Roscommon unchanged for minor final

Roscommon will boast an unchanged side when they go head-to-head with Munster champions Kerry in Sunday's All-Ireland MFC final (Croke Park, throw-in 1.30pm).

The Rossies, managed by former county midfielder-cum-forward Fergal O'Donnell, beat Leinster winners Meath 1-10 to 0-9 in their semi-final, drawing a plethora of plaudits.

While Kerry have seniors-in-the-making in Paddy Curran and Eoin Kennedy, O'Donnell's side is full of equals.

He explained: "We may not be a fancy team but we work very hard for each other. You don't get to All-Ireland finals by standing around. Our players always work extremely hard but that's what we demand of them. It's a very honest effort."

Roscommon have made great strides this season and like senior finalists Mayo they are hoping to end their county's 55-year wait for an All-Ireland title at their grade.

They beat both Galway and Mayo to claim Connacht honours. Wing-forward Conor Devaney slotted home a penalty in their 1-12 to 0-6 All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Tipperary and he repeated the trick against Meath, scoring from the spot in the four-point success at Croke Park.

Roscommon have won three All-Irelands at minor level (1939, 1941 and 1951), and O'Donnell's charges have a proud record to defend as the Primose and Blue are yet to lose a minor final.

However, there has been a famine out west. It has been a full 20 years since a team from Connacht lifted the Tommy Markham Cup, the trophy awarded to the All-Ireland minor football winners. Galway triumphed in 1986, beating Cork in the decider.

O'Donnell, a garda based in Boyle, was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht minor title back in 1989. Enigmatic former senior goalkeeper Shane Curran was also on that team.

ROSCOMMON (MFC v Kerry): M Miley; P Gleeson, M McLoughlin, S Ormsby; P Domican, D Flynn (captain), C Garvey; D Keenan, K Higgins; C Devaney, J McKeague, D Shine; P Garvey, F Cregg, D O'Gara.