Flynn hopes O"Donnell factor can drive Rossies to victory

ROSCOMMON"S David Flynn believes the Fergal O"Donnell factor could help spring his county into the semi-finals of this year"s Connacht Senior Football Championship. Clonown"s Flynn is likely to start for Roscommon in Sunday"s quarter-final meeting against Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon (3.30pm), with a semi-final berth against Mayo awaiting the victors. Despite the fact Roscommon go into the match with several injury problems, Flynn believes Roscommon will show 'pride in the jersey' this weekend in a bid to overcome Leitrim, who now have a management team of Mickey Moran and John Morrison. Moran, of course, has previously managed his native Derry, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo, who he led to the All-Ireland final in 2006. Roscommon have had disappointing results in the championship in recent years and a trip to Carrick-on-Shannon presents a difficult assignment on paper. Flynn said: 'Championship matches are always tough no matter who you"re up against, but a lot of the older lads have been saying that Carrick-on-Shannon is a very difficult place to go and get a result. But we"re looking forward to the challenge and our dressing room is a very positive place to be at the moment.' 'Things have been going really well under Fergal O"Donnell and I think everyone in the camp has been impressed by the manager. There"s an awful lot of hard work taking place behind the scenes to get the best Roscommon footballers on the pitch and representing the county to the best of their ability. We will give it everything we have on Sunday and show real pride in the jersey. Pride in the jersey is something the manager always drives into players and hopefully this will help us get a good result on Sunday,' continued the Clann na nGael player. Leitrim, of course, were previously managed by Dessie Dolan Snr. The winners of Sunday"s match will face Mayo in the semi-finals. Flynn added: 'We have to take things one game at a time. Obviously the prospect of playing Mayo in a semi-final is fairly mouthwatering but it"s a long time away yet.' Other locally based players that could feature in Sunday"s match include St Brigid"s trio Peter Domican, Senan Kilbride and Karol Mannion, as well as Clann na nGael"s Donie Shine. Roscommon though, have been slightly rocked ahead of the game with the news that experienced midfielder Seamus O"Neill has been ruled out for the season. The bad news on the injury front does not end there for Fergal O"Donnell, as Cathal Cregg and David Casey are also set to miss out with leg injuries. O"Neill ruptured his Achilles tendon and will play no further part in the Roscommon"s championship campaign. O"Donnell has admitted the loss of midfield talisman O"Neill is a big blow given the size of his squad, but said it was one they had to absorb ahead of the clash with Leitrim. 'It"s a big blow as we have a small squad but it is just something we have to deal with,' O"Donnell said.