Gavin Cummiskey talks to manager Tom Carr about Roscommon's goals for the season and how they can build on last year's success
After last year's thrilling championship run through the All-Ireland qualifiers, expectations in Roscommon have gone up a notch. Thoughts of their last All-Ireland win, in 1943, were quickly extinguished by Kerry in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final but victories over Cork and Kildare mean that anything less than another good showing will lead to internal dissent.
"We have expectations for ourselves as well," said manager Tom Carr. "After last year people in the county have every right to expect something from us. I have expectations myself of the players.
"We want to gain promotion from Division Two and win the Connacht championship. These are the two initial goals that we would aspire to. They are working very hard at present towards this."
Carr has changed the reputation that Roscommon players had managed to acquire. Discipline became the key word last year as players were forced to adapt to the new regime.
"Everyone has their own ways but the systems are well established now. In fairness, the fellas have been excellent and have applied themselves. You see, they want to do it for themselves now."
The reward for that endeavour came when Frankie Dolan landed that score, his 13th of the game - which really should have guaranteed him an All-Star - in the dying seconds of the fourth-round qualifier against Kildare last July. Extra time followed and eventually a date with Kerry at Croke Park.
Cork, Leitrim, Offaly, Kildare was the tough route they had to take after a first-round defeat to Galway in Connacht.
On paper at least, this year the path is not as difficult. Galway are on the other side of the draw with a transitional Sligo and Leitrim standing in their way of a final spot.
They can learn a valuable lesson from their neighbours in Sligo, however, who were unable to capitalise on a 2002 quarter-final appearance last summer.
"It's something we're conscious of," continues Carr. "The second year is always worse than the first, we know we have to build on what we did. Other teams have more respect for us now. It will be harder now as they will all want to beat us."
Despite a one-point defeat to Limerick last week in a challenge match, preparation has been progressive.
The long-awaited holiday was taken two months ago, to Thailand, so Carr's men weren't going "on the tear" in January when pre-season training should be reaching its zenith.
A few extra ingredients will be added to the established melting pot, starting on Saturday evening (5.0) in the Connacht Senior League match against Sligo IT, as Strokestown's John Rogers has been included at wing forward.
However, the main concern is the fitness levels of some old hands. Dolan hurt his back lifting weights but is expected to start, Stephen Lohan damaged his eye and will not be considered and Gary Cox is hoping his tight hamstring will loosen in time.
Whether Carr can turn this hardy side into a team capable of feasting at the top table will be revealed this year but a Connacht championship title would placate the faithful.
After that, talk of 1943 would be unavoidable once more.
ROSCOMMON (SF v Sligo IT ): D Lennon; J White, D Casey, M Ryan; M Byrne, F Grehan, P Noone; S O'Neill, B Higgins; J Rogers, J Hanley, G Cox; F Dolan, K Mannion, J Dunning.
