Roscommon buoyed

Allianz National Football League Division 1

Roscommon 3-11

Tyrone 1-12

< SEAMUS DUKE

New Roscommon manager Davy Burke is demanding more of the same as his team face Galway this weekend on the heels of a superb win against Tyrone in the opening round of the National Football League last Sunday.

Burke was delighted with a performance which saw a new era for Roscommon football begin in spectacular fashion. A brilliant fourth-quarter display, boosted by the appearance of a number of subs who all made a huge impact, was key as the Rossies swept to victory in a thrilling finish to the game.

“I loved that today” the Kildare man told the Roscommon People shortly after the final whistle. “With the Hyde crowd behind us in full flight, that was a very enjoyable hour”.

While pleased with how experienced players and a number of debutants fashioned a great openingday win, the new manager is under no illusions about the challenges to come – beginning with 2022 AllIreland finalists Galway this weekend.

“Nearly every game in this division is 50-50. I knew we had a chance today. We have two points on the board now, which is brilliant, but Galway won’t think too much of that this time next week. We have a lot of work to do to keep going…many facets of the game we need to get better in”.

Burke was full of praise for both his young guns and the older experienced players. “We blooded the ‘keeper there…Conor Carroll’s debut, Robbie Dolan’s debut, Ben O’Carroll, Daire Cregg. We had four starting debuts, I think, and experience coming off the bench then.

“Ciaráin and Diarmuid (Murtagh) are two stalwarts of the team for a long time now and it was brilliant to see them playing well. Diarmuid Murtagh has been training like an animal since the first day we’ve been back so I was delighted to see him put in that shift today.

Niall Daly was immense. It’s a privilege to work with these boys”.

With three changes to the initial 15 – Conor Carroll, Daire Cregg and Ben O’Carroll all starting – it was a young Roscommon team that took the field against the 2021 AllIreland champions last Sunday.

Aided by the strong wind in the first half, Roscommon started well. While O’Carroll and Cregg were prominent, the experienced Niall Daly led the home charge, kicking two long-range points as Roscommon led by 0-8 to

Goal-den second half has the Hyde rocking

PAUL HEALY View from the Stand

That line between joy and heartbreak is sometimes so thin as to be almost invisible.

Roscommon were excellent throughout this terrific league opener on Sunday, but once Tyrone got their turn at playing the ‘wind advantage’ joker, a noble home defeat seemed the most likely outcome –particularly when the Ulster team fired over three quick-fire points after half-time.

When Kieran McGeary’s goal put Tyrone three clear, you sensed that ‘honourable defeat’ might be the soundbite reserved for Davy Burke in his first major outing as Roscommon manager.