SPORTS DESK With Dan Dooner

Roscommon ref makes history

24-year-old Roscommon referee Matthew Farrell recently made a little bit of history when he became the youngest ever member of the National Hurling Referees panel.

The Oran clubman was named as part of the 30-person panel selected to officiate at inter-county level this season.

Farrell becomes only the third-ever referee from the county to make the hurling panel and follows in the footsteps of Kevin McGeeney and Anthony Flaherty.

It’s a remarkable rise for the young official who started his refereeing career in 2014 as a Transition Year student. Matthew’s father Kieran is the current chairperson of Cóiste Iomana in the county.

Kilglass duo at Juvenile Nationals

Kilglass Handball Club duo, Alanna Coggeran and Eoin Grehan, took part in the Junior Nationals last weekend. Alanna won her first round in Carlow against Holly Byrne but was beaten in the second round by number one seed Jodie Keeling. Eoin was taking part in his first nationals event and gained valuable experience over four games.

Closer to home, Roscommon Division Three and Four titles were up for grabs at St. Coman’s last Friday evening. Adam Coggeran won the Division Three decider with a 21-9, 21-10 victory over Siobhan Treacy while the Division Four title went to David Coggeran who beat Ross Melvin 21-10, 21-11.

Roxboro NS win Sports Quiz

Congratulations to the very talented Roxboro National School team who won the first Cumann na mBunscoil Sports Quiz since 2019 last Thursday night at The Abbey Hotel.

The team of Jonathan Greene, Charlie Hickey, Dylan Nolan and Max O’Reilly maintained their school’s proud tradition in the event, emerging victorious with 67 points.

Glanduff’s Fionn Cotton, Finn Murphy, Eoin O’Shaughnessy and Siofra Walsh won a play-off against Tarmon NS to secure the runners-up spot after both schools finished on 60 points apiece.

Swimming success!

Take a bow, Donnchadh Duane! The young Ballinasloe swimmer won gold and bronze medals at the 2023 Connacht Minor School Championships at Leisureland, Galway recently.

Representing Newtown National School, Ballinasloe, Co. Roscommon, Donnchadh finished first in the U-11 Boys’ 50m Butterfly and third in the Boys’ 50m Freestyle. He now goes on to represent his school at the Irish Minor Schools Championships at the National Aquatic Centre on March 25th.

Making waves at Connacht Senior Schools swimming

Coman’s swimmer Jun Hwang took home two silver medals from the Connacht Senior Schools Swimming Championships in Longford last Sunday. Jun was competing in the 100m Backstroke and Freestyle events. He will now represent Roscommon Community College and Coman’s on the Connacht inter-provincial team.

Meanwhile, Annah McCormack claimed two Connacht wristbands for her times in the U-12 100 IM and Freestyle events as Coman’s swimmers impressed at a Future Challengers Gala in Longford last Saturday last.