Connaughton desperate for victory ahead of Roscommon hurling decider

Kevin Egan

Every player on the St Dominic’s panel that will pull on a blue and white striped jersey this Sunday for the battle against Four Road in the Roscommon SHC final Dr Hyde Park (2pm) is playing for their first ever county medal.

But perhaps unsurprisingly, given his day job as a teacher, Naos Connaughton is also conscious of the importance of winning it for the next generation, given his own introduction to county finals with the club, all the way back on their last county final victory in 1999.

“I was eight-years-old. I was the mascot, I loved it, they were idols of mine,” is how the principal of St Peter’s National School recalls that five point win over Oran.

“I was very lucky, I'm 35 now, I'll be 36 in a couple of months. I remember just looking up at players there, thinking one day I'd love to be that,” he continued.

“There's players there I idolised as a child, absolutely idolised. Liam Murray is still probably the greatest hurler I've ever seen playing hurling in Roscommon, I’m lucky enough to have played with Liam for a couple of years and I ended up coaching his daughter. Two of his daughters are two of the best camogie players in the county, they're phenomenal.

“Enda Gormley was probably a lesser-known player from 1999. Played full-forward, giant of a man. I remember there was a photo of me and him, he must have been 6'6", 6'7". I don't know what he was, it was like he was 10ft tall when I met him.”

Connaughton’s eagerness to give a day like that to the next generation of hurler from the three half parishes.

“There are so many people that just adore hurling in Roscommon, especially in our club. It would be great to see. We go to games there, like the last day in Ballyforan, there's young lads seven or eight years of age shouting on, calling your name. It kind of makes me think, is that what it was like 27 years ago when we were playing? I hope we can get over that last hurdle and give back to the club what they deserve.”

Two years ago they met Four Roads at this stage but after building up a first half lead with the wind at their backs, Connaughton broke a bone in his arm, Micheál Byrne was also withdrawn due to injury, and the wily champions found a way to reel them in.

Connaughton, who has extensive family connections in Four Roads, has the world of respect for the Mickey Cunniffe Cup holders, but is encouraged by some of the results from this year’s championship.

“What a hurling club, they are the pinnacle of Roscommon Hurling,” he said.

“But Oran got within a point of them, and people say maybe Pearses didn't have the greatest year but Pearses got within a point of Oran and could have beaten Oran in the quarter-final. The championship is fully open in Roscommon and it hasn't been like that for years, so it's great. Any given day, anyone can beat anyone. We lost two games in a group, we still ended up in the county final, we’re blessed to be here now and looking forward to it. But it’s a final, and Four Roads are different in finals.

“We beat them in the group and everybody says ‘Ah, you beat them!’ Group game hurling doesn't matter in Four Roads. Four Roads don't hurl until September. Andy and Jamie Lawlor are my cousins, my mother is Anne Lawlor from Four Roads. Adam Donnelly and Jack Donnelly are my cousins as well, I'd have hurled with Darren Fallon and Cathal Dolan, we all know each other, they are who they are. On any given day, anything can happen. Hopefully we get to Sunday, there's no calamitous weather on, everyone makes it through and we get a decent game of hurling. That's all we're looking for.”