'Tyrone schooled us in a challenge, but Rossies will be fine. We are ready'

"I believe you have to replicate the senior experience as best you can at U-20 level, because just the same as you want to bridge the gap in terms of football and physicality”.

SENIOR SYSTEM: Roscommon manager Noel Dunning tries to replicate a senior enviroment for his U20 squad. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

On the face of it, the senior footballers of London and the U-20 footballers of Roscommon don’t have a lot in common, but for Roscommon manager Noel Dunning, the unique challenges associated with looking after the Exiles for five years was invaluable to his current role, which is trying to get Roscommon past Tyrone on Saturday (5pm) and into the Eirgrid All-Ireland U-20 final.

Dunning, whose first championship match as London manager ended in a heartbreaking 0-12 to 1-8 defeat to his native Roscommon in 2005, feels that people over here don’t understand what’s involved with getting a group of London footballers ready to compete with home-based county teams.