Roscommon U-21s bid to retain Connacht title

YET another big day for Roscommon GAA is looming large. Following St Brigid's ultimately disappointing venture to Croke Park on St Patrick's Day, the county under-21 footballers go in search of a second successive Connacht title when they face Galway at Pearse Stadium, Salthill on Saturday (3pm). Last year, of course, Roscommon under-21s sealed the Connacht title in early April when a late goal by Alan O'Hara gave them a 1-6 to 0-4 victory over Sligo, and the county seniors then followed that up by also beating Sligo in last July's Connacht Senior Football Championship final. That win over Sligo last April was Roscommon's first Connacht under-21 title for 11 years, but now they stand on the brink of successive provincial crowns. Under-21 selector Emmet Durney - a Clann na nGael stalwart - is predicting a very difficult assignment for Roscommon on Saturday. Durney noted that if the Rossies see off Galway on away territory, the feat of travelling to - and beating - Mayo, Leitrim and Galway, along the way to Connacht success, would be a sensational achievement. "We've had a difficult schedule, a very tough route to the final, having already travelled to Mayo and Leitrim," Durney said. "Thankfully, the lads have been able to come through those tough tests. We have taken it one step at a time. It was a big ask going to Castlebar for the first game, and we were missing a few players, but put in a great performance there and came away with a very good win. Carrick-on-Shannon is always a difficult place to go, and we knew it would be hard, but again the players did well. We probably didn't play too well in the first half (against Leitrim), and that's something we have to address for the Galway game, but the second half was exceptional and we eventually ran out very comfortable winners," he added. If Roscommon manage to claim victory on Saturday, it will be the first time in history the county has won consecutive under-21 Connacht titles. But Durney said that's not in the minds of players and management. "We've always taken the approach that it's one game at a time, and we never look beyond that. The game against Galway is all we're thinking about, and not any records or landmarks," he said. To further boost an already very strong panel, St Brigid's duo Darren Dolan and Eoin Sheehy are now available for selection, while hopes are also high that Clann na nGael forward Cathal Shine can shrug off a leg muscle injury to take a starting berth. Durney said: "Cathal (Shine) missed the Leitrim game but we're very hopeful he'll be okay for Galway." Against Leitrim, Roscommon could afford to leave the likes of Niall Byrne, Michael Higgins and Brian Murtagh among the substitutes, with Neil Collins and Niall Kilroy among those coming into the side. Emmet said: "We had five of last year's starting team on the bench against Mayo, and that shows the strength in depth that's there. We're always looking to improve, though, and it's the same going into Saturday's game. We beat Leitrim very well but weren't particularly happy with our first-half performance. We haven't scored a goal yet in this year's championship, though on the flip side, we haven't conceded a goal either." St Dominic's goalkeeper Naos Connaughton has played a key role in keeping clean sheets against both Mayo and Leitrim, while Clann na nGael defender Cathal Duignan has also impressed in the full-back line. Against Leitrim, Niall Kilroy justified his selection by clinching the Man of the Match award, and scoring four points, while Darren McDermott also shone in attack. The half-back trio of Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses), Eamonn Bannon and Paddy Brogan also stood up well after a somewhat shaky start against Leitrim, while Eugene Stritch and Aaron Fehilly (Padraig Pearses) were always in command in midfield. However, the challenge presented by Galway on home soil will be a much more difficult proposition, with the Tribesmen having trounced Sligo by 2-20 to 0-7 in the other provincial semi-final.