'The games come thick and fast, it is tough going' — Moran

Shane Moran is looking no further than the first game of this year’s championship as Roscommon open their defence of the Tom Kilcoyne Cup against Sligo in Tubbercurry on Friday evening (throw-in at 5 p.m.).

Once again, Roscommon will face four games on consecutive Fridays, with a trip to Mayo in the third round sandwiched between home games against Galway and Leitrim.

Last season, Moran’s charges had most of the heavy lifting done by pretty much guaranteeing their place in the final by the time they played Leitrim in the final group game. So momentum is the key in the Roscommon manager’s eyes, and that’s why a good performance is imperative against the Yeats County on Friday evening.

“We know that we’ll be playing a really good Sligo team. Owenie Coyle is their manager, he was their U-16 manager last year. They played some really good games in the Leinster Development League.

“Ryan Lang, Eanna Giblin and Jason Davey played against us last year — all fine footballers. James Mitchell from Ballaghaderreen is involved with them. He was a Mayo minor coach when they won the All-Ireland in 2013, so I expect them to be really well drilled.

“But the aim is to be competitive and try and win the first game. Win that, and you go into the second game against Galway with a bit of confidence. If you don’t, it’s a case of backs to the wall as you’ll have to win your second game,” he assessed.

Nine from last year’s panel are still eligible for the U-17 grade, including captain Tadgh Fallon — younger brother of St. Brigid’s and Roscommon senior footballer Ruaidhrí — vice-captains Seamie Carthy and Conor Tighe, Colm Fitzgerald, Enda Browne and Jack Brooks.

Goalkeeper Zac Mullally from Clann na nGael was also on board last year, while Jack Lally and Josh Coyne are among this year’s new additions.

“Those lads gained a good experience last year, playing to a high level. We’re hoping they can use that experience to help us push on and be competitive.

“We’ve had a good few months of training since we started back in January. Getting pitches has been a challenge, given the weather we’ve had. But I think we only missed one Thursday night where it lashed rain for the whole day.

“A large part of that is down to the work of Shay Galvin (Minor Board Chairperson) and Marian Kelly (Secretary) helping us out getting pitches here, there and everywhere.

“We’ve had five challenge games against really good teams. We won a few and we’ve lost a few. You don’t know really where you’re at properly until you get stuck into the championship. Friday against Sligo will tell the tale in terms of how the work has gone.

“But we’ve a clean bill of health. The lads have trained hard and trained well. The aim is to be competitive on Friday and see where that takes us,” he explained.

With 35 players from 16 clubs, squad depth is going to be pivotal as Roscommon target a place in at least a semi-final.

“It’s very attritional on U-17 players. You play your game on a Friday, you’re recovering on a Sunday morning and then trying to do something meaningful on a Tuesday night. Then you have a couple of days to get ready for Friday again.

“The games come thick and fast, it is tough going. It worked out okay for us last year but, ideally, you’d have a week off somewhere. We don’t, but we’re not going to use it as an excuse. We’ll just get on with it. If you want to be competitive, you have to try and beat them all.

“It really is one game at a time. It’s a brand new crop of players for everybody. We don’t know a whole pile about the other teams. We do know that Connacht is competitive. I expect Galway to be back strongly this year.

“Ultimately, however, you’re looking to bring four or five players into next year’s U-20 squad. We did that last year, and that’s how we ultimately gauge our success. If you pick up a bit of silverware along the line, that’s a bonus,” he concluded.

PANEL: Mikey McTeigue (Ballinameen), Bobby Lenehan (Clann na nGael), Zac Mullaly (Clann na nGael), Luke Glennon (Clann na nGael), Aaron Martin (Clann na nGael), Cronan McLoughlin (Elphin), Dara Kelleher (Kilbride), Jack Lally (Kilbride), Shane Carroll (Kilmore), Jack Brooks (Pádraig Pearses), Enda Browne (Pádraig Pearses), Dylan Goode (Pádraig Pearses), Seamus Carthy (Roscommon Gaels, vice-captain), Daniel Nerney (Roscommon Gaels), Eoin Naughton (Roscommon Gaels), Joseph McSharry (Roscommon Gaels), Dara Killeen (Roscommon Gaels), Sam Walsh (Roscommon Gaels), Cathal Nerney (Roscommon Gaels), Rossa O’Dowd (Shannon Gaels), Tadgh Fallon (St. Brigid’s, captain), Jack Sammon (St. Brigid’s), Jamie Doyle (St. Brigid’s), Joshua Coyne (St. Brigid’s), Donnchadh O’Dwyer (St. Brigid’s), James O’Brien (St. Brigid’s), Jayden Concannon (St. Aidan’s), Cillian McGowan (St. Barry’s), Ronan Carr (St. Ciaran’s), Tom Óg Reddington (St. Ciaran’s), Colm Fitzgerald (St. Dominic’s), Seán Duggan (St. Dominic’s), Conor Cryan (St. Michael’s), Conor Tighe (Strokestown, vice-captain), Jayden Jennings (Tulsk Lord Edwards).

Management: Manager, Shane Moran (Roscommon Gaels); Head Coach, Niall Carty (Pádraig Pearses); Coaches, Padraig Kelly (Pádraig Pearses) and Colm Garvey (Kilmore), Strength and Conditioning, David Hession; Physio, Méabh Smith; Analysis, James O'Boyle, Ollie Moran and Philip Craig; Maor Uisce, Patrick Walsh and Kiefer Craig; Kit, Robbie Glennon and Kieran Glennon.