Dowd rebuilding connection with supporters

Mark Dowd finds himself in a rather unique position.

As he prepares to mark his first championship game in charge of his native county, the Roscommon manager admits that it is rather unusual to enjoy such a special chapter in his own story — some 5,000 kilometres away from his native Strokestown.

Despite the distance from home, Dowd feels that this weekend trip to New York can help him achieve his goal of increasing the connection between the players and the people who support them. For Dowd, seeing his native county exit the championship in a rather meek fashion last year was a difficult watch.

As a result, the connection between players and supporters felt more frayed than it had been in quite some time prior to the start of this season’s campaign. Dowd admits that, alongside the obvious of enjoying a strong league campaign, rebuilding the bond between players and supporters has been high on the priority list.

“The first thing from our own point of view is that we wanted to get the lads physically prepared to compete in Division One. I think we have made good strides doing that and in building the connection with Roscommon supporters.

“While I felt that was something that had waned in the last couple of years, there is a big crowd travelling to New York from what I am being told.

“You can see it at the matches. As the league went on, the numbers have definitely risen, and you notice it on the sideline. If we get a score or a good turnover, you can hear the reaction of the crowd. I feel they are coming back in. Supporters will do that when they have something to shout about, and I think we have given them something to recognise and see.

“The players are trying to do their best, they have a good workrate. When a team are putting in their best performances and they are trying their best, that is all supporters want to see. They will get behind their team then no matter what,” Dowd stated.

For the Roscommon manager, trying to knit together a group that had lost an abundance of experience from the dressing room was expected to be a tricky task. However, he has made it feel rather seamless thus far, albeit he doesn’t need reminding that the white heat of championship battle will provide the ultimate test on how his maiden season will be judged.

Dowd and his management team are determined to ensure that the players forge a close bond off the pitch to help improve performances on it. Therefore, he believes this trip is the ideal opportunity to develop those connections further.

“Trips like this mean you get to spend time in each other’s company when you are not on the pitch as well. That is one thing we would be always conscious of within the group — that most of the time we are meeting, it is on a pitch. We do find times when we are able to connect with each other as well, and this New York trip will help us do some of that.

“There are a good few of the lads who are travelling with us who have never been to New York before. It is a new experience for them. But we have a lot of level-headed guys within the squad. We are going over knowing we have a job to do, and after that we will enjoy it,” he noted.

This clash will incite memories of Roscommon’s close shave against New York in 2016. However, Dowd can revert back to 2011 when he was a part of Fergal O’Donnell’s backroom team that ventured over to New York and enjoyed a more routine victory.

The Roscommon manager admits it is useful to have the experience of what a championship game in Gaelic Park entails but warns that his side still need to produce the goods.

“It was good to experience it before, so you have a good idea of what is coming. It is a big occasion over there with it being the first round of the championship, but it is a big occasion for the locals over that side. First and foremost, it is a game you have to win. That is the priority.

“You could very easily get caught up in the emotions of it. It is a big day out there and there is an awful lot of Roscommon supporters travelling over. But we are going over with the mindset that we have a job to do. Get that job done, and then the rest of the trip will take care of itself,” Dowd concluded.