Memories from 2001: one of those special days in the Hyde

The memories remain as vivid as they were on that memorable afternoon on July 1st.

Nothing captures the imagination quite like Primrose and Blue-clad supporters celebrating in the sunshine. On this occasion, the hoopla was uncontrollable — a tsunami of emotion cascading down the terraces as Gerry Lohan’s last-gasp goal handed the Rossies their first provincial senior football crown in ten years.

It was fitting that Fergal O’Donnell was the man to get his hands on the Nestor Cup. The William Wallace of the county’s flagship football team for years, in an instant all the previous disappointments and near misses were put to bed.

It is barely plausible that no other Roscommon captain has lifted lift the Nestor Cup in the Hyde since then. When the class of 2001 are introduced to the crowd on the 25th anniversary of that famous triumph next Sunday, hopefully it will form part of the symmetry on what has the potential to be one of the great days.

For O’Donnell and his team-mates, the occasion will be tinged with sadness. Conor Connelly, Don Connellan, Ger Michael Grogan and Jimmy Finnegan (selector) have gone to their eternal reward since then, but their legacy is forever shining like a beacon.

“It’s sad that three of the lads won’t be around, and of course Jimmy (Finnegan) was a selector on that team. They were three great players. Ger Michael was only starting out, he was only 23 when he passed.

“Conor and Don had great years with Roscommon, they were just class players. They would have excelled in the modern game — brilliant footballers, brilliant fielders.

“It’s hard to believe that three young men off that team won’t be there. They were great players, great team-mates. It’s particularly sad for their parents, wives and children. They’re a huge loss to the group,” O’Donnell highlighted.

The panel will meet up on Saturday evening and, no doubt, the stories and banter will continue long after the final whistle is blown in the Hyde on Sunday evening.

“We felt, at the time, that we were in a good place. The following year (2002) we were beaten by Galway in the championship and went out to Mayo in the back door. That’s how difficult it is to win a Connacht title.

“We were a bit unfortunate that the back door came in that year (2001) — we beat Mayo but Galway went on to win the All-Ireland. There were a lot of new things about it but 25 years have passed, and it’s hard to believe that Roscommon haven’t won a Connacht senior football title in Roscommon since.

“Obviously, there were losses in 2011 and 2018, and there were games that probably could have been won. But you’re dealing with fine margins, that’s why provincial titles are hard won. Take the one we did win — a goal with the last kick of the game.

“In that regard, it would be great to see Diarmuid (Murtagh) lift the Nestor Cup because no player would deserve it more, given the service he has given to Roscommon,” remarked O’Donnell.

After the Connacht final loss to Galway in 1998, following an epic replay in the Hyde, experience collided with youth as players from Frank Grehan’s Connacht-winning U-21 side from 2009 were integrated into the set-up. The loss against Leitrim in 2000 ultimately proved to be just a bump on the road as, under John Tobin, Roscommon were reborn a year later.

“No more than the current team, we had a good league that year. We reached the league semi-final, beating Dublin and Kerry along the way. We were beaten by Mayo in Markievicz Park in a game we could have won, and they went on to beat Galway in the league final.

"A lot of the lads from U-21 team in 1999 had come into the panel. Obviously, there was huge disappointment among the few lads that were there from ’98 because we felt that was a game we could have won.

“We had high expectations against Leitrim in 2000. We were doing well in the game, but just fell off.

“We still felt, with the group of players we had, that we were in with a shout. The league was very important, so we went into the championship knowing we were well able to compete against Galway and Mayo. Galway had been in the All-Ireland final the year before but Mayo were there a few years before that.

“There was confidence within the group. We trained very hard that year. The league gave us belief that we could compete with a lot of the top teams, and we brought that into the championship,” recalled O’Donnell.

After a straightforward victory against New York in the Hyde, the hype machine was cranked up when Roscommon rocked up to Tuam Stadium and beat Galway in the provincial semi-final.

“John Tobin knew the Galway team pretty well. A lot of players came of age that day — Seamie O’Neill, Francie (Grehan) at six, a lot of the team played really well. Gerry Lohan, Frankie Dolan and Nigel (Dineen) were in the full-forward line, they were very potent.

“John was very much into moving the ball quickly into them, very much playing on the front foot — no more than Roscommon at the minute when you look at the quality they have up front. He (Tobin) instilled that bit of belief in us, a bit like Dowdy (Mark Dowd) — he has been in with Roscommon before and won Connacht titles.

“So that was the big thing — that there was a belief within the group, a togetherness. Tobin created great unity and beating Galway in Tuam did give us massive a boost in terms of belief,” O’Donnell acknowledged.

It seemed that every man, woman and child was in the Hyde on that July afternoon when Gerry Lohan scored one of the famous goals in Roscommon GAA folklore to pull the rug from under Mayo’s feet at the death. O’Donnell admits that it’s hard to remember what happened during the game, although his recollections of the support the Rossies had that day still resonates.

“I remember driving from Boyle to the game, and the amount of colour on the way up to Roscommon. We were in the Abbey (Hotel), and we walked as a group out to the Hyde. John wanted us to be used to the atmosphere as opposed to being overwhelmed by it when we arrived at the pitch. As we walked out the County Home Road, the crowds were huge.

“The whole game was a blur. All you think about is the goal at the end. The crowd afterwards, the sun, the place was roasting, the atmosphere in town afterwards that night and the next day was unbelievable.” 

Nothing would give O’Donnell greater pleasure than to hand the baton over to the current team next Sunday. Having worked closely with Mark Dowd, he predicts that no stone will be left unturned in pursuit of provincial glory.

“Mark had been a huge servant to Roscommon. He has a brilliant CV — over U-21 teams, leading Ballaghaderreen to a Mayo title, his success with Roscommon senior management teams.

“He has a brilliant management team with him, great Roscommon people in John Rogers and Iain Daly. Jason Sherlock has obviously added to the group with the experience he has.

“The big thing that Mark brings is huge experience, huge knowledge, and he has an unbelievable workrate. No one knows the hours that man is putting into the Roscommon gig. In terms of preparation, I can guarantee you there won’t be a thing missed.

“He has been very steady all year, very consistent in what he has said. He keeps a very low profile. He’s very measured in everything he says. You can see that the team are playing for him. He has done an unbelievable job.

“People were tipping Roscommon to be relegated. It was obvious from the start that there was something brewing. The fight they showed against Kerry when they were under pressure, and they probably ended up being robbed at the death.

“He’s a great coach, when he was involved with us he would have done a lot of the coaching. The one thing about him is that he’s very fair, and he’s very honest with players. That honesty is reflected in the way the team are playing.

“John Rogers and Iain Daly, these guys are at games all over the place. They know every player. Look at the amount of new players they’ve blooded, and the faith they’ve showed in them,” O’Donnell summarised.

As for the game itself, O’Donnell feels that there are more question marks about Galway coming into the game.

“Galway are set up nicely, they’ll go in under the radar after the Leitrim game. But with the way the game is coming — just a couple of weeks after the Mayo game — Roscommon have huge momentum.

“Galway have good players, but some of their key players have been injured and I’m not sure they’ll have the work done that the Roscommon players have behind them at this time. That’s not to say, no more than 2001, that Galway won’t be still in the championship later on.

“But I just feel, with the game coming as it is, that Roscommon might have that little bit more done. With the home crowd, it might be enough to get them over the line.

“We’ve brilliant leaders in Enda (Smith), Ronan Daly and Diarmuid (Murtagh), and they look to be in the form of their lives. People will go on about Galway’s experienced players but, on this occasion, I think we’ll have the key experienced players to get the job done,” he predicted.

It could be one of those special days in the Hyde.