Learning curve for Rossies

Back in the spring of 2010 Roscommon football could only have dreamed of weekends like this.

Relegated to Division 4 with just a single win to their name, the county was still reeling from a 20-point hammering by Mayo.

The All-Ireland minor winning team from 2006 had been fast-tracked into the senior set-up with detrimental consequences, exposed to beating after beating.

While they won a Connacht title that year, many would argue that it’s taken until this season to fully re-emerge with the goals they set after the minor win. Champions in Division 3, they led Mayo with 10 minutes to go this time around and hammered a fancied Cavan this year. Since 2012 they have reached two U21 All-Ireland finals, losing out to Dublin narrowly on both occasions. This is a team packed with ambition. Whereas Connacht titles and Division 3 may have once been their plateau, now the sights are being set higher.

The lesson learned from previous eras? Patience with a key focus on development.

“Every game is of significance for us,” said manager John Evans.

“It’s a development of the underage structure. Roscommon have played 11 games this year and lost two between league and championship.

“Every game is a development when you’re dealing with a young team but I tend to go for the view that we’re on a journey where we’re gaining experience. If we treat a game as the be-all and end-all we’re going nowhere. It’s a learning curve.”

That’s probably why Roscommon seem relaxed going into today’s clash with Armagh at Dr Hyde Park. The Orchard County carry a growing reputation of physical intensity with a refined strategy and in them, Evans sees similarities and key differences. However, he’s hoping their level of consistency this year will tell.

“Paul Grimley has done a good job in turning the Armagh team around. I’m delighted for him because they were a much maligned team and management and certainly didn’t deserve any of the criticism they got.

“Our situation is we’ve played what’s in front of us, we have a home venue which stands for nothing if we don’t approach the game with a high intensity and high work rate.

He added: “Our extended season has gone on the back of a promotion which is showing our form is consistent. Armagh havegot a newfound energy and a winning mentality and they’re certainly going to hang on to that. We’re not that similar but we are now because our paths are crossing.”