Grehan sets bar high ahead of new season
Oran duo, Erin McDermott and Taylor Kelly, are hoping that Roscommon can enjoy a positive league campaign over the coming weeks.
The Roscommon junior camogie team are setting the bar high as they embark on their Division 3A League campaign away to Tyrone at the Tyrone GAA Centre of Excellence, Garvaghy, on Saturday at 2 p.m..
Despite the usual pre-season challenges surrounding the availability of players, manager Mary Grehan and her management team of Mairead O’Beirne and Liam Murray are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of excellence — on and off the field.
The unexpected bombshell that Roscommon will not field at minor level this season — a grade that has procured silverware and, more importantly, a cohort of talented players in recent seasons — hasn’t derailed the management team’s ambitions of bringing All-Ireland glory to the county during their three-year tenure.
“We have genuine quality but we’re very young apart from a couple of older players. But the majority of the girls are in their early 20s. Crucially, they have All-Ireland medals in their back pockets.
“Unfortunately, it appears that Roscommon won’t have a minor team this year. But those players are more than welcome to come and train with us on a Wednesday night as part of their development and transition to adult camogie for next year. We have contacted the clubs and the players in relation to that.
“We’re here for three years, so we need as many players as possible to put their shoulder to the wheel for the betterment of Roscommon camogie,” Grehan told the Roscommon Herald.
After Tyrone next weekend, Roscommon’s remaining games in Division 3A are against Kildare, Wicklow, Laois and Louth following the withdrawal of Cavan from the league.
With only six players based at home, Roscommon’s panel is tight at the moment with approximately 24 players. But the door remains open to any player who feels she can contribute to the team, according to Grehan.
“We have made progress in a relatively short space of time. The panel will remain open. A lot of girls are juggling different things in their lives at the moment but if they want to join us at any stage, they’ll be more than welcome.
“I’ve made no secret of the fact that the goal is to win the All-Ireland title. We have the players and we’re going to try and get the best out of as many of them as we can,” she concluded.
