SuperValu Sam: Too many hurlers with junior mindset

It’s 16 years since the Roscommon senior hurling champions were denied the opportunity to face the Galway champions in the provincial senior club championship. The best of Roscommon and Mayo were no longer seen as strong enough to face Galway’s best.

Now competing in the Connacht intermediate championship, you have to go back to 2015 to find the last time that the Roscommon champions beat the Mayo champions (Four Roads 3-9, Ballyhaunis 1-12). In the Connacht final of that year, Four Roads came within three points of Abbeyknockmoy.

But the odds on the Roscommon champions beating the Mayo champions and running the best from Galway close are lengthening all the time.

It was no secret that Four Roads had Tooreen in their sights since the start of the year. They planned accordingly. They were undoubtedly Roscommon’s best chance in the provincial race. But despite putting in a huge effort this year, Four Roads fell much shorter than they would have expected.

You could say that all things are cyclical — this is an exceptional Tooreen team, who reached last year’s All-Ireland final.

The Mayo champions are generally 8 to 12 points better than whoever lifts the Mickey Cunniffe Cup in Roscommon. It shouldn’t be the case.

Let’s leave the progress of the Mayo clubs to one side. Sam has a simple question: why have so many players in Roscommon club hurling set and accepted the current standard?

The team that end up being champions can only beat what’s put in front of them. But they often tend to be left undercooked and not familiar enough with ferocious intensity when they play teams from Mayo and Galway.

Tooreen have beaten the Galway intermediate champions four out of the last five times.

When you put all seven Roscommon hurling club teams together as one identity, its status has fallen considerably.

They used to play the best team in Galway. Galway now has a 16-team senior hurling championship, with an eight-team senior B championship. The team from Galway that plays in the Connacht intermediate championship is officially the 25th best team in the county. That’s worth reflecting on.

Too many club players in Roscommon don’t apply themselves fully. They don’t have a hurl and sliothar in their hands often enough to improve their skill level. The majority of players are considerably behind the curve in terms of strength and conditioning.

It's admirable to see players competing into their late thirties. But they know privately that they should be struggling if the players coming behind them are raising the standards.

Put simply, there are too many players with the mindset and application of what’s required at the junior grade playing in the senior championship. That brings the standard down, and, in the process, frustrating the players who have moved with the times and set the bar high for themselves.

*Have you a question or comment or would you like something to be highlighted in this column? If so, e-mail: supervalusam@gmail.com.