It’s not every day you see a Mayo man lifting an All-Ireland trophy, but Garrymore’s Cathal Slattery of the Roscommon Garda team did exactly just that after the GAA Inter-Firms Intermediate final served up a dramatic, neck-and-neck battle that went right down to the wire.

The Roscommon Garda team, comprised of Gardaí from Longford, Roscommon and Mayo, edged out Limerick’s Aughinish Alumina in the All-Ireland final, winning by a single point after a gripping finish at St Patrick’s GAA grounds in Limerick City.

Team coach and Longford based Garda, Conor Foley, spoke to the Longford Leader following the win – his second All Ireland win as coach in just three months. 

“Our first year in the competition … the win was unbelievable and to see it go as well as it did, was just incredible. I was delighted for the players.”

Pic: Inter-Firms GAA Connacht Facebook

Conor adds, “Aughinish are a very good side. They have a couple of ex-county players and the majority of the team are Kerry lads. They have the top scorer from last year’s Kerry Junior Championship, the top scorer from last year’s Limerick Football Championship, and they have a former Kerry number one in goals as well, Brian Dineen. Brian is a former minor and under-21 Kerry player, a fabulous footballer.”

With the team having battled through difficult conditions on the day, Conor said it was impressive how well the Roscommon Garda players had performed despite the challenging weather throughout the match.

“They battled in tough conditions but it was incredible to see how well the boys did when the weather itself was terrible on the day. We were probably unlucky not to get a goal in the first half. Immediately after that, the referee put us down to 14 men with a black card just before the half time. So the first 10 minutes after the second half was so important.”

Cathal Slattery accepting the All Ireland cup for the Roscommon Garda team. Pic: Inter-Firms GAA Connacht Facebook

Conor adds, “We held our own for that 10 minutes. Aughinish didn’t score at all, and that really was the driving force in getting the victory. Cathal Slattery lifted the cup for us and as he said himself, it’s great to see a Mayo man lifting All Ireland!”

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Having secured an All Ireland in their first year of playing GAA Inter-Firms, the Garda team now fully intend to return to the pitch again.     

Says Conor, “Definitely, I’d say this is going to be the start of many, hopefully, but as I said before, this would not have happened if it hadn’t been for the likes of Shane O’Connor and David Buckley.”

“I’m in Longford now three and a half years since I joined the guards and since day one when they found out I was doing a bit of coaching, the two boys have been trying to get this team in action and drive it on, and that’s exactly what they have done.” 

He adds, “To see the success we’ve had in the first year … Shane O’Connor, David Buckley and Damien McGovern have all done tremendous work in the background. The likes of themselves, Karl Foley and David Cryan – look, we have great players there, but if the boys hadn’t put the foundations in, we wouldn’t have been able to go on as far as we did.”

The Roscommon Garda team. Pic: Inter-Firms GAA Connacht Facebook

The Match

Despite the weather working against them, both teams managed to serve up an enthralling match that kept onlookers captivated and the scoreboard changing on a whim. 

Aughinish Alumina got off to a strong start with with Danny Stack opening the scoring, followed shortly by Danny Wren to give the Limerick side an early lead. 

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Roscommon Garda were quick out of the block, with Paul Mannion scoring before Colin Campton then levelled matters in the 8th minute. Mannion however quickly restored the lead in the 11th minute with his second score; the Garda side now two points clear inside the opening 15 minutes.

A chance to extend that lead went astray when Tiernan Murphy’s penalty was saved by Limerick’s Brian Dineen. Roscommon Garda’s Gearóid Ennis responded by adding a two-point free, keeping his side in front.

The Aughinish Alumina team. Pic: Inter-Firms GAA Connacht Facebook  

Aughinish fought back, ending a 17-minute scoreless spell with quick points from Mike Holly and Jamie Moloney to halve the deficit.

Roscommon, however, responded through Ennis once more to re-establish control, with Iain Corbett adding a late score to to ensure the half-time scoreboard had Roscommon three ahead at 0-08 with Aughinish Alumina at 0-05 

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The second half burst into action almost immediately, with two goals produced in quick succession. 

Cathal Slattery gave Roscommon Garda an early boost with a goal that put them six points clear, but Aughinish hit back immediately as Danny Stack converted a 13-metre free to keep the Limerick side in touch.

The contest then swung end-to-end, with Tiernan Murphy and Kevin Fox exchanging scores before Roscommon Garda reasserted control in the 40th minute when Paul Mannion produced a sharp solo effort to restore a four-point cushion.

Aughinish Alumina mounted a strong response, striking 1-2 to edge ahead by a point in the 47th minute.

Scores from Danny Stack and Darragh O’Keeffe reduced that deficit to just two, before they seized the lead when a long delivery from Iain Corbett was sent into the net by substitute Adam Kearns.

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Roscommon quickly levelled through Graham Petit, setting up a tense finish. Michael Dwyer restored the Garda lead in the 50th minute, with both sides wasting chances in a tight closing period.

A 57th-minute point from Gearóid Ennis and it seemed like the win was in the bag for Roscommon.  

With the clock ticking, Aughinish Alumina remained composed in their dogged pursuit of the win, and as the gripping contest entered its final minutes, the Garda team – who were leading by two points – were caught cold when a superb two-point score from Aughinish’s Iain Corbett brought the sides level in the 59th minute. 

Fortunately, Paul Mannion’s delivery was finished beautifully by Graham Petit who scored the winning point as the match entered injury time, securing for the Garda team their first and well-earned All-Ireland title.

The Roscommon Garda team. Pic: Inter-Firms GAA Connacht Facebook

The Team:  

Roscommon Garda: Colin Goldrick (Boyle GAA), Thomas Taylor (Kilmore), Sean Peyton (Swinford), Tomas Connaughton (Fuerty), Rory O’Connor (Monivea-Abbey), Paddy Fallon (St Dominics), Michael Dwyer (Oran / scored 0-1), Colin Compton (Strokestown / scored 0-1), Cathal Slattery (Garrymore / scored 1-0), Niall Keenan (Fuerty), Paul Mannion (Kilconnell / scored 0-3), Darragh Hussey (St Faithleachs), Tiernan Murphy (Michael Glaveys / scored 0-1), Graham Petit (Clann na Gael / scored 0-2), Gearoid Ennis (Fuerty / scored 0-6, 3f)

Subs: Keith Muldoon (St Croans) David Charles (Aughavas GAA)

Referee: Fergal O’Brien(Clare)