St Brigid's travel to Western Gaels as Clann host Kilbride
BOTH Clann na nGael and St Brigid's will be looking to build on positive starts to this year's Roscommon SFC at the weekend. Clann, managed by Dessie Dolan Snr, took a valuable point from an away fixture against Castlerea St Kevin's (county champions in 2008 and 2009) in the opening round of Group A games last weekend (see page 38). Meanwhile, reigning county and provincial champions St Brigid's got their defence of the Fahey Cup up and running in Group C, with a 0-10 to 0-5 defeat of Roscommon Gaels at Woodmount (see page 37). However, St Aidan's lost heavily (1-13 to 0-5) against Western Gaels, also in Group C, at Kiltoom on Sunday (see page 35). This coming weekend, St Brigid's travel to Western Gaels (Frenchpark, Sunday, 6.30pm), and manager Noel O'Brien expects a really tough game. "I think Western Gaels have to be one of the favourites for this year's championship, and it's going to be a very difficult game in their own backyard. But we were happy enough with last weekend, and it's nice to get off to a winning start. It gives everyone a lift and a bit of pressure is lifted when you win your first group game. We were a little worried beforehand because for a variety of reasons - such as injuries, college exams and sickness - we hadn't really got the group together in the build-up to the Roscommon Gaels game. But the lads did well and it sets us up nicely for the rest of the group," said O'Brien. Brothers Darren and Garvan Dolan both picked up injuries in last weekend's win, with the latter a real doubt for the game against Western Gaels. Niall Grehan got some valuable game-time under his belt, and could feature again this weekend, while Eoin Sheehy could also come into contention for a starting berth. Clann na nGael, meanwhile, made the tough-looking journey to Castlerea minus Johnny Dunning and Cathal Shine, and things looked bleak for the 19-time county champions when they trailed by 0-7 to 0-1 in the first half (by the 19th minute). However, Clann fought back to close the gap to two points by half-time and eventually earn a draw, and selector Gerry Pettit is hoping they can now build on that good result against Kilbride (Johnstown, Saturday, 7pm). Kilbride themselves had a good result over Strokestown in their opening Group A game last weekend, so Clann are wary of their threat. "We got a good result to start with (against Castlerea), and the lads showed good character to hang in there and come back into the game," said Pettit. "Either side could probably have won it, but I suppose it gives us a decent platform to build upon. Kilbride will be tough opposition, and they got off to a great start against Strokestown. Pat Fallon (Kilbride manager) is doing a great job with Kilbride, and we know we'll have to firing well to beat them," he added. Johnny Dunning could return to the fold for Clann after missing last weekend's opening fixture through a hamstring problem. But Ronan Killian sustained a hamstring injury early in the drawn game against Castlerea, and will be sidelined for the visit of Kilbride. Key forward Cathal Shine continues to miss out and could be out of action for the entire year. Meanwhile, St Aidan's manager PJ Hoey is desperate for his team to react positively after last weekend's 11-point loss to Western Gaels. The Ballyforan outfit's cause was not helped by a fixture clash with a local soccer semi-final, in which six of their players turned out in earlier in the day. Hoey said: "It was an unfortunate situation whereby six of our players turned out in the Roscommon Challenge Cup semi-final, which kicked off at 12pm, and then had to play for us at 2.30pm. We wouldn't have had a team if they'd not been involved, so it was very difficult for those lads. They were out on their feet after 15 minutes against Western Gaels. Thankfully, we don't have any distractions this weekend, and have to regroup and give a better performance against Roscommon Gaels. It's a must-win game for both teams." St Aidan's - already missing nine players from last year's panel - will have to cope without the injured Martin Connolly and Paddy Neary, while David Thompson was forced off injured at half-time in last weekend's defeat, but Hoey is hopeful he'll be fit to play against Roscommon Gaels.