Smith leaves no stone unturned ahead of Mayo challenge
Cian Smith will take his Roscommon U-20 football team to Castlebar for the opening round of the provincial championship on Wednesday evening. Picture: INPHO/John McVitty
Roscommon U-20 football manager, Cian Smith, feels that his side have left no stone unturned ahead of their opening game in this year’s Connacht championship against Mayo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on this evening (Wednesday). Throw-in at 5.30 p.m..
The Rossies are the defending champions, having got the better of Galway in last year’s thrilling decider before bowing out to eventual winners, Tyrone, in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Around a dozen players from that panel, including captain Robert Heneghan and vice-captain Tommy Morris, are involved this season, and with a new management, hopes are high that Roscommon can, at least, make a semi-final.
However, Smith is mindful of the strength embedded within Roscommon’s opponents over the next five weeks. Mayo and Galway reached the All-Ireland minor football final three years ago — a game Galway won at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park — while he also expects Sligo and Leitrim to pose serious questions throughout the championship.
“It’s a tough start (against Mayo) but it’s a game that we need to be competing in. Mayo and Galway got to an All-Ireland final at this age group three years ago, so they’ll obviously be strong. Sligo are coming, as they have been, and Leitrim have six or seven lads in with their senior panel.
“Every team have their own strengths. We feel that we’ve a decent amount of preparation done. We’re happy where we’re at.
“We’ll go out on Wednesday and see what happens. At the end of the day, just like last year, you’re trying to build some early momentum. But if things don’t work out the first day, it’s still not the end of the world,” he insisted.
Smith is joined by former minor manager, James Duignan, Damien Tiernan and Tomás Gilleran, alongside goalkeeping coach Darren O’Malley, on his management team. Injuries to Morris, Brian Greene, Ronan McDermott, Conor Grogan and Ciarán O’Reilly mean that they’ll miss to trip to Castlebar, as will Colin Murray who picked up an ankle injury during Roscommon CBS’ All-Ireland triumph.
However, in captain Heneghan, Rory Carthy, Roscommon CBS captain Eoghan Carthy, Cian Campbell, John McGuinness, who impressed for Roscommon Gaels during last year's senior football championship, Roscommon have enough talent to fulfill their manager’s wishes.
But Mayo will be strong. Diarmuid Duffy is part of the Mayo senior set-up, while Niall Hurley, Senan Guillfoyle, Tom Lydon and David Dolan have plenty of experience of playing at the highest level.
St. Colman’s, Claremorris, duo, Darragh Beirne and Rio Mortimer, are named among the Mayo substitutes, despite their Hogan Cup disappointment against St. Patrick’s, Maghera, on St. Patrick’s Day.
In such a congested season, finding the right balance is pivotal, and Smith, who managed Boyle to successive county senior football finals in 2022 and 2023, is mindful of keeping his players fresh for a campaign that also includes a trip to Galway alongside home matches against Sligo and Leitrim.
“It has been tricky at times. I’m very conscious of managing lads in terms of their training and schedules. We have 11 of 12 lads that would have played Freshers for different colleges, especially in January. So we’ve just been managing lads, giving them nights and weekends off at different times. We’re just trying to be fair with them. You’re always running the risk of losing lads through injury. It’s not ideal but every other county is in the same boat,” he highlighted.
A home game against Sligo on Wednesday week will be followed by a bye, before Roscommon finish off their campaign away to Galway and at home to Leitrim.
With trips to Mayo and Galway, finishing top of the table after the round robin stage — something the class of 2024 managed with three draws and a victory — will be a tough ask. Realistically, a place in the top three is more realistic, although an opening round win against Mayo might throw the cat among the pigeons.
Not impossible, but unlikely.
