Another positive performance needs to be turned into points

From Hootergate to the Hyde.

If last year’s victory against Monaghan was the high point of Roscommon’s Division Two League campaign, Mark Dowd and his players will be hoping that Sunday’s renewal of acquaintances can give Roscommon a reasonable foothold in Division One.

There was so much to admire about the way a new-look Roscommon team went about their business in the All-Ireland champions’ back yard, irrespective of the controversial ending.

There was clarity and purpose about much of Roscommon’s play, and it was interesting to hear Dowd talk afterwards about the grit and determination that he felt had gone missing in the Primrose and Blue’s recent performances, which led to such a disappointing exit from last year’s championship.

But, despite all the plaudits that deservedly came the players’ way against Kerry, the message remains the same. A one-point defeat, albeit a glorious one, means that, realistically, the Rossies need to put points on the board against Gabriel Bannigan’s charges if they’re to have any hope of staying in the top flight.

Home advantage in this fixture is usually a big help, and apart from Monaghan’s smash and grab raid in Kiltoom ten years ago, Roscommon tend to do well against Sunday’s opponents in the Hyde.

It’s Monaghan’s third year in succession to travel to the home of Roscommon GAA, something supporters of a Monaghan persuasion may be scratching their heads about, and the Rossies’ two victories in those recent games backs up the theory that “home comforts” have pulling power when these two teams meet.

And yet, much water has flowed under the bridge since Monaghan’s last visit to the Hyde on Valentine’s weekend a year ago.

On that occasion, much of the love was reserved for Diarmuid Murtagh whose 12-point haul helped him become Roscommon’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing the late Dermot Earley.

That thrilling 0-24 to 2-14 victory saw Roscommon come from four points down at half time to produce probably their most fluent half of football of the season, aided by Murtagh’s scoring exploits and the pace of Conor Hand who caused all sorts of problems for the Monaghan rearguard.

By the time the sides met again in the league final, both sides trajectories were going in opposite directions.

Roscommon had stumbled over the finishing line on their way to promotion as opposed to crashing through the tape. On the other hand, Monaghan were finding their feet impressively and a ten-point victory in Croke Park, thanks to a commanding second-half performance, was fully merited.

Consequently, Monaghan will fancy their chances on Sunday, despite last weekend’s disappointing performance against Armagh in Clones. There was a cut about them last year in the big games that the Rossies never really came close to replicating as the season progressed.

For Mark Dowd, it’s about finding his best players and building depth in the absence of his St. Brigid’s contingent. But Monaghan will also be missing some key players for a variety of reasons — most notably their Scotstown contingent that includes Jack McCarron, Conor McCarthy and Rory Beggan.

With both teams favoured by the bookies to make an immediate return to Division Two, Sunday’s game is a “cup final”. If Roscommon win, they’ll believe that they can uproot some trees in the knowledge that three out of their next four games are at home.

If they lose, any optimism about the team’s prospects in the division on the back of last weekend’s excellent performance in Killarney will be well and truly deflated.

Crucially, destiny remains in Roscommon’s hands. The management and players won’t need to be reminded about the importance of this game — both in terms of the current campaign and that yearning to re-establish the connection between the team and their supporters.

Both goals can be achieved if Roscommon continue from where they left off last weekend.

Verdict: Roscommon