‘We are going to give it everything we have’

These are exciting times around Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara.

After St. Aidan’s claimed their first county Junior A title in 60 years less than two weeks ago, the Four Roads senior hurlers will be keen to maintain the feelgood factor when they take on Tooreen in the Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final this Saturday at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park (throw-in is at 1.30 p.m).

Although the Four Roads ladies’ football team narrowly lost their Connacht junior quarter-final, seeing three county titles in the area is a huge source of pride. For Four Roads manager Micheál Kelly, the objective now is to build on that momentum.

“The lads have had a good couple of weeks between the hurling and getting the win in the football. We have no injury issues, which was a big worry in the build-up. On our side, we are going to give it everything we have and see where it takes us.

“For a small parish, to have three county finals won in the one year is massive. We are lucky enough that when we get the chances, we generally take them.

“The lads are in good form, which is what you want. Tooreen are on the go the last few years, have appeared in two All-Ireland finals and should have probably won the two of them, so we know we have a huge task ahead but the lads are there on merit. We will give it a right go and see where it takes us,” he noted.

It has been 11 years since a Roscommon club last claimed a victory in the Connacht intermediate championship. Tooreen have proven stubborn foe for Four Roads in recent years, but the talent exists within Roscommon, it is just a matter of a team from the county putting all the pieces together, according to Kelly.

“Representing your county when you are in the provincial championships, it is a huge honour. At that stage, it takes a lot of work. There was nothing between a lot of the teams in Roscommon. That in itself (winning the county title) was a big achievement for the boys but to represent your county is massive. For Roscommon hurling too, you want to do your best.

“Recent years haven’t been a true reflection of the hurling that is in Roscommon. Some results haven’t been great over the years. The lads are there in the county, but it is about putting it all together, getting them out and really going at it.

“Roscommon is a proud hurling county, and everyone is doing their best to keep everything going with underage and everything. We want to really represent Roscommon well the next day,” he stated.

So, how do Four Roads go about upsetting the odds?

“We have to play to our full potential. We know we have hit good standards but not for a sustained period in a game. We are looking for 60 to 65 minutes of us playing our best hurling.

“In terms of how we go about winning it, we will need to get our match-ups right. Some will work, some may not. That is the game of hurling.

“Tooreen have been there plenty of times before. We will be massive underdogs. On the day if our lads perform, I think we will be there or thereabouts. Our lads are excited and looking forward to it,” he concluded.