Roscommon were very competitive [against Mayo last year] and have been competitive for a while.
At underage it's much talked about but for me it's about now for Roscommon.
They've been promoted from Division 2 so they have done everything they've needed to do this year.
Have they progressed from last year? Yes, I would say is the answer. So, in theory they should be more competitive this year if you play it out that way.
But what Roscommon need to look at is Markievicz Park. I know John Evans before the Division 2 league final was very coy and very low key and after the final, when they won it, was very boisterous about Roscommon's chances as All-Ireland contenders.
John is a confident guy and was projecting a strong image for Roscommon. But that will be music to all the Sligo guys' ears and down to Markievicz Park, Sligo have a couple of streaky forwards. They've Ross Donovan in the back that you never want to meet and they have a couple of new debutants that no one is really sure of how strong or good they are.
So Roscommon's focus certainly needs to be on Saturday night and not potentially playing Mayo in the Connacht final.
Ross Donovan ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
There are four or five teams that have been consistently competitive for the last number of years that are up there and there's a couple of teams like the Monaghans and Corks that I've mentioned before that are trying to break into that Top 4. Roscommon are a bit off that yet but they are hungry and ambitious and they've got a confident manager.
But they have a bit to go yet and if they happen to beat Sligo on Saturday, they've got a Mayo team that is seasoned, ambitious and still hungry.
So they have their work cut out to make progress in Connacht this year.
James was speaking on Off The Ball and will be part of our commentary team for Sligo v Roscommon tomorrow.
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