Roscommon anticipate gruelling semi-final

ROSCOMMON's exciting minor football team lies just one step away from reaching the 2011 All-Ireland MFC final, but manager Ross Shannon this week played down talk of a repeat of the county's last All-Ireland minor success in 2006. On Sunday, the talented Roscommon side take on Tipperary at Croke Park (1.30pm) for a place in the All-Ireland decider, and the level of expectancy surrounding this crop of exceptional young players has risen dramatically around the county since their epic quarter-final defeat of Armagh (after extra-time). However, Ross Shannon is playing down the notion that Roscommon will comfortably dispose of Tipperary's challenge, and pointed to the Premier County's record in this year's Munster and All-Ireland championships as evidence that a gruelling encounter lies in store on Sunday. By doing so, Shannon was rightly highlighting the magnificent achievement of Tipperary beating Cork, Kerry and Meath along the way to the All-Ireland semi-finals, and such heroics cannot be overlooked by Roscommon supporters keen to see their young team progress further. "People have their own views and opinions on matches, and they're entitled to talk about us, or Tipperary, in whatever way they see fit. But I don't think anyone could say either team will have it all their own way on Sunday, it's not going to happen. I've enormous respect for what Tipperary and David Power have achieved to date. To beat Cork, Kerry and Meath is some achievement, and they should be respected for that. Tipperary are a very strong team, a serious outfit, and their manager is a serious operator, so we're in for a very tough match," said Shannon. The Roscommon team is likely to include three players from the Padraig Pearses club in South Roscommon (corner-backs Shane Carty and David Murray, and wing-back Conor Daly), while Clann na nGael's Rory McManus could also make the substitutes bench. Despite his undoubted respect for Sunday's opponents, Shannon won't dwell too much on their prowess. "I like to focus much more on my own team, and on how to get the very best out of our players," he said. "Tipperary will have their strengths and weaknesses, as Roscommon do, but my main job is to make sure Roscommon have more strengths than Tipperary, and that we come through the game. There's a place in the All-Ireland final at stake, and the lads are buzzing about this game. They're really up for the challenge, but they wouldn't deserve to be playing football if they couldn't get up for this sort of game! I think at this stage our players have tremendous experience of playing at Croke Park, and possibly that will help us on Sunday, but you can be sure Tipperary are going to give us a real good game," added the Roscommon Gaels club-man. At time of print, Shannon confirmed Roscommon have "a few bumps and bruises" within the camp, but described them as "nothing to worry about", and "little Joe-Soap injuries". The manner of Roscommon's quarter-final win will linger long in the memory. For long periods of the game, Roscommon, although always remaining in touch, looked as though they would ultimately fall short against a physically stronger Armagh. Thomas Corcoran's dramatic late free from 45 metres out brought the game to extra-time but in the first period, points from Daniel McQuade, Michael McKenna (two) and Ryan McShane gave Armagh what looked like a winning lead of three points, before a crucial effort from Donie Smith brought it back down to two by half-time in extra-time. Roscommon still looked out on their feet but, from somewhere, they summoned the courage and energy to drag themselves back from the brink. The second extra-ten began with Conor Daly winning possession, riding a challenge and picking out Fintan Sweeney who reduced the deficit to the minimum. With four to play, Kevin Finn, hugely impressive off the bench, levelled matters up after Adrian Gleeson's effort for goal rebounded back to the Strokestown man. Then, with two minutes remaining, came the winning score. Gleeson won the free, affording Thomas Corcoran the chance to float over a beauty to seal the win and spark joyous celebrations among Roscommon supporters, as Roscommon eventually triumphed on a 1-16 to 0-18 scoreline. According to Shannon though, that game is now consigned history. "We've been coming along nicely since the Armagh game (in the quarter-final), and going about our business in a calm manner, but the Armagh game will mean nothing when the whistle sounds next Sunday" he said. "We had an epic encounter against Armagh, and the players showed tremendous character, togetherness, and huge fitness levels to come through after extra-time. We looked very strong that day, and hopefully we'll see that again this weekend, but it's going to be a completely different game. I've not been listening to what people have had to say about Roscommon, about expectations or what-not, and I don't allow my players get involved in it. We're focussed on going to Croke Park and doing a good job on Sunday, and hopefully reaching the All-Ireland final," added Shannon, who has St Brigid's club-man Brian Lennon among his backroom team. Shannon also appealed to as many Roscommon supporters as possible to attend Sunday's game in Croke Park. "We've had absolutely unbelievable support from the Roscommon public throughout the campaign, and they really got us over the finishing line the last day in Croke Park. They stood by us in the latter stages of normal time, and then in extra-time, and that type of fervent support is invaluable to a young group of players. We appreciate very much the levels of support we're received to date, and hopefully we'll see loads of Roscommon supporters in Croke Park this Sunday," said Shannon. The Roscommon v Tipperary game is the pre-cursor to the All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Kerry and Mayo, which begins at 3.30pm. Both matches will be shown live in RTÉ 2, with coverage from Croke Park beginning at 1.15pm.