Benton keen to nourish winning habits

Amidst the deluge of championship action that GAA spectators will be trying to keep an eye on over the course of this weekend, it is easy to forget that there is a major fixture looming for Roscommon hurling.

For the fourth time in five years, Roscommon will line out in the Richie McElligott Cup (All-Ireland U-20 B hurling) final. With familiar foes Derry awaiting this Saturday in Kingspan Breffni for a 1 p.m. throw-in, team manager John Benton knows that recent history doesn’t shine brightly on the county.

The final defeats of 2022, 2023 and 2024 can’t be erased. But he hopes that the experience this group has picked up this year can ensure that this isn’t another hard luck story.

“One of the positives this year is the way the guys have responded. In the Connacht Development League, we used that competition to give lads a chance and get the experience under their belt.

“These guys will move on next year and will, hopefully, be more dominant for the first team. For Roscommon, the hard part has been just getting over the line over the last couple of years so hopefully we’ll take our opportunities the next day and we’ll bring home the Richie McElligott Cup,” he noted.

The Graphic Design lecturer at TUS’ Athlone campus feels the Connacht Senior C hurling final between Clonfert College and Roscommon CBS was a massive boost for hurling within the county. He also acknowledges that the work within clubs has been crucial in Roscommon’s recent run of final appearances.

“As much as we would like to take a bit of credit for it, you would have to acknowledge the clubs and the positive role they play in the players’ development. The training itself does be quite intense, and we try to keep it to a particular standard. The physical drills have paid dividends. Their general fitness and quality generally stems from within the clubs. We just top it up.

“Between (Roscommon) CBS and Clonfert College, the outcome this year has helped the progression of these lads because they are hurling all the time. It is that transitional period as they are no longer kids, they are young men now.

“Being able to hold their own on the field, especially against Tyrone (in the semi-final) when it became a physical battle, as well as competing against the elements was crucial. In the last ten minutes of extra time our fitness levels really showed,” the Roscommon manager noted.

For Benton, there will be little talk of Roscommon’s last triumph in this tournament back in 2012. Instead, he wants his players to see this as an opportunity to build a winning culture of their own.

“Just the little bit of belief that the lads have always had even back in the Celtic Challenge, it was naturally there. They are getting familiar with competing at the latter stages of tournaments, it is just a matter of getting over the line and getting familiar with winning. I think that is probably the next stage for Roscommon — just being more consistent with those opportunities,” he concluded.