All quiet on the western front despite Rossie upturn
RTÉ GAA analyst Enda McGinley believes Roscommon will have learned lessons from their 2023 league campaign as they attempt to "break the glass ceiling" trapping the current squad.
Three years ago, the Rossies won their three opening Division 1 fixtures to spark chat of a big year for the Primrose County, but their championship season ended at the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stage with defeat to Cork.
Sunday's thrilling win over Armagh made it two wins from three this campaign – with their controversial loss in Tralee still an irritant - but McGinley feels that Mark Dowd’s squad will be keen to keep the noise down this time around.
"We don’t know," was McGinley’s response on the RTÉ GAA podcast when asked about Roscommon’s potential as a genuine All-Ireland challenger.
"I think we’ve all enjoyed watching Roscommon a lot, they’re an exceptionally talented team.
"Under Davy Burke there was much excitement initially, I think they were top of Division 1 as well for a period of time and then they fell back away from that.
"Is it quieter? It seems quieter – there's less excitement coming out of them this time. I think they’ve been there, done that."
Roscommon’s last All-Ireland semi-final appearance came 35 years ago; their last Croke Park championship win came even further back in 1980.
For three-time All-Ireland winner McGinley, he feels it will take the capture of a big scalp outside of provincial boundaries to really inject the belief needed for Roscommon to be a contender.
"A wee bit like Monaghan, they have perennially done really well, probably fought amongst the biggest counties (in the Connacht SFC) and held their own and got some noteworthy victories, but there has been a glass ceiling of that All-Ireland semi-final stage.
"They have never taken out a big gun in Croker and for that team, I can imagine that’s where they want to get to.
"The rules in terms of their forwards’ potential certainly seems very good for them. Obviously they’ve St Brigid’s lads coming back in as well, so they’re going to be healthy in terms of numbers, they’re in a really, really good position.
Roscommon manager Mark Dowd during the win over Armagh
"The general strength out west in Connacht with Mayo and Galway also going very, very well, I think that’s a good thing for Roscommon."
After three rounds, Roscommon are the highest scoring team across all four divisions and are averaging 25 points per game.
They went above that with a 3-18 tally against the Orchard County and will be aiming for another high return when they to Salthill to face Galway on Saturday evening.
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