Roscommon on higher ground

There is an unusual chime about all-ticket matches and the start of the

league but that will be the case in Kiltoom when Roscommon begin their Division Two campaign by hosting Cavan on Sunday.

The St Bridget’s home ground is compact and has become a good luck charm already this season as Roscommon won their first FBD title in 15 years last weekend.

‘Momentum’

“That’s going to give us momentum going into the league. We want to give Division Two a rattle and show up playing well against bigger teams,” says Senan Kilbride, Roscommon’s full forward.

Playing well against bigger teams: it could be a tagline for Roscommon football. The county has All-Ireland pedigree and every so often mount stunning raids in Connacht but nationally Roscommon hold that awkward ground of being on the cusp of challenging the top-tier teams.

Last year's experience illustrated just how difficult it can be for teams to progress: Roscommon won the Division Three title, came desperately close to beating Mayo in the Connacht championship, beat Division Three finalists Cavan in Breffni Park but then just hit a wall against Armagh.

“We just didn’t show up at all that day against Armagh. We want to put that right this year and we have been working very hard for the past couple of months. Hopefully we will see the dividend of that this year in the league and championship.

"The boys learned a lot last year and there is serious talent coming through every year, like Ultan Harney came on in the FBD against Galway and showed up very well. Those boys are driving us on and they are pushing us all the way. They are bringing a lot of energy to it."

Producing four goals in January is a rarity in itself but the smoothness and confidence with which Roscommon outfoxed the Galway defence in last week’s FBD final bodes well for their season. Kilbride was more provider than scorer but he was clearly enjoying playing with the Murtagh brothers on either side of him.

“There is a lot of talent there and it is about going out now and performing every day and staying focussed. A lot of times in the past we have taken a couple of steps forward and then stepped back again. It happened last year against Armagh when we took another step back.

“Hopefully we can keep driving forward and keep our momentum. We want to stay focussed, keep performing. You have lads coming back from Australia to play for us so you can see there is a lot of hunger there and hopefully we can show that in every game.”

Potential champions

John Evans

has returned for another season and already Roscommon are being mentioned as potential Connacht champions this summer.

“Definitely, John has put in a huge effort over the last few years and in the last few months as well,” Kilbride says. “It is good to have that continuity there, we know what we are about and the way we want to play. We are playing some of the best teams in the country and hopefully that will be good for us. It is going to test us hugely.”