McManus confident Rossies can beat 'top teams'

July 27, 2017

Galway's Gary O'Donnell and John McManus of Roscommon.
©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

Roscommon full-back John McManus feels that they are capable of beating any of the top teams in the country.

The Connacht champions face an All-Ireland quarter-final derby with Mayo this Sunday and speaking with GAA.ie this week McManus says he envisioned Cork giving last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists the fright they did in Limerick last weekend.

"There was always been this talk about all the Roscommon teams that had done well underage, but the best thing we've taken from those underage days is that we're used to beating the big teams and we're used to getting to the latter end of the championship. I know it's a different kettle of fish in senior football but the mind-set is still the same," said the Rossies defender.

"I wouldn't have any fear of going out and playing Mayo because I've played them at underage and we've beaten them. We feel we're capable of beating the top teams.

"A lot of people would have predicted Mayo to beat Cork, but I expected Cork to give them the game they did. I actually preferred not knowing our opponents because when you go out training you are focused on yourself, and you're not concentrating on anyone else.

"Sometimes you can know who you are playing months in advance and you forget about planning for your own game. It's been enjoyable to be able to go out and train without planning on how to counteract another team's tactics."


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