Huge window of opportunity to take Dubs’ scalp

There are momentum shifts in sport, but the change in trajectory that is currently engulfing the Roscommon senior footballers is scarcely believable.

Following their latest epic win in Salthill — where Mark Dowd’s side flipped the game on its head by coming from 13 points down early in the second half to win by a point in monsoon-like conditions — the visit of Dublin to King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday next brims with exciting possibilities.

For a start, it’s unthinkable that Roscommon would have been favourites for this game only a few weeks ago. But that’s the landscape being painted by a memorable Division One campaign so far, where a new-look team have thrown off the shackles and backed themselves.

Yes, there have been mistakes along the way, but those errors have been trumped by Roscommon’s joie de vivre in attack where Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith have been “ripping it up” against some of the toughest defences in the country.

The end result is that, realistically, Roscommon will fancy beating the Dubs in the Hyde for the first time in over a quarter of a century. That 1-10 to 0-6 victory, under the management of Gay Sheeran, at the turn of the New Millennium ignited a league campaign that captured the imagination of the whole county.

Indeed, there was an intense rivalry between the counties at the time as Roscommon made it a hat-trick of league victories by storming Parnell Park in 2001 and 2002. Outside of the famous draw in Croke Park in 2023, however, the Rossies have drawn a blank against the Sky Blues in league and championship since then.

Twenty-six years later, three wins from four in the top division have regenerated the interest in the current team, and, consequently, Roscommon Town should be in for a bumper pay day with a huge crowd expected in the Hyde for Sunday’s 2 p.m. throw-in.

How Mark Dowd has achieved Roscommon’s this unexpected prosperity has been nothing short of remarkable. He has resisted the temptation to bring back the St. Brigid’s players early, albeit Conor Hand and Ruaidhrí Fallon are likely to see game time at some stage on Sunday, and that should reap a handsome dividend later in the year.

But, even if they were ready to go, who would they replace? Every player, including ten league debutants, has been brilliant, contributing something to re-establish the connection between the players and their supporters.

Against Armagh, Paul Carey came off the bench to pitch in with his side’s match-winning third goal. Against Galway, it was Ciarán Lennon who entered the fray and kicked the winner. That’s the sign of a team laden with belief, one that are comfortable in their own shoes.

Of course, the expectation is that Dublin, with their backs to the wall, will come out swinging. Their talisman Con O’Callaghan went off with a hamstring injury against Kerry, and if he’s missing, Roscommon’s chances of victory will be increased.

Still, in Evan Comerford, Eoin Murchan, Seán Bugler, Peader Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall Scully and Paddy Small, Dublin have a tranche of experience that will be hammering home the reality that this is their cup final.

In other words, lose and they’re destined for Division Two.

There wasn’t anything in the Dublin performance against Kerry last weekend that should cause Mark Dowd sleepless nights this week. And of course, the Jason Sherlock factor should ensure that Roscommon will have every box ticked in terms of what’s coming at them.

But, for four games now, Roscommon have been there when it matters. They should have got something in Killarney, but a hat-trick of victories since then is more than ample consolation.

To make it four-in-a-row would be unbelievable, and current form suggests that Roscommon will never have a better chance of taking Dublin’s scalp.

With a big home crowd in their corner, the Rossies can prolong their dream start to the season.

Verdict: Roscommon