Former Galway minor manager Francis Roche is in charge of Monivea-Abbey, who contest an AIB Connacht IFC Final on Sunday.
By Cian O’Connell
Francis ‘Bunt’ Roche’s passion for Monivea-Abbey endures. Manager when Monivea-Abbey won the Galway SFC in 1992, Roche returned to take charge of the club for the 2023 campaign.
It has been eventful. A competitive Intermediate Championship concluded with Monivea-Abbey triumphant. An AIB Connacht Club IFC semi-final against Kilmeena followed with Movivea-Abbey getting through without injured captain and talisman Cillian McDaid.
Monivea-Abbey are finding a way to survive. “That is just it,” Roche replies. “When you start playing in a Connacht semi-final and we are in a Connacht final now, that is when you will miss Cillian McDaid.
In wretched conditions Monivea-Abbey had to deal with a stirring Kilmeena revival. “When the game was in the melting pot, if we had Cillian to come on at midfield to win primary ball, it would have been a massive thing for us,” he adds.
“I have to say, and I'd give credit to all of the lads, they really dug deep. When the games were to be won, we have won three or four games this year by a point. So, I have to give them great credit, because it is easy to get into a losing rut, but when you start winning, it is hard to lose.”
Relegation last winter hurt Monivea-Abbey deeply. Roche answered the call, adamant that talent existed. Mike Farragher, still involved as a player with Corofin, was an interesting addition as coach. “You always have good footballers in Monivea-Abbey, it is just about getting everyone to buy into the cause,” Roche reflects.
“You will win nothing without hard work. I've no problem managing the team, but Mike Farragher has really made a difference between us being a winning team and a losing team. He is a brilliant coach. You can see the Corofin traits there, they just keep digging out results.”
Farragher’s emphasis on developing and improving the basic skills of the game has assisted Monivea-Abbey considerably according to Roche.
“Trevor Mullins got four points,” Roche says about a sterling contribution made against Kilmeena.
“He is driving down from Offaly every Wednesday night, but his ball skills are so good now. He said to me that he is really enjoying the training, that is key, he has improved his game so much. Only for Trevor, we were out.
Corofin player Michael Farragher is also operating as Monivea-Abbey coach in 2023. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
“Four points is massive from a midfielder, we put him in full forward for about 15 minutes, it reaped rewards. Another day that mightn't happen, the ball could go over his head. That is the luck of the game.”
Fortune, though, frequently favours the brave. Recruiting Farragher and adding John Donnellan to the backroom has helped Monivea-Abbey embark on a lively adventure. Getting different perspectives and views can benefit a team, meaning that Monivea-Abbey are now preparing for a provincial decider against Castlerea at Tuam Stadium on Saturday.
“Mike's training has brought a new lease of life to Monivea-Abbey,” Roche explains. “It doesn't matter how long we train, if we train for an hour and 15 minutes or an hour and a half, every second at training is training with the ball.
“It goes back to Corofin - their code. They do everything with the ball, their ball handling is key. Lads coming off the shoulder, that running game. It is awful hard to defend runners off the shoulder. No matter how you set up, you cannot defend that guys coming at 90 miles an hour.
“Mike is always on about that, to come off the shoulder, to get in the runs. We didn't particularly do it well on Sunday, I know conditions were tough, but up to that I thought we were brilliant.
“On the performance I wouldn't be happy with a lot of our forwards, but I'd be happy with our goalkeeper, defender, and midfield, in particular Paul Flaherty, who had a blinder.
“He was down to play at full forward, but we brought him out to wing forward and midfield, he won a lot of primary ball for us, which is key in these conditions and elements.”
Roche knows what makes Monivea-Abbey tick. A strong and meaningful connection has been formed with the current panel. “You have to enjoy it and embrace it, if you're not enjoying it, don't be in it,” Roche says.
“That is my motto. I'm enjoying it. There is one word I always use and that is respect. If you respect your players and you get it back, then you are on to a good thing. It is vital. If I asked them lads to jump, they would say 'how high'. That is the way they are.
“Anything I have asked them to do all year, they have done it. I'd give them great credit for that. You win nothing unless you put in the hard work.
Galway senior footballer Cillian McDaid has missed Monivea-Abbey's recent championship encounters due to a leg injury. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
“I'd be confident that every day we go out, that we will not die, that we will finish games. When you put the hard work in, you always have a chance of winning games.”
Roche acknowledges the effort and spirit of the Monivea-Abbey players. After a disappointing finish to 2022 when top tier status in Galway was lost, Monivea-Abbey simply regrouped. “Lads are making huge sacrifices, lads are coming from Limerick, Dublin, and Sligo, they didn't take the easy way out, saying I'm transferring,” Roche replies.
“They are putting in the hard shifts, they are travelling back for training, I've to give them great credit. When you see them guys coming, it gives everyone a great lift. When you have 37 or 38 lads at training, it is massive.”
McDaid hasn’t been able to line out due to a leg injury, but his influence and leadership remains constant. “Our captain isn't available at the moment, but with the help of God, if we get over the line next weekend, he could be available in the New Year,” Roche says.
“He is a great speaker, it works down into the group. We have a lot of good young guys coming through.”
Roche is very much part of the past, present, and future of Monivea-Abbey.
The former Galway minor manager knows the relevance and value of playing deep into November. What that means for footballers and the local community too. “It is going to improve our players,” Roche acknowledges.
“It is a long time ago since we have trained into the end of November going into December, that as a group when you have the guts of 40 players from 17 years to 32, it is going to improve all of them players for the coming season.
“It is great to have them training. It is great for the group, the club, and our supporters. We have massive support, I've to thank them for their support because every day we go out they back us 110%.”
Momentum generated. Respect earned.
