Roscommon’s mindset must change, says John Evans

Roscommon senior football manager John Evans believes the mindset must change within the county as they prepare to re-ignite their championship campaign in this afternoon’s All-Ireland qualifier trip to Cavan.

The Roscommon manager’s comments about his side possibly challenging for All-Ireland honours in the near future following April’s Division Two League success against Down seemed to back to haunt him following a shock defeat to Sligo at Markievicz Park last month. But Evans doesn’t regret talking up his charges

“The mindset has to change in Roscommon. It has changed among the players. It’s their aim to be at the top table competing for honours with the top teams in a few years time. That’s what they want and they’re working fierce hard at it. There has to be more ambition in Roscommon.

“We can’t be constantly going around playing the poor mouth all the time. Do you think the Jim Gavins, Eamonn Fitzmaurices or Rory Gallaghers of this world think like that?”

Evans felt that the lack of success associated with the senior team in recent years had developed an “old school of thought” where the county felt it always performed better when it was the underdog.

“We have to be able to handle being favourites. The players are working at it. We’ve sorted out a few neighbours since I came on the scene but we didn’t do the job against Sligo.

“These things happen when you’re trying to develop a young team. When we manage it on a consistent basis, we’ll have taken a big step forward.”

And Evans is expecting a massive battle in Breffni Park. “Maybe Cavan are slight favourites because they’re playing at home. But it’s no more than a 50/50 game. Obviously we’re very familiar with them. It’s all about getting ourselves right. It’s a serious challenge but it’s one we’re looking forward to. Let’s go up there and get stuck into them.”

Conor Daly, Ultan Harney, Donal Shine and Kevin Higgins are back in the fold for the Rossies but there are major injury concerns surrounding captain Niall Carty, midfielder Cathal Shine and forwards Senan Kilbride and Diarmuid Murtagh.

“I think that the league took a lot out of us and the bit of freshness we’d hope to introduce the next day will do us no harm. It’s a big challenge but we’re in the business of getting back up on the horse.”

Evans defended his own record with the team and felt that the players would continue to develop under his stewardship.

“When I took over the team, they were in Division Three and hovering around being relegated to Division Four. Now people have high expectations and that leads to different reactions when things don’t go well.

“People get daft things into their heads. But the team are developing and will continue to develop. The players will wear their hearts on their sleeves on Saturday and they’ll do everything they can when they pull on that Roscommon jersey.

“Their reaction to what happened in Sligo has been very heartening to be honest.”