Roscommon’s level of football ‘went a little bit under the radar’: Burke

Roscommon manager Davy Burke was pleased that his players earned a victory over a big team, something he believed their performances have merited.

"It's huge. They've been playing for Roscommon for a long, long time and they needed a result like today," he said, after the game.

“They needed to go out and do that and perform and beat a top team and that's what they've done today. I thought it was a good performance, it was fairly controlled from minute one to minute 70-odd, so yeah it was a nice one. Anytime Tyrone got back to (within) two or three or whatever it was, we always got one and I felt it was hopefully going to be enough. We played them here in the National League in the first round and we watched Tyrone's forwards kick points for fun in and around the 'D. One thing we said we wouldn't leave here today was (to) let that happen and I'm delighted (the players) showed that,’’ Burke

Speaking immediately after the win, and before the identity of Roscommon's quarter final opponents was known, Burke said: “We'll go to Croke Park full of confidence, two wins in a row having lost a number of games in a row. But we were playing a very high level of football for a long time and I think that went a little bit under the radar the level of football we were playing.

"We've lovely forwards and isn't it a great thing today that we've lovely forwards combined with a nice defensive plan," he said.

“Because it's easy to have lovely forwards but when we close down the 'D' as well, it was a lovely plan and fair play to the boys. David Murray is every bit as important as Daire Cregg to me anyway," the clearly delighted Roscommon manager said.