New league adventure begins for Roscommon
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
The Roscommon team pictured earlier this year before their game with Sligo IT Sr0335
NEXT Sunday Roscommon get the 2010 season underway in earnest with a home game against Cavan to start the 2010 national football league. With Division three status secured last year the goal of many Roscommon supporters will be for the team to push for promotion this time around. That may not be as simple as many people expect with the high calibre on show this year. Apart from Cavan, Louth and Offaly from last time out there are new editions in Sligo and Antrim from Division Four while coming down from Division two are the impressive Fermanagh and Wexford, who Roscommon faced in two classic championship matches last year. These four teams as well as those who remained will make it a very interesting league for Fergal O'Donnell's men.
Each game will have an air of championship about it. Roscommon's first game is against Cavan, a team who Roscommon have struggled with in recent years. Next up will be Fermanagh, a Saturday night game in Enniskillen. Fermanagh have been an improving team in recent years and manager Malachy O'Rourke will have his team in good form following their McKenna cup exploits.
Third on the list is Offaly. An easy win for Roscommon last year hastened the departure of Richie Connor. This year Tom Cribben has moulded together a young side capable of big things and the return of the Coughlan brothers to their native county could not have come at a better time for the faithful county.
The Sunday before St Patrick's Day will be interesting as Antrim come to town. It also could lead to headaches as Roscommon are due to face Mayo in the first round of the Connacht under 21 championship a couple of days later. Antrim were promoted from Division Four last year and while they were beaten by Armagh in the McKenna cup, they did defeat Derry.
Everyone who made the trip to Drogheda last year will remember one of Roscommon's finest games when they defeated Louth. This time Louth come here and they will be out to avenge that defeat. They have also had a good run in the O'Byrne cup.
The final two games are sure to be exciting and the timing could not be better. First of those two games will be Wexford, a repeat of the qualifier last year. While Roscommon can point to it as an important result there are many near the Slaney who feel that they were not firing on all cylinders and as the championship gets ever nearer, they will be out to change that result. The final league game of this series is in Markievicz Park. With the Connacht championship just around the corner and Roscommon's game even closer due to the trip to London, this game will be vital in all sorts of ways as Roscommon prepare for their championship debut in Ruislip.
Hopefully a place in the league final will also be up for grabs at that time also giving Roscommon supporters the ultimate early present.
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