Tough Tyrone test looks like being a bridge too far
Roscommon's Eoin McCormack with Tyrone's Seanie O'Donnell during the sides' Division One Football League meeting in Omagh last January. Picture: INPHO/John McVitty
If the reaction to last Monday morning’s draw on social media is anything to go by, then Roscommon shouldn’t bother turning up in Omagh this (Saturday) evening at 5 p.m..
The draw for the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals, which pitted Davy Burke’s men against the 2021 All-Ireland champions, is just about as tough as it gets.
In many ways, the wheel has come full circle as Roscommon will return to the scene of their opening Division One League game at the end of January when a commanding second-half performance by Tyrone left Davy Burke’s men nursing a 0-17 to 1-11 defeat. Roscommon subsequently never made up that lost ground.
Afterwards, Burke highlighted the absence of 12 players, including the suspended Enda Smith and the St. Brigid’s players (apart from Robbie Dolan) who were recovering from their All-Ireland club final defeat a week earlier.
A goal by Cian Connolly that was ruled out incorrectly for a square ball also drew the manager’s ire — a decision that set the tone for Roscommon’s season where the vast majority of calls don’t appear to have gone their way.
A trip to Omagh might be in line with following that long list of hard luck stories, but it's worth remembering that Roscommon have drawn Clare and Cork the last two years, teams they should have beaten, and didn't make it count. In other words, they were due one of the toughest draws going.
Tyrone have been no great shakes this year but they’re building some momentum on the back of two victories against Clare and Cork. They’ll see Roscommon as a similar standard, so there will have been plenty of confidence in the Tyrone camp this week.
But Roscommon are coming off the back of a much-needed victory against Cavan. What that does for the mindset ahead of this game will be crucial.
Do Roscommon have the defenders to mark the Canavan brothers? Can Roscommon limit the influence of goalkeeper Niall Morgan who is often the launchpad for so many Tyrone attacks?
The news that Tyrone midfielder Conn Kilpatrick has been successful in appealing his two-match ban as a result of the red card he received against Cork is a huge boost to the Red Hand County's prospects.
Davy Burke was bullish in his assessment that Roscommon were as good as any team left in the draw following last Saturday evening’s six-point victory against a Cavan side that brought the Red Hand County to extra time in the Ulster championship.
That theory is about to be rigorously examined. There’s little doubt that Roscommon have the forwards to trouble Tyrone, but can they sustain the effort required to remain in contention over 70 minutes in the bear pit of Healy Park?
It’s a massive ask, and while Roscommon are capable of delivering their best performance of the season, it still might not be enough.
