When Down and Roscommon met earlier this year in the National League, Roscommon were struggling both on and off the field but a win in the Connacht Final against Galway changed all that and according to Roscommon PRO Cáit Kenny, preparations for the Down game are now going well. “Preparations have been going well. We have succeeded in getting a trainer since the Galway game, before that we were struggling to get a manager, but Michael Concar came on board in May 2004. Prior to that we were managerless for the League campaign and as a result we did not get on very well.

We had no confidence and were struggling to keep numbers at matches and we practically didn't train at all. In the run-up to the Connacht final we played a number of challenge matches and that stood to us on the day. Now that Ronnie Kennedy is with us we have consistent numbers at training and are much better prepared for the Down game than we were when we met them in the League”

So can Roscommon beat Down? “The team playing on Sunday week will be a lot different (from league encounter) and we feel that we have a good chance.”

Paul Welsh
Fairplay sport and leisure
PEIL one sport one passion
E-mail: info@fairplay.ie
Web: www.fairplay.ie