Syferus wrote: » Minors beat Mayo 2-20 to 1-02 in their opening Connacht Minor League fixture tonight in Chatlestown too, gracelessly played by Mayo at same time as the U21 match, preventing the minor panel and management going to the U21 game. Serves 'em right. The U21s' passing was a delight tonight. With so many injuries and non-match fit key players it was a really solid performance, but not without its rough spots, particularly letting a 13 man Galway maintain hope until the death with a lazy goal concession. More reason to keep the lads grounded and focused on Sligo.
Renegade1 wrote: » Interesting to see no cathal shine named on the bench for Sunday?
megadodge wrote: » Yeah, I just heard that. I wonder what the story is, because longterm his physicality is absolutely vital to Roscommon around the midfield area?
Syferus wrote: » McStay-FOD not willing to play players who aren't fully fit. Shine is over his injury but still needs time to reach IC levels of fitness. Keenan apparently told the same after his travels meant he only got back about a month ago. I imagine both will have key roles to play in the summer. Management are building a team that is chosen on merit and that's absolutely excellent to see.
Renegade1 wrote: » hearing slightly different today that Shine just isn't training that well/hard and its more of a selection choice than fitness RE C.Shine! was told today Keenan isn't too far off the required fitness levels and will be part of the match day panel soon! any thoughts on James McDermott? big follower of the club championship for the last couple of years but don't recognise the name to be honest!
Renegade1 wrote: » any thoughts on James McDermott? big follower of the club championship for the last couple of years but don't recognise the name to be honest!
Deleted User wrote: » Nice win again for Roscommon, they will be favourites for the Connacht title at this stage.
Syferus wrote: » Lol. Great win today, some fantastic football and some good defending to boot. Team looks utterly fearless now and that's great to see. Should be some crowd for the Mayo match in the Hyde now.
Deleted User wrote: » Its easy keep Mayo 30 metres out and we can't score, no capable forwards. Roscommon could do some real damage to the Mayo team morale, McStay will love the payback.
Renegade1 wrote: » a great win yesterday really impressed with how organised we were, how we pressed up on the kick outs and were constantly communicating. our tackling and foot passing has greatly improved since last year and it is really paying off. Niall Daly was hugely impressive in my opinion gave us a great engine from midfield. Seanie Purcell brings a lot of calm in the centre half back position and he controlled that area of the field for me yesterday. I thought David Murray was outstanding yesterday linking play, tackling, organising etc. i was really really impressed with our work rate yesterday and in the previous games. it reminds me of the minors in 06. One thing i have noticed at the few trainings i have seen and all the games is David Casey in the line. he is organising a lot of the defensive work with McHale and I am hugely impressed with him. He is very calm on the line constantly advising the players and it is working extremely well! the thing is we are still missing Donie and C.Shine, Niall carty, D.Murtagh, Ian Kilbride was out yesterday and Higgins and Keenan will be two more additions. we have never had a more competitive and well rounded squad! I presume c. Cafferky is out for the year (ACL)?
Renegade1 wrote: » will be interesting to see how Donie Smith goes at senior level looked very impressive at u21 level but just hasn't progressed at Senior level just yet. What is the story with Corcoran at the minute? too old for U21 isn't he? is he training with the senior panel I haven't heard! thoughts on Muloolly anyone? i know he is playing at full back but watching him the other night the way he carried the ball and drove forward i believe he might make the break through in the half back line! he reminded me of the way Karl Lacey plays aggression, strength and pace with the ball carrying skills to match!
megadodge wrote: » I still think the half-back line is our weakest line. I know midfield is struggling with injuries etc. but at least the potential is there when everyone's fit. I'm not convinced with the half-backs. I like Seanie Purcell's and David Murray's aggressiveness, but it's only in the last two matches that Murray's fouling has calmed down. Whether that's experience or coaching I'm not sure, but until he consistently harries, hassles and shadows without fouling I'll have my doubts. I think in the white heat of championship Stack is too light and while I think Conor Daly is an excellent footballer with ball in hand, his defending is just so-so. The same can be said about Niall, who had a stormer the last day, but that's because he was freed up from defensive duties. I don't want to sound harsh on lads who are currently doing a great job, but we need to remember it's championship that counts and that's when we'll see what the half-backs are made of. I honestly hope to God I'm a million miles off and they all go on to get All-stars, but I've seen them all playing often enough to feel as I do.
Syferus wrote: » What? McHale is a selector and an important one at that but McStay's influence is massive. Even Fergie's own teams were no where near as adventurous as we are right now. Reminds me of Brigids under McStay. High press up the field, smart kick-outs, a focus on kick passing. Also McStay had Peter Domican, Stack Donnelly, Cunniffe and Grehan in that defence - the first a class IC defender, the second is an IC defender and the later three real leaders and excellent club defenders. He was blessed with one of the best defences in club football. I think you're way off base there. McHale and Casey together have done excellently in their coaching roles but in the end it's the guys at the top that have empowered the style of player and the approach we're using. McStay and FOD look as a good a pairing in reality as they did on paper. Hopefully we stick with them through the ups and downs for the four years. Best management I've seen for our county team in my lifetime. Also the Mayo CB leaked the McHale story to cover their asses. It's very questionable if it's even true. McHale is usually solemn in media interviews and isn't out to attack any players. Megadodge, I feel the Dalys are too good not to feature. You can teach them to be better defenders but it's hard to teach any player the skill they have as footballers. Conor and Niall are easily among the 15 best footballers in the county for me. Both more suited to wing back or HF than a central HB role. When you add in Ronan and players like Keenan and Carty to come back I think we've a pack of players in that area that if coached correctly can form one of our beat lines on the field. And Caff will be back in 2017. I think it's the middle that's still the big unknown and the continual sore thumb in the team. Only in 2014 with Cathal Shine and Kevin Higgins both fit have we even looked close to dominant in the middle and there's no assurances that magic can be recaptured. Corcoran and Compton will need time to adapt to senior. That's where teams will try to target us. Doesn't matter if you have the best defensive HB like in Ireland if their men are repeatedly getting ball right on top of them.
Pique wrote: » Is the Hyde good for the game on Sunday, does anyone know?
yabadabado wrote: » Yeah it has to be .Been perfect weather the last 10 days so unless there is extremely poor conditions this week it will be fine.
Pique wrote: » This week isn't promised great but hopefully nothing torrential.
yabadabado wrote: » Its not supposed to be great with rain promised the next few days but the pitch wasnt in that bad of shape 2 weeks ago. A person I spoke to that had walked both The Hyde and Pearse Pk reckons the Hyde was pretty similar and could have held down game but they didnt want to risk it.Plenty of maintenance work done on it the last 2 weeks.
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