Roscrea boss England aiming for better final luck against Gortnahoe
By Liam Hogan
It’s becoming familiar territory for Liam England.
Twelve months ago, he was a successful manager with Moyne-Templetuohy who went on to win the County Intermediate Hurling title. Now it’s the turn of his native Roscrea who hope to get over Gortnahoe/Glengoole in the inaugural County Premier Intermediate hurling next Sunday at FBD Semple Stadium.
Ever since Roscrea were relegated from senior last year, there was the always the idea that they would make a speedy return to the topflight. Liam England, already had a successful two year stint as manager with Moyne-Templetuohy, reaching the county intermediate final in his first year in 2020 only to lose to Gortnahoe before going a step further last year.
With Roscrea relegated in 2021 it was only natural the club would turn to one of their own and late last year he was appointed to take over his own club for 2022
His club reached the North final but were defeated by Portroe, since then it has been victory after victory in the group stage before overcoming Thurles Sarsfields and Burgess in the knockout stages.
“Our performances so far have been up and down,” he reflected.
“We were beaten in the North final and we kind of stuttered over the group stages and had a real good performance against Thurles Sarsfield in the quarter final and I would say a good performance against Burgess in the semi-final.
“I suppose slow to start but over the past couple of weeks it has been really positive.”
When he became manager, he appointed Alan Tynan senior, Ger Fitzpatrick, Paul Delaney and Aidan Shanahan on his management team but over two months ago he decided to call on former Kilkenny star Eddie Brennan.
“I met Eddie once a few years ago, we hurled together in New York,” England said of their connection.
“I hadn’t spoken to him since, but I got back to him with the help of a friend. Eddie thought about it for a couple of days and came back to me and said he would be interested.
“He has been massive and brought us to another level. He started off maybe once a week and over the last two to three weeks he has been with us twice a week.”
Liam’s involvement with Moyne-Templetuohy for the two years meant he has crossed paths with Gortnahoe/Glengoole, most notable in the 2020 intermediate final which Gortnahoe won in an upset.
“They are a hard-working team,” he said.
“Lot of hard work with lots of quality around the team. They have six scoring forwards and an extremely good backline and they will be coming with all guns blazing on Sunday.”
Roscrea were always regarded as one of the great clubs in the county and will that legacy bring on any pressure on the present team? They were in the final in 2017 when they faced Toomevara before losing in a replay.
“In the final against Toomevara back then the two teams went up to the Dan Breen the following year so the game itself didn’t take on the emotions like the game on Sunday will take on,” England added.
“We are a very proud club and have a very proud history. We actually honoured the 1971 team last Saturday night in the Racket Hall. There was a real positive vibe coming from those boys. There is a strong linkage coming from that 1971 team with grandparents, and granduncles and uncles linked to the Sunday’s team.
“It was different in my time and maybe a generation before me in that the success of the 1970’s might have been a burden but nowadays, fifty years on its inspiration for the current crop of players.”