Keegan doesn’t see Rossies being contenders in Connacht

Former Mayo defender and current GAA pundit, Lee Keegan, believes that Roscommon’s current form rules them out of winning the Nestor Cup for the first time since 2019.

Writing in his column for RTÉ Sport, Keegan expects Mayo and Galway — what he describes as a “traditional final” — to be part of the provincial showpiece on Sunday, May 4th.

“As Dessie Dolan observed this week, Roscommon are in a ‘funny’ place on the eve of championship. The consummate yo-yo team, they secured promotion back to Division One, as is their wont, but they seem to have finished the league in a worse place than they started it from a confidence perspective.

“I'm not sure Davy Burke's bizarre outburst after the Cavan game would have helped matters, and they've only won one of their last five.

“None of the problems that were identified last year seem to have been remedied. The forward talent is there but it’s no use if your defence is being ripped asunder, as Roscommon’s was in the second half last Saturday (against Monaghan).

“They'll navigate the trip to London, handy enough, but the test will come in the semi-final. On recent evidence, you’d fear for that defence coming up against the Galway forward line. It doesn't even look like it would be a particularly close game, on recent form.

“A traditional final beckons?” he said.