Roscommon GAA Discussion Thread

Big game on Sunday.

Regardless of the result, a big performance is required here. We've shown excellent consistency this year so far, but the challenge is to back up a good performance against MO with another one here.

Galway pose a different challenge to MO, in that closing up the inside line and the central channel won't be as effective, as Galway have some lads who can shoot from outside, unlike MO.

At the other end though, there will be opportunities I feel, as Galway have poor tacklers who grab on and tend to foul, so a good referee and free takers on form will be the winning and losing of it.

A good performance and be in with a shout coming down the stretch is what's required, and the result will look after itself.

If you give the ball away, you give the game away!

I'll have to look at the recording to see how many scores Galway got from Roscommon simply giving the ball away - but it was a lot. It was infuriating!!! That was definitely a game Roscommon could have won and won by 4 or 5 points at least. But kicking the ball over the sideline, handpasses to nowhere, skycraper 'passes' to Ben O'Carroll (the smallest forward we have), dropping simple handpasses.... It wasn't even that Galway forced the turnovers, this was down to very poor concentration from Roscommon.

The worst thing about this is that Roscommon virtually always put the head down once they are beaten in Connacht. Unlike Mayo, for example, they don't seem to embrace the qualifiers. If, and it's a big 'if', Roscommon look back at that game today with a bit of anger and realise they are every bit as good as Galway, who are regarded as serious contenders, they can really go for it.

Or they can feel sorry for themselves and put in half-hearted performances, going through the motions, exactly like they have done many times before.

I hope Davey Burke infuses them with the belief that they are good enough, if they just zone in for every single minute, every single play.

I think the big thing now is we have 4 weeks to target 3 huge games, where squad will be key. We'll face a provincial champion. Could be galway again in salthill. Kerry in kilarney. Dublin in croker or the ulster champion. We might need to do our best in that game, but target game 2 and 3 to win. Especially the home game. The upside of today we can't get mayo again.

I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

That was definitely a game Roscommon left behind them. The cheap goal was the real killer. And also a number of relatively easy chances missed in the second half, espcially after being so clinical in the first.

Having said that, if I was offered a draw this morning I would have been happy to take it.

The key thing was the performance. Roscommon just went out and played. And f*ck the opposition. Just play the way you're able to play. And for a change Roscommon did exactly that and that's the most encouraging thing. I alluded in an earlier post that Roscommon just never seem too bothered in the back door, but today they looked like a top side for a lot of the match - very comfortable in possession, very composed, very disciplined in the tackle, very patient and very clinical.

It's obvious that Roscommon are playing to a very well-thought out gameplan, where the sum is greater than the parts - and it's working. I said it already, but playing this way, Roscommon are a match for any team in the country and even though the match was 'only' drawn, it can be looked at very positively and of course, Roscommon can learn so much from this match.

C'mon the Rossies!!!

A great result for Roscommon for sure , in fact could so easily have been better and could have and should have possibly won it

I think we just need to go out and win.

Forget about racking up big scores in order to outscore Dublin. That kind of approach can end up in disaster.

Just win. And keep playing in the same disciplined, calm, confident manner that has worked so far.

I honestly feel there's no need to fear anybody. Just keep doing what's working.

10 point win, and wouldn't have been flattered if the gap was twice that to be honest.

Missed a lot, including several goal chances in the first half that would have broken the Sligo resistance as Ruane's goal eventually did.

We were just OK, I'd say maybe 65/70 % of max speed. Good shoes fromMcKeon, O'Carroll, Ruane and a good debut from Walsh. The Murtagh lads and Enda did well, but overall a good performance rather than a great one.

Sligo were game but very limited, a typical Division 3 side. Once they kept in touch they were OK, actually moved the ball well at times, but once we got the goal they were fvcked.

Kildare next, still a test because they are so inconsistent it's hard to know which team will turn up. They are certainly playing for their and Glen Ryan's future, so they could go either way. 2 tough Sunday's for Roscommon in a row, recovery will be important this week before moving on to whe next thing.

On a separate issue, there is a very, very strong rumour going round about the team out 'celebrating' after the Sligo match. And carrying on the following day.

For once the sources are quite reliable and it seems, even worse, a key player got injured while out and has not been able to tog out since.

I was astonished when I heard this. Nowadays you simply have to accept that the life of an intercounty footballer does not include alcohol in the middle of championship. Why go through months and months of intense preparation where every tiny thing is monitored, then smack bang in the middle of the time your body needs to be at its peak - you let the lads out on the piss. For two days!!

Don't think ye can draw Galway

7-8 is an EXAGGERATION, {RTE report says 1 mark) and they weren't largely won in the fullback line, more in the halfback line. Still a problem, seemed like Kildare identified is dropping very deep and leaving a pocket outside which they exploited.

Well RTE are WRONG then!!

I was at the bloody match and it was a substantial amount. And they were mainly won by whoever happened to be playing inside at the time, coming out onto long foot passes.

And they didn't even score all their attempts from marks.

Cork, a very winnable game

Home advantage and momentum especially, would have to see Cork as slight favourites.

Are there any injury worries reported after yesterday?