‘Some days, you just have to take your beating’ - Roscommon boss

Roscommon manager Davy Burke has defended his decision to take off Enda Smith during the defeat to Galway in last Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final.

Former All Star Enda Smith was substituted in the 50th minute and this is not something that is often seen as he is a player who is always capable of doing something crucial at any stage.

“It was a tricky one, (Sean) Mulkerrin is a big strong man (Mulkerrin marked Smith). We’re just going to have to keep working with him. Enda is our main man, our go to man and obviously today he had a hard day. Maybe freshen him up, put him inside or midfield, we just need to reenergise him, find a new plan with him but he will come good, we are going to back him anyway,” said Burke after the game in Salthill.

Although Roscommon were fortunate not to be more than eight points adrift at the break, Burke felt that if the deficit was six points at the break, they would have had a better chance of competing in the second half. “We didn’t want to go in eight down, we would be happier with six down. Paul Conroy’s two-pointer just on the stroke of half-time was a blow.”

Perhaps clutching at straws in trying to explain why Galway won comfortably by nine points, Burke said: “They have big physical men around the middle and we couldn’t get a handle on Céin D’Arcy. Then on top of that, they kicked two in a row at the start of the second half and then two big decisions went against us. I thought there was a pick up off the ground then an overcarry at the arc which would have given us a free. Then Galway killed the game, they expertly controlled the game, they held the ball for two odd minutes.”

Reflecting on the match in general, Burke said: “Matthew Tierney scored that goal after the ball came off the post, and we never seem to get that rub of the green. But I couldn’t be happier with our lads and we brought it today. Yes, we have loads to work on and we’ve had a seriously intensive five to six weeks there with no breaks at all, so we’ll take a week off and we go again.

"I think we’re in a really good place. We didn’t want to come here and lose by nine points; we’re disappointed with that but you know some days, you have to take your beating,” Burke added, as Roscommon now prepare for the Sam Maguire Cup group stages.