Roscommon will need to be in an Empire State of mind

GAELIC GAMES:MAYBE, JUST maybe, an upset is on here. New York possess quality footballers in the shape of former underage sensations from Kerry in Dan Doona and Armagh's Robbie Tasker, while the physical presence of Wexford's Rory Stafford is sure to be felt in defence. The suspicion is that Stafford will attempt to contain Donie Shine.

For the New York players, however, their motivation comes in the form of the disrespect shown to them, as their chairman Larry McCarthy points out that this fixture is merely seen as an annual token gesture.

“When the master fixture list came out last October Roscommon was down as the team contesting the Connacht semi-final,” said McCarthy. “I rang Croke Park and blew them out of it. ‘Jaysus lads, I know we don’t have much hope but don’t rule us out before we even play!”

The winners must go to either Sligo or Leitrim on June 12th and the GAA have yet to come up with a solution to accommodate New York’s full team should they overcome Roscommon. Coming home is not the problem, it is getting back into the United States.

The exiles do have a chance although the element of surprise has been somewhat weakened this week by reports of their individual quality and, of course, the shock they very nearly pulled off at Galway’s expense this time last year, when a couple of red cards allowed Galway stretch clear and sneak off with the spoils. Another problem for the hosts is they don’t really know where they are at themselves having not had the value of decent preparation for this fixture.

Roscommon, of course, secured promotion to Division Three for next season and Fergal O’Donnell will have no problems motivating his charges after their defeat to Louth at Croke Park last weekend.

All told, if Roscommon come anywhere close to last summer’s provincial championship form they will glide through but even the retention of their league standard of play will see them with plenty of points to spare and a long weekend of entertainment in the Bronx to follow.