Champions look to break new ground in Tribe’s backyard

SINCE a redeveloped Pearse Stadium was opened in 2003, it has proven to be an unhappy hunting ground for Roscommon football. No team from the county has managed to win in the Salthill venue since then — a wretched sequence the current crop of U21 footballers aim to end this afternoon against Galway.

The defending champions are seeking to win back-to-back titles at this level for the first time in the county’s history. They have displayed excellent form already this season, claiming a notable scalp in Mayo in the first round before ousting Leitrim in the semi-final.

They have a trio of dangerous attackers in Stephen Regan, Niall Kilroy and Darren McDermott that will need careful policing by the Galway rearguard. Centre-back Niall Daly, who impressed for UCC in their Sigerson Cup win last month, will spearhead their defensive efforts.

At a time when Galway football is experiencing a senior slump after a terrible Allianz NFL Division 1 league campaign to date, their U21 side are poised to provide a badly-needed boost.

It is six years since a Galway team, inspired by the scoring heroics of Sean Armstrong and Micheal Meehan, claimed Connacht U21 honours, with Mayo largely dominating matters in the province in the interim.

Alan Mulholland, who guided the Galway minors to an All-Ireland win in 2007, is at the helm of the current U21 bunch and they began their campaign by dismantling Sligo by 0-20 to 0-7 in the last four. Killererin duo Colin Forde and Tomas Fahy have impressed in defence, while Tomás Flynn and Fiontain Ó Curraoin form an imposing midfield partnership.

A strong attack has seen Mark Hehir, Danny Cummins and Eric Monaghan all rack up fine scoring totals.

On home soil, the sense is that Galway’s dazzling firepower and greater balance, as displayed against Sligo, will see them reach the All-Ireland semi-final, where they will play either Cork or Kerry, who face off on Wednesday.

GALWAY (U21FC final v Roscommon): M Breathnach; G Sweeney, C Forde, A Tierney; J Moore, J Duane, T Fahy; T Flynn, F Ó Curraoin; C Doherty, M Hehir, M Boyle; D Cummins, P Sweeney, E Monaghan.

Picture: Roscommon centre-back Niall Daly: Impressed for UCC in their Sigerson Cup win last month (INPHO)