Published: Wednesday, 14th July, 2010 5:00pm

'We'll have to play out of our skins to win it' - O'Donnell

Since he cut his managerial teeth at county level with the Roscommon minors, Fergal O'Donnell always relished being in the role of underdog.

Always keen to talk up the opposition and downplay his own side's chances, it would be very hard to imagine O'Donnell giving away any potential hostages to fortune before a big game.

Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick said during the build-up to last Sunday's Leinster final: "If you think their forward line is good, wait till you see our forward line. I would rather be involved with our team than involved with the Meath team." It's certainly not the sort of comment one is likely to see attributed to the affable O'Donnell, ahead of the Connacht SFC final against Sligo at Castlebar on Sunday at 4pm.

O'Donnell, who guided Roscommon to a famous All-Ireland minor title in 2006, is actually the last man to captain Roscommon to the Connacht senior football title, back in 2001.

Given the fact that Sligo have beaten both Mayo and Galway - the traditional 'big two' of Connacht football and two current Division 1 teams in the National League - Roscommon's status as underdogs in Sunday's provincial final (McHale Park, Castlebar, 4pm) doesn't need much highlighting.

Having reached their target of getting to the Connacht final, the Roscommon manager sees his side as being in "bonus territory" now.

"There is no doubt that we are delighted to be in the Connacht final. People were wondering if it would affect us, Galway and Sligo drawing (in the semi-final). It made no difference to us. We are in bonus territory now, we are going in as underdogs. All the chat is about Sligo.

"The national media are here today and they probably know two or three of our players. That's the reality of it. Just by listening to them, who they want to talk to.

We are in the place we want to be and we are looking forward to the final," said O'Donnell at last week's press night ahead of the Connacht decider.

With players returning from injury, O'Donnell believes the Roscommon panel is getting stronger.

"The fellas are coming back but anyone that was at the club championship matches recently knows that they have a bit to go.

There is a big difference between club and county football. The panel is getting stronger and fortunately we picked up no injuries at the weekend so we are happy with that."

With Galway and Sligo both out of the picture, many Roscommon supporters will fancy their team's chances against a county who traditionally hold no fears for the Rossies.

However, O'Donnell is quick to dampen expectations among the football fraternity in the county.

"You have to be realistic. Players, as they get closer to finals, sometimes can get carried away. We know where we are. This is all about progression. We were very disappointed the way the year has gone and the championship was always about kicking our season off and the Connacht final is a good chance for us to drive things on.

"I feel that we will have to play out of our skins to win it.

Sligo are going really well and they have had a good run. I feel that we are better prepared than we were twelve months ago when we were in Castlebar for the Connacht semi-final.

The main thing that I will be hoping for is that we will be competitive because if we are competitive we have a chance."

Win or lose on Sunday, what O'Donnell is really seeking is a good performance from his charges.

If they are defeated, Roscommon will still be in the fourth round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers and should that be his side's lot, the former Roscommon Gaels star wants his men to approach such a scenario off the back of a competitive display.

"We have always concentrated at one game at a time. But this is a big game and that is why it is so important to get a performance because ... if we don't get a performance it will be very hard to lift ourselves for the next day."

"You are always hoping that we would win but the thing for me is that we get a performance.

The results can come down to a fine line. Galway and Sligo came down to a fine line. Galway were there right to the end and that is what I am looking for.

I want a performance. I want us in the game to the very end," he added.