Beating Tyrone ‘right up there’ in career highlights for Smith

All-Star Enda Smith has revealed that Saturday evening’s terrific two-point victory against Tyrone in Omagh is “right up there” when it comes to highlights during his career.

The Boyle player pointed out that Roscommon would never take winning Connacht titles for granted, but to beat a team like Tyrone, who were only All-Ireland champions in 2021, was a box that this current group of Roscommon desperately players wanted to tick.

“It was a brilliant performance. The first half probably laid the foundations for what was a good win. We lived a bit on the edge in the second half but we always stayed in the game. We never let them get ahead. When we needed the scores, thankfully we had the lads up top to get them.

“We were good during the week. We talked about producing a career-defining performance to get a win like this. We’ve won Connacht titles but we probably haven’t done it outside of the province. We really pushed for a performance, first and foremost, and we got it in spades.

“This is right up there. Connacht titles are brilliant and we’ll never take them for granted. But to come up here and beat a team you’re not supposed to beat, away from home, and get to the last eight, is hugely satisfying.

“Now, we’ve a massive seven days ahead to get ready (for the All-Ireland quarter-finals) — bring it on,” he said.