Roscommon not just making up the numbers

At the start of the year the Roscommon minor ladies’ footballers designed two wall charts.

One is a list of “Non Negotiables.” It is, in essence, a rulebook designed by the players for themselves. Key items include being focused, using positive communication and creating an environment where excuses don’t exist.

The other chart is a list of Team Objectives. These objectives are broken down into three sections: Performance, Identity and Standards. These contain much of what intercounty managers talk about but yet simply must be embedded in any successful team.

One eye-catching feature of this chart is the use of the phrase “We are not here to make up the numbers.” Another phrase written at the very bottom of the page stands out. They are the last words a player would see before any training session or game and perfectly encapsulates Trevor Clohessy and his management team’s approach to this campaign, so much so that it is written in all capital letters: “WE’RE HERE TO WIN.” 

Clohessy states his side have achieved every goal to date ahead of Thursday evening's last four clash against Down at Kingspan Breffni (throw-in at 7.30 p.m.), with just reaching an All-Ireland final berth left to complete.

“We had Jenny Higgins in to give us a talk at the start of the year and the first thing she noticed was the objectives for the year. That is laminated up on the wall at every training session as are our ten non-negotiables. As soon as the boots are on, we are focused and as soon as the Roscommon jersey is on we go and fight for it. The one thing that is left on the chart to achieve is to reach an All-Ireland final,” he stated.

The Cooraclare native states there is a burning desire within the group to reach the county’s first All-Ireland Minor A final since 1991 and set up a crack at Cork or Dublin.

“I think there is a real appetite to do something that hasn’t been done in a long time and get into an A final. I think this will be a shootout between ourselves and Down. We will just keep the girls focused on training and they know they have a job to do.

“We have a huge belief in these girls to do the job. They have never let us down and when the time comes and the ball is thrown up, their minds will be focused on one thing and one thing only and that is getting over the finish line and in to the All-Ireland final,” Clohessy noted.

These are exciting times for Roscommon LGFA. With the county’s U-16 team preparing for an All-Ireland final and the intermediate side just one win away from a place in Croke Park, competing in a national decider, there is real hope that there will be three teams competing in All-Ireland finals this month.

For Clohessy, who previously guided Galway to All-Ireland U-14 glory and was part of the Tribeswomen’s senior backroom team when they reached the All-Ireland final in 2024, seeing this group reach an A final would be a seminal moment.

“The ladies' teams have picked up the baton from the lads and there is a great feeling within the county that we are still all there or thereabouts. Potentially, ourselves and the intermediate ladies are one win away from an All-Ireland final, which would be an incredible feat. The girls will push it to the nth degree to reach that All-Ireland final. All of our focus is on Down but to reach that All-Ireland final would be one of my biggest achievements,” he concluded.