blew, it was fully released in his post-match speech which gave him one of his GAA moments this year.
“The road to the final will be tough. Three away games, all big dogs. But Sligo are ****** big dogs now.”
Perhaps fear of such frustration is part of the reason why Cyr na Maltra and former Roscommon manager John Evans are wary of Castlerea.
“They beat the champions in Galway and Mayo. To do it in Connacht they must be doing something right.”
His last line in the Echo Live interview sums up club football.
“Whoever is the last to come out of Chill na Martra, please turn off the lights.”
You can take that message to Johnny Doyle’s people in Allenwood, his neighboring Milltown family, and football-obsessed Callie Hanna.
You can tell it in Rahardan, and you can shout it from the rooftops of the town of Listowel or the village of Alva.
Make sure immersion is turned off, turn off the lights and get out of town.
It’s All-Ireland semi-final weekend, and the great travel and madness begins.