'We do a good bit of work on it’: Roscommon’s need for speed

A key feature of Roscommon's Connacht SFC final victory over Galway was their rapid pace all over the pitch

Roscommon's victory over Galway was particularly sweet for Colm Neary as he had missed Connacht U20 and minor finals due to injury. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

After an afternoon of relentless movement and blistering speed, finally Roscommon’s livewire took a breath and stood still. The scenes around him were worth pausing for.

“This is everything,” said Colm Neary outside a triumphant dressing room. He wears number 14 but operates all over the field as a constant tracker and explosive ball-carrier. “This is everything I've dreamt of.” 

Their clean sweep of Connacht – minor, U20 and senior - was built on strong foundations. Neary was part of the panel that beat Galway in the 2024 U20 final. He was unable to play due to injury, so to finally play a crucial part in a triumph over Galway was particularly sweet.

“I am 22, missed that under-20 final. I missed a minor final to injury as well, so it is nice to get this.” 

An obvious feature of their success is the electric pace all over the field. Former Kilkenny hurling strength and conditioning coach Mickey Comerford and Dublin’s Jason Sherlock are part of their management team. They practice to play this way.

“We back them to go and do that, but they've also got to be smart,” explained manager Mark Dowd post-match.

“They've got to read the situations, if they feel that they're able to do that, take on that 1-1, by all means go for it.” 

That was evident throughout against Galway. The likes of Neary, Senan Lambe and man of the match Darragh Heneghan broke free repeatedly. All they needed was a crack and that raw pace would punish it.

“I think it is just the way it felt during the game,” explained Neary.

“It was like any time we did get it, they sort of had set up with their arc, but there was so much space in behind it. You were popping balls over, you were sort of going over and back, and then strike runners then, it was open season. When you have Darragh there breaking lines, it is easy just to run with him.” 

He continued: “We do a good bit of work on it in training, speed work and stuff like that, so it is nice to actually be able to use it in games then, because with the old rules you were never really able to show it as much, but the amount of space that is out there now, you are getting it on the wing there and you are well able to take on a man.

“So it's nice that Dowdy can give you that.” 

A lot of that speed work takes place before training with various drills to improve explosiveness and mechanics. Roscommon have a host of players able to capitalise on that. St Brigid’s flyer Conor Hand came off the bench. Corner-forward Robert Heneghan can move. Heneghan’s driving power from half-forward saw him score 2-2. He is part of a new wave of athletic wing-forwards like Oisín Conaty and Stephen O’Hanlon.

Which brings one closing question: they are both rapid. But who is faster, Heneghan or Neary?

“It is me at the minute,” said Neary with a smile. “That could change.”