John Evans post-match comments didn’t match the mood of Roscommon supporters who left Dr. Hyde Park depressed and frustrated on Sunday last. Shorn of some many first choice players, Evans remained upbeat despite the concession of an injury-time goal against an average Wicklow side. But deep down, one sensed he knew that Roscommon, on their own patch, should be beating teams of Wicklow’s calibre.
By Ian Cooney
“I’m looking at the positives. We had the game in the bag. We were five clear but they came back and kicked a point or two.
“Our defence had been good and they had kept Wicklow out. At no stage did you see a Wicklow goal chance coming. Look, it was a crowded square, he pulled on the ball and that was it,” summarised the Roscommon boss.
Jacko Dalton’s goal rescued an unlikely point for the visitors but Evans felt that Roscommon should have wrapped up the game long before the Wicklow substitute raised a green flag in stoppage time.
“Goals happen like that. It’s a sickening blow to the lads. The last two breaks weren’t dealt with at all. We had simple opportunities to put the game to bed and we didn’t take them. Even at the death, we were straight through and we missed a simple chance.
“You have to take the positives out of it. We had played well. We were five points clear and should have been further ahead. We still don’t have that killer instinct in the team yet.
“We played some nice football, some very attractive football. Young Daly played well at wing-back. With himself, Niall Daly and David Keenan, there’s a nice springboard there,” he felt.
However, Evans returned to his team’s inability to pit the game to bed when they were in control, especially during the second half.
“At midfield, a couple of our fellas jumped with our midfielders. I don’t know where that came from. The forwards sparkled at times but you can’t miss the chances we missed at this level,” he lamented.
Meath travel to Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday next. The Royals are desperate for a result and Evans hoped to make life as difficult as possible for Mick O’Dowd’s charges who are short on confidence.
“We haven’t been beaten in the Hyde this year and we’ll be hoping to keep that record straight when Meath come here next weekend,” he concluded. 
