Sligo v Roscommon is our live game on Off The Ball tonight with Oisin Langan, James Horan and Anthony Moyles on commentary and analysis.
It was the 2010 Connacht final when these two sides last met in Championship. Sligo had overcome Connacht giants Galway and Mayo to set up a Connacht final not featuring Galway or Mayo since 1947. Roscommon a side who was beginning to convert underage success into a competitive outfit. Sligo entered the final as favourites but an inspired Donie Shine kicked Roscommon to a 0-14 to 0-13 win to bring Nestor back to Roscommon after a nine-year gap.
Since then Roscommon have dominated U21 football, winning four of the last six provincials. Sligo however have struggled for any success at underage level. The difference in the underage structures in each county is beginning to show. In 2010 Sligo gained promotion to Division two of the Allianz football league and Roscommon were relegated to Division four. Since then however Roscommon have found themselves promoted in three of the five league campaigns and are now in Division One whereas Sligo now find themselves in Division Three.
The tides have truly turned but will Sligo be able to pull of the upset Roscommon did in 2010
Campaigns so far
Sligo
Neil Carew’s charges had a mixed league campaign down in Division Three. Opening their league campaign with three straight losses, against Clare, Fermanagh and Limerick, left Sligo in an early relegation battle and new manager Niall Carew under pressure. Sligo picked things up however and recorded wins in three of their last four games. Sligo are coming into this championship match cold however as they are going to be the last side involved in the All-Ireland series after an 11 week break.
Roscommon
John Evans’ men achieved their second promotion in two years after another impressive league campaign. Roscommon registered four wins two losses and a draw to secure their place amongst the elite in Division 1 and went on to capture the Division 2 title in Croke Park with a 5 point win against Down. Roscommon have already been involved in the Connacht championship when they travelled to Ruislip to face London. Overcoming a potential banana skin London with seven points to spare leaves the Rossies in good form coming into this provincial semi final.
Both sides’ attacking nature
Under Carew in the league, Sligo were the most potent attackers throughout all four Divisions averaging over 17 points a game. Mark Breheny and Adrian Marren alone notched up 72 points between them throughout the League campaign.
Marren for the third year in row nothing up 35 points plus during the league. Along with David Kelly, who with the right ball is unplayable, Sligo have an inside forward line that could cause any side problems.
Roscommon like Sligo had a scoring rate above sixteen points a game but also like Sligo had a tendency to concede big scores averaging sixteen points conceded throughout the League. The Murtagh brothers and Senan Kilbride in their full-forward line make them a threat to any county with the likes of Cathal Cregg and Enda Smith also in their attacking repertoire Roscommon will not be short of attacking options.
Senan Kilbride ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Tactics
Sligo as I said have two very good inside forwards in Kelly and Marren and Carew utilises this by dropping his full forward, in the case of this Saturday Pat Hughes, out to the middle of the park to create space. This also helps sligo solidify their defence which is why they conceded only four goals throughout the League campaign.
Roscommon can avail of two options, like Sligo they might drop Senan Kilbride out to the middle of the park if John Evans feels the midfield battle is getting away from them but that is unlikely. Evans will keep his three man full forward line and hope to utilise Kilbrides aerial ability to set up score for the Murtaghs.
The Midfield battle
This is something that is said all too often but with two sides that are good going forward it is ultimately who has the most possession as to who will come out on top. Midfield has been a problem area in recent years for Sligo and Carew tried out a number of partnerships throughout the league but finally settled on Niall Murphy and Cian Breheny in the middle of the park.
Breheny is making his championship debut and Murphy has only ever played as a forward for Sligo in championship. Hughes dropping down the pitch it should give them the chance to get on plenty of ball around the middle of the park.
Roscommon have a very physical partnership in Ian Kilbride and Cathal Shine who can dominate games. Shine showed against Down and London that there are very few players who can compete with him in the air. If Sligo do drop a man back it will be up to Shine and Kilbride to make sure they retain possession and that their half-backs get their hands on breaking ball.
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