Clann na nGael manager Paul Curran has stressed that his players need a break ahead of defending their county title next year.

Curran was speaking in the aftermath of their defeat to Castlebar Mitchels in the Connacht club SFC, which brought the curtain down on the GAA season for the side.

Having won their first county SFC title in 19 years, Curran told the Roscommon Herald that a second shot at the provincial campaign is something that they are very keen on.

"The big priority now is to get rest," said Curran. "They'll have to switch on again in the New Year in an effort to retain the Fahey Cup. It's the main goal to get back into this competition again.

"To win your county championship is huge, it gives you the opportunity to play in your provincial championship. We understand fully that it will be harder next year because we'll no longer be the surprise packets.

"Other teams will be doing their best to knock us off our perch. But the confidence we got from this year will hopefully stand to us. We're probably a little ahead of the game. I knew coming here that it was a dressingroom full of kids. They're good young players and it was a very good achievement to win a championship with them.

"Hopefully they realise what they have in front of them and that they can keep developing. But they have a lot of work ahead of them to develop their upper body strength. But they're good footballers and we're delighted with the way the year has gone. We came up against a class side and there was no shame in being beaten by them."

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