'We don't fear Kerry' - vows Ros' minor manager

NO sooner had Roscommon pulled off the notable feat of claiming back-to-back Connacht minor titles - a first for the county - than they were turning their focus and attention to the All-Ireland quarter-final clash against Kerry (Sunday, Croke Park, 12noon). Garreth Carroll's vibrant side, captained jointly by Kevin Finn and Enda Smith, overcame Mayo in the provincial decider at Dr Hyde Park on a scoreline of 0-10 to 0-8 - thanks largely to a fantastic opening 20-minute period, when they outplayed Mayo and laid the foundations for what proved a hard-fought victory. With Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleach's) leading the charge, Roscommon raced into a four-point lead by the 13th minute, and then led by three at half-time. In the second half, Mayo came even more into matters, and with captain Adam Gallagher kicking accurately from dead-balls (he converted five frees in total), they managed to give themselves a fighting chance as the end drew near. Tigerish defending was needed by Roscommon towards the finale, with Philip Neilan, Niall McInerney (St Brigid's) and Cathal Kenny producing some admirable blocks in sticky situations. Defensive comrades, Dennis Barron, Conor Hussey and Ronan Daly (Padraig Pearses) also contributed well when required, while the industrious workload taken on by midfielders Ultan Harney (Clann na nGael) and Thomas Corcoran was also of major assistance to the cause. Mayo laid siege to the Roscommon goal in the dying embers of proceedings, and the primrose and blue needed some dogged defending, and a portion of good fortune, to eventually seal the deal. Perhaps it wasn't the greatest or most memorable Connacht MFC decider of all-time, but victory was secured and Garreth Carroll's charges now look forward to facing the challenge of the renowned Kingdom. "It was sheer character that pulled us through that game (against Mayo)," Carroll told the Westmeath Independent. "At times, our play lacked a bit of cohesion, especially when a workmanlike Mayo enjoyed their best spells of dominance. Against dogged and workmanlike teams that never give up, you're always going to have periods when they enjoy a bit of domination. But I thought some of our play early on was very good. I'd be very worried if we didn't show that type of good football at some stage in games, because those classy periods are certainly within this team, and they have enough ability to stamp their authority and class on any match. Mayo will certainly put it up to Tipperary (the reigning All-Ireland champions and back-to-back Munster title winners) in the quarter-finals." "As for ourselves, I think our Connacht semi-final (against Galway) took an awful lot out of all of us. It went to extra-time and was a real battle, and it had its impact both physically and emotionally. I think we were all a touch drained after it, and perhaps the residue of that occasion still lingered against Mayo. We're delighted to have come through a tough test against Mayo, and for Roscommon to clinch back-to-back Connacht titles, for the very first time at this level, is a fair achievement," he added. Though Murtagh claimed many of the after-match plaudits in the media, Carroll refused to be drawn on any particular player. He also noted the contribution of his defence during the Connacht final, pointing out that they limited Mayo to only three points from play. However, there was some criticism (after the Connacht final) that Roscommon became too defensive-minded following their spurt of domination in the opening 20 minutes or so and, apart from the deadly Murtagh, their forward-line has not been firing too well of late. Perhaps this is a worry ahead of facing Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's Kerry side. The Kingdom were defeated by defending Munster champions Tipperary in their provincial decider at the Gaelic Grounds on July 8, a landmark occasion that signalled the first time that Tipp have achieved back-to-back provincial titles in this grade since 1935. Victory in the Munster final was Tipp's second success over Kerry in this year's championship, following a first round win at Austin Stack Park last April. But regardless of whether Tipperary appear to have wrestled the mantle of Munster minor kingpins from Kerry (and Cork) in recent years, the thought of playing any Kerry team in the All-Ireland series is often enough to get the blood flowing (or nerves trembling!). According to Carroll, though, Kerry hold no fears for Roscommon, whose south of the county contingent includes St Brigid's goalkeeper Shane Mannion and defender Niall McInerney (both of whom played extremely well in the Connacht final), Clann na nGael midfielder Ultan Harney (a Trojan workhorse in the same game), and his club-mate, Ruardhri McManus in attack. Liam Kilcline (St Dominic's) and Stephen Flynn (Clann) could also come into the management's thoughts when selecting the starting line-up. "We have a 33-strong panel and they all pull in the one direction. There's no egos or individuals involved. Everybody contributes to the cause and that's an ethos we've insisted upon since the very start," said Carroll. "I don't think we've any fear of Kerry. We have respect for every opponent, and we'll do our research into how they play, but Roscommon have won two Connacht Minor Leagues, and two Connacht Championships, in the last couple of years, so I think that winning mentality gives us a bit of confidence going into the game. "Obviously, Kerry are Kerry, and they're always going to be very stiff opposition for anyone, but we've no fear, and I don't mean that with any level of arrogance," continued Carroll, who doesn't expect to have any serious injury problems for the game. He added: "Our panel is very competitive and the lads buy into what we try to do. The important thing is not to get carried away, or not to look beyond the next match. Otherwise, you'll be out of the championship before you realise you were dreaming! Our focus is always on the next game. "That might sound boring to some people, but that's the simplicity of our attitude, and it's the way we've gone about things, as a group, since the outset." Roscommon and Kerry also have recent history at minor level. The Rossies famously beat Kerry in the 2006 All-Ireland final (after a replay), when Clonown native David Flynn (current panelist Stephen's older brother) lifted the trophy. And in 2009, Kerry (then Munster champions) beat Roscommon in the All-Ireland quarter-finals (after extra-time). Despite Tipperary recently emerging as a real force in Munster (and winning last year's All-Ireland minor title, having beaten Roscommon in the semi-finals), Kerry still boast 41 Munster minor titles, and eleven All-Ireland minor crowns (the last of which came in 1994). Roscommon have four All-Ireland minor titles to their name (1939, 1941, 1951 and 2006), while the recent win over Mayo sealed a 14th provincial title at this grade.