Rossies set to be without several regulars for FBD League clash with GMIT

ROSCOMMON expect to field a very much patched-up team when they open their FBD Connacht League campaign against GMIT at Ballyforan on Sunday (2pm). Selector Tom Lennon - who recently joined the set-up after a spell managing Tubberclair - said that between players having commitments to their respective colleges this weekend - including Donie Shine and Cathal Cregg with DCU - and with the unavailability of the St Brigid's players (due to their ongoing involvement in the All-Ireland Club SFC, Roscommon could be missing up to 17 potential starters against GMIT. It appears that manager Fergal O'Donnell, who guided the Rossies' to Connacht SFC glory last year, has no choice but to draft in a number of untried players for the Connacht League series, with the likes of Geoffrey Claffey and Seamus O'Neill also unavailable at present due to injury. Tom Lennon said: “The bones of the team won't be available over the coming weeks, when we've three matches to look at fringe players. A few inexperienced and untried players will be brought into the fold and I'm sure Fergal (O'Donnell) will take a close look at them. You never know, we might be lucky and two or three of them might show very good form, and then have to consider them for the long term. “The college teams are very strong now, so we're in for a very difficult game against GMIT. They (college teams) are nearly as strong as inter-county teams now, so it will be a tough opener for what will be an untried Roscommon team. It gives us a chance to look at what's out there (in Roscommon) and see if they're up to FBD League action for a start. But our main focus at the moment is the league when it begins for us in February against Longford.†Manager Fergal O'Donnell has already stated that promotion for Roscommon from the 2011 Division 4 of the National Football League is a key target, a feat which won't be easy, according to Lennon. “That's the priority at the moment and hopefully it will work out for us in Division 4. We have to get Roscommon moving up the league structure once again. We look forward to the league beginning in February,†said Lennon. Meanwhile, St Brigid's All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final against either Nemo Rangers (Cork) or Dr Crokes (Kerry) has been pencilled in for Saturday, February 26.