A new sense of optimism dawns in Roscommon ranks

Seven years since they last played host to a Connacht final involving themselves, 27 since they last successfully defended a provincial crown, which also came in front of a Dr Hyde Park crowd, history beckons for Roscommon tomorrow.

With optimism, parallels are being sketched between this current side and that which retained the Nestor Cup despite the best efforts of a Mayo side which featured now Roscommon coach Liam McHale.

A member of that victorious Primrose and Blue side, Paul Earley is not for a second dismissing his county’s chances of repeating that feat against Galway but the two teams couldn’t be much more different.