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You are > Home > Ryan puts down early marker
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07 May 2008
Ryan puts down early marker
The decision of Michael Ryan to ask a number of former players back to the Roscommon panel is an important development in terms of what Ryan feels has been lacking in the senior team recently.
While former manager John Maughan insisted that Roscommon had to persist with the current crop of talented young players at the county’s disposal, Ryan obviously feels that the team lack experience in key positions.
The harsh reality is that there has been an extremely high turnover of players in the last five years. Some couldn’t give the commitment to the cause, others were dropped and some were simply disregarded for no apparent reason.
Take players like John Whyte, David Casey and John Rogers, players with experience and who know what’s required to play at this level. Whyte disappeared without trace during the Maughan era.
Casey, a player with immense leadership qualities, also departed the scene through injury, feeling that everything wasn’t rosy in the garden. Maughan told John Rogers, not once but twice, that he wasn’t good enough to play for Roscommon.
It’s fair to say that player management wasn’t one of Maughan’s strong points. As a Roscommon man, one can only hope that Ryan will make a better connection with these players. Paul Noone, Brian Higgins and Derek Connellan are also in line for a recall. It just goes to show that Roscommon can afford to lose no one in their quest to restore their place in the GAA’s pecking order.
Ask any of the players that togged out during the John Tobin era and they will confirm that apart from being an excellent coach, he had a terrific way of dealing with players. Somehow I think that Roscommon has lost that sense of important communication in recent years.
Having been involved during the Tobin era, Ryan should be able to deal with his players in a manner that everyone feels wanted and part of the panel. The days of dictating to players belong to another age.
The recall of these players should ensure that most of this year’s U-21 panel return to their clubs for the year. Many of them need a break away from the intercounty scene. Hopefully they will return in excellent shape for Roscommon’s assault on provincial U-21 honours next season.
Ryan’s first major decision as Roscommon senior football manager is one that few supporters will disagree with. His primary goal is to make Roscommon competitive again and while he will sincerely believe that his side can beat Galway on Sunday week, very few people will give them a prayer. It’s the perfect scenario.
Ryan’s call to trawl through the county to pick up players Roscommon has lost along the way is a sensible one. He has nothing to lose and I think most supporters would be just happy to see Roscommon becoming competitive in the next few years. If Roscommon take some high profile scalps along the way, it will be a bonus.
Galway likely to win Connacht
It’s hard to believe that the Connacht Senior Football Championship kicks off next weekend with Leitrim travelling to New York to meet the home side in Gaelic Park.
Despite the trouble that Leitrim experienced on their last visit Stateside, the astro-turf facility in Gaelic Park should ensure that Des Dolan’s side will win with something to spare. Leitrim will be fitter and the fast surface will compliment their championship preparations.
Next up will be the clash between Galway and Roscommon in Pearse Stadium. While this game will be previewed next week, events between now and then will hardly erode the Tribesmen’s favouritism. While Roscommon always raise their game when it is least expected, one would have to fear for Roscommon’s backs against the likes of Michael Meehan, Padraig Joyce and Sean Armstrong. If the defence can somehow hold its own, you never know.
The biggest disappointment of the year has been Sligo’s failure to build on last year’s historic provincial success at senior level. Relegation to Division Four is a disaster for the Yeats County. The confidence that winning a Connacht championship should have brought hasn’t materialised and that, perhaps, is the most perplexing part of Sligo’s poor year. While they should beat London, it seems highly unlikely that Mayo will underestimate them in the Connacht semi-final.
Presuming that Galway account for Roscommon, they will face Leitrim in Pearse Stadium in a repeat of last year’s semi-final. On home ground, a probable Galway victory should see the Connacht final that most people expect.
Galway will be travelling to McHale Park, Castlebar for the final. Another close contest is in store with Galway’s scoring potential likely to edge out a Mayo side that will be desperate for success under John O’Mahony.
Maughan aftermath
In the aftermath of John Maughan’s resignation, one issue still has not been clarified.
John Maughan claimed that there was a heave against him to remove him as manager after he alleged he received information from a member of the county board executive.
The county board has insisted that there was no heave against Maughan and that it was prepared to back him at a county board meeting where it was likely that motions of no confidence in Maughan would come before the meeting.
While I’m inclined to believe the county board, it is in Roscommon County Board’s own interest to seek clarification from the former Roscommon manager on how he came to the conclusion that there was a heave against him.
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