‘We want a big performance in Croke Park’

With promotion to Division 1 in the bag, Roscommon senior football manager Anthony Cunningham is demanding a big performance from his side in this Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 2 final against Galway at Croke Park (1.45).

The Rossies sealed their elevation to the top flight for next year with victory over already promoted Galway at Dr Hyde Park last Sunday (see report in this week's Westmeath Independent).

“It was easier for us to get up for the game than Galway, they are harder games when your through, but for us we’re delighted,’’ Cunningham said afterwards.

“Galway beat us in the last couple of games, league and championship, so we wanted to put that right,” continued the Roscommon manager.

Next Sunday in Croke Park both sides will do it all again, this time in the Division 2 league final.

“We wouldn’t have sat down or discussed it yet, but for us we always want to be competitive, and it’s a really big match, a good match to get ahead of the championship, so we’ll go up with respect to try and win it,” said the former St Brigid’s and Garrycastle manager.

“We want a big performance in Croke Park as past results there haven’t been good. For us to go the next step has to be to perform at a high level in Croke Park,” said Cunningham.

After Sunday’s league final, Roscommon will have a few weeks before their meeting with Sligo in the Connacht championship. “It’s fitting in nicely, we’ll want to be getting on our guard, because Sligo had a good performance today (against Leitrim) scoring freely, and they’re going to be very difficult in Markievicz Park,’’ the Galway native said.

Cunningham and his backroom team are entitled to be happy with how their squad performed in the league. Roscommon used more players than in the last couple years, with some changes enforced in the earlier rounds due to the absence of Padraig Pearses and St Faithleach’s players.

“The players we brought in and the newer players have blossomed. Maybe the fact we were missing club players has given an opportunity for these players. It’s all about development and development in Division One is where you want to be ultimately and players have to develop as we go on,’’ Cunningham said.

The Division 2 final between Roscommon and Galway will be followed by the Division 1 decider between Kerry and Mayo (throw-in 4pm).