Three to debut for Roscommon

Mark O'Carroll, Senan Kilbride and Conor Devaney will make their championship debuts for Roscommon in Sunday's Connacht SFC quarter-final clash with Galway (Pearse Stadium, throw-in 4pm).

There is no starting place for Frankie Dolan but his St. Brigid's club-mates O'Carroll and Kilbride will both start for the Rossies.

Devaney, a 2006 All-Ireland minor winner, will line out in a half-forward line that includes Gary Cox who has recovered from a niggling ankle injury.

Encouragingly, free-taker Ger Heneghan has made a quicker than expected recovery from a shoulder injury. The Castlerea clubman will take up the left corner forward berth on Sunday.

Seamus O'Neill and Karol Mannion will link up in an experienced midfield partnership, while the likes of Dolan, David O'Gara and Enda Kenny could be sprung from the substitutes bench.

Sunday's game will be former Under-21 boss Michael Ryan's first outing as Roscommon senior manager. He was corner back in the Roscommon team that last won the Connacht SFC title back in 2001.

Team captain Seanie McDermott has backed Ryan to get the Rossies firing again and challenging for provincial honours.

"John (Maughan) stepped aside after the league campaign. Things didn't go well. There was a real smooth changeover. 'Mixer' came onto the scene. The lads have the height of respect for Mixer," McDermott told the Roscommon Herald.

"He had the task of getting the lads' heads up again and things have moved on and I know from training over the last couple of weeks that the lads' confidence has come on."

Spirits are high in the Roscommon camp after a weekend spent at the Delphi Adventure Centre in Connemara and they know the pressure will be off them in Salthill on Sunday.

McDermott explained: "There was the minor success in 2006 and a lot of the lads have played in a Connacht Under-21 final. And if you look at the team in general, you have Connacht medal winners from 2001 and a lot of Sigerson Cup winners.

"There's plenty of talent in this Roscommon team, it's just all about believing in ourselves.

"I believe in this squad. I've played with a lot of the players down through the years at college level. Training here with Roscommon I can tell you that the talent is definitely here.

"We know we can do it. It's going to take a big effort from everyone," he added.

ROSCOMMON (SFC v Galway): G Claffey; P O'Connor, A McDermott, S McDermott (capt); J Rogers, M O'Carroll, D Hoey; S O'Neill, K Mannion; C Devaney, G Cox, C Cregg; S Kilbride, J Dunning, G Heneghan.