Well done Roscommon, this has been coming for a while, John Evans brought them on and now McStay, O'Donnell and McHale are driving them forward, they will make the All Ireland quarter finals and possibly the semis

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 14/03/2016 20:55:29    1834910

Roscommon are bringing sexy back to football!

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 15/03/2016 09:50:00    1834972

It's very easy to dismiss Roscommon's progress as being a flash in the pan, that it's only league football etc, But I can see definite parallels between ourselves in 2011 and where they find find themselves now.
In 2011 we had a crop of outstanding and confident u-21's pushing through to senior, McGrath, McLoone, McHugh, Molloy. Murphy (although he'd been around beforehand), McBrearty etc. Indeed Roscommon can call on an even bigger number of quality u21's coming through.
They're under new management who seem to be getting the best out of them and their confidence levels are soaring.
Within their province, the dominant team may be on the wane. I'm not saying this current Mayo team are finished, just that maybe their time as top dog in Connacht might be coming to and end, in a similar way to the Tyrone/Armagh duopoly in Ulster pre-2011.

I can see Roscommon being quarter finalists at least, and then depending on the draw who knows?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 15/03/2016 10:08:30    1834979

Roscommon are undoubtedly on the right track but talk of All Ireland semi-finalists and beyond is crazy. In recent years, Kildare and Derry for example tore it up in the league only to flop when it mattered in the Summer. When is the last time Roscommon even played a championship match in Croke Park? Give them time, they need to make a statement in Connacht first. I'm sure Roscommon have prioritised the league as they know that survival is very important for their future development. They're therefore likely to be operating at near their peak at the moment when many of the big boys are still shadow-boxing.

GallantJohnJoe (Cavan) - Posts: 329 - 15/03/2016 10:35:11    1834989

Pleased that Roscommon are seeing the fruits of a lot of hard work and the wisdom of a county board who put onfieldperformance before politics. You'll know you've really arrived when ye start winning championship matches and all these good wishes evaporate.

Jimbo you're right we're really missing the free taking prowess of Cillian and are possibly 4 points worse off for it, but take McManus, Murphy, Sheehan, or Rock's deadball contributions out their team's tallies and each team would have dropped points. The Dubs can afford to carry Rock for frees (he's not one of your best 6 for summer football imo) but Mayo don't have a Brogan or a Connolly right now, so need to strike a different balance.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 15/03/2016 10:45:23    1834995

Still think that Mayo will turn in around in the Championship and win Connacht handy enough. They are missing a few of their big names and I dont think they are playing to their full potential at the moment. The league is not a good indicator of Championship form.

aidan64 (Kerry) - Posts: 665 - 15/03/2016 11:15:13    1835008

@ Johnjoe

I think it was 2011 that the Rossies last played a championship match in Croker.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 15/03/2016 11:15:46    1835009

Thats muck gallantjohnjoe last year's last 4 were dubs all Ireland champs, monaghan ulster champs, donegal ulster finalists and cork who blew Munster final.
And the year before had dubs mayo cork derry.
Maybe kerry partake in shadow boxing but aren't very good at it as they have most div 1 titles but I can guarantee you most now are at 80 to 90% it's not a switch you can go from off to on, and I and all the rossie fans know this panel is very big and very talented and perhaps 5 of the starting side will be hoping to keep there place from game to game.
I know mayo will be damn near championship pace against us Sunday week when trying to save there div 1 status as will donegal and monaghan in there league encounter when trying to send each other down or get semi spot and kerry and cork won't be far off in there encounter in last game.
Markers will need to be put in place in all those contests.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 15/03/2016 11:16:37    1835010

All I'm saying is that talk of All-Ireland semis for Roscommon this year is a bit of a stretch right now. Admittedly, they've been given the cushy route through to a Connacht final and I don't expect them to throw that away 2 years in a row. So they'll probably be in a Connacht final this year, possibly away to Mayo I believe? I'd probably back Mayo in that one.

GallantJohnJoe (Cavan) - Posts: 329 - 15/03/2016 11:29:56    1835018

That Mayo/ Roscommon game in Castlebar will be a cracker, probably looking at 20000 for a league fixture..
I was very impressed with Roscommon last weekend from what i saw on the tv, they look very fit and have great scoring forwards. Kilbride does a great job inside as a target man and can take his scores as well, prob AOS should take a leaf out of his book , laying the ball off at the right time..

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 15/03/2016 11:36:40    1835020

And I hope year go up to division 1johnjoe cause I really enjoyed our last 3 encounters against ye they were great viewing.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 15/03/2016 12:08:49    1835036

And I hope ye go up to division 1johnjoe cause I really enjoyed our last 3 encounters against ye they were great viewing.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 15/03/2016 12:09:05    1835037

I think the main emphasis from the management team has been in maintaining Divison 1 status this year, think at present we are ahead of other teams in terms of fitness , will be interesting to see if we meet any of these teams in the summer how it will go. But the most refreshing think to see has been the style of play the team are playing, lots of support play and plenty of kicking of the ball and players are not being told to take the percentage chances. Also been good to see management give the likes of Fintan Cregg a go, has been a revelation. I still feel we are a bit week at the back and need to tighten up a bit.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 15/03/2016 12:27:41    1835047

Roscommon look impressive enough. They are probably capable of winning a Connacht title at some point over the next couple of years. Come this year's championship though, I still think Mayo will come good. They're a team for the summer and I think they have their eyes firmly on that. I don't think they care much for the league.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 15/03/2016 12:35:09    1835052

Roscommon look super fit and are playing really well but this will more than likely backfire on them come the Connacht Championship. They have a real habit of losing to teams like Sligo when they are hot favourites. There is really no point peaking in March like Derry did a couple of years ago. Was in Castlebar last Sunday and would still fancy Mayo to come out on top in the summer against Roscommon or Galway. Mayo started training later than any team due to the change in management and in fairness I think that team needed a break more than any other.

kingdomfan (Kerry) - Posts: 393 - 15/03/2016 13:25:25    1835089

Roscommon still have players to come back for the championship and they are second in Div 1
Note bad going. Of course having natural scoring forwards and a strong defence really helps.

Scarabin (Dublin) - Posts: 116 - 15/03/2016 13:32:11    1835091

I can tell ye one thing i have been seriously impressed with Roscommon whenever ive seen them this year.

They are ruthlessly efficient in every game ive seen and also have played a decent brand of football thats been pleasing on the eye.

Best of luck to them come championship, i get the sense there is a bit of beliefe growing with them so who knows what theyre capable off.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1338 - 15/03/2016 13:50:57    1835100

Roscommon showing the rest of us what can be done if the work is put in at underage level and with proper structures, Well done the Rossies,

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 17/03/2016 10:41:31    1835551

Have NY improved or was this a horrendous performance by Ros?

centerfield (Mayo) - Posts: 360 - 02/05/2016 08:57:24    1851210

Almost a sensational result! Unlucky NY!!

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 02/05/2016 09:41:55    1851214