Last four remains the aim for Rossies, insists Smith 

It's 35 years since the Rossies last reached that stage and despite losing their Round 1 tie to Tyrone last weekend, former forward Donie Smith is remaining optimistic.

Former Roscommon footballer, Donie Smith, at the launch of the 2026 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Former Roscommon attacker Donie Smith reckons that reaching the last four of this year's All-Ireland race is still the Connacht champions' 'number one aim'.

It's 35 years since the Rossies last reached that stage and despite losing their Round 1 tie to Tyrone last weekend, Smith is remaining optimistic.

The freshly retired Boyle man said it is a 'big regret' from his own 13-year county career that he never experienced an All-Ireland semi-final.

And the older brother of current Roscommon attacker Enda believes the players are focused on getting there, noting that they parked their provincial celebrations at an early stage.

"Without putting pressure on the lads - that's the number one aim," said Smith of qualifying for an All-Ireland semi-final.

"Connacht titles are nice but I would always say this - Connacht titles are for the supporters. Even chatting to the players on the Monday after the Connacht final, the message back was this; 'We've already forgotten about this'.

"As a player, you want to be recognised nationally. You want to be able to get to Croke Park. It's been such a big regret of mine not being able to get to a semi-final on the national stage because I don't think you're seen as a proper serious contender until you get to a semi-final.

"You look at the quarter-final weekend, there's four games on that weekend. By the time you get to the semi-finals, you've probably forgotten who's even in the quarter-finals.

"And look, there's an absolute possibility that they won't get to the semi-final. I wouldn't say it's been a failure of a year if they don't, because they've had a great year. But to make the jump, to make the leap, to do what no Roscommon team has done since 1991, that for me is the carrot."

Smith stopped short of placing Roscommon among the Championship's top tier of teams. But he did push hard for Galway to be included in that bracket, despite them losing the Connacht final to Roscommon.

"I think all of us are sleeping on Galway," he argued at the launch of the 2026 Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor championships. "I know it's ifs and buts, but they have a full team now. Everyone that's available is there and they're playing.

"I think Galway are...I wouldn't even say they're coming from the pacek. I'd put them in tier one as well."

Roscommon's defeat at home to Tyrone last Sunday halted their momentum after the provincial win though Smith said there were plenty of positives too.

"Leaving the pitch initially I was kind of like, 'This is typical us'," he said of the battling defeat. "But to be honest with you, I've kind of slept on it for a couple of days and no, I'm happy enough. Obviously I'd prefer to have won but I don't think the balloon has completely popped in terms of momentum because I think Roscommon played well and they were still within a chance of winning.

"If Tyrone had beaten Roscommon by seven or eight points, we might be having a different conversation but I think when the draw is out next week, I think they'll be ready to go. And to be honest with you, I don't think anybody would want to play Roscommon."