Football

Revolutionary Roscommon may still be edged out by Tyrone

Tyrone thrashed Roscommon in Croke Park at the same stage a year ago - but a packed Dr Hyde Park will be a different matter. Pic Seamus Loughran
Tyrone thrashed Roscommon in Croke Park at the same stage a year ago - but a packed Dr Hyde Park will be a different matter. Pic Seamus Loughran Tyrone thrashed Roscommon in Croke Park at the same stage a year ago - but a packed Dr Hyde Park will be a different matter. Pic Seamus Loughran

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals Group Two, Phase One: Roscommon v Tyrone (Dr Hyde Park, 5pm this evening)

REVOLUTION not evolution has brought Roscommon back to the Super Eights at the first attempt – and their second go may take them into the last four.

This opener is likely to be crucial to those chances of reaching an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 1991.

Defeat could mean the Red Hands effectively slamming the door shut to bar the Rossies' progress, as they did at the very same stage last year.

A major difference this time, of course, is the venue.

Tyrone thrashed Roscommon by 18 points in Croke Park. On their own patch, however, the primrose and blue will believe they can flourish.

There are other important changed factors too.

The hosts are under the new management of Anthony Cunningham and the side he will send out this evening is literally 'a different Roscommon team', perhaps with eight or more changes in starting personnel from a year ago to the day tomorrow.

Kerry native Conor Cox has been the star newbie but others to force their way in have played huge parts – Conor and Ronan Daly joining their brother Niall in a much steelier rear-guard, along with Conor Hussey, in front of Darren O'Malley in nets.

Another boost at the back has been the return of Sean Mullooly after he took last year out to focus on exams and then go to the USA. The Strokestown man impressed as an attacking centre half-back against Tyrone in the 2017 Division One opener, but he's been switched to full-back with significant success.

Further forward Shane Killoran has established himself in midfield while Hubert Darcy appears set to keep last year's captain, Conor Devaney, out of the starting side.

The Roscommon attack includes more familiar faces, but Cox has added some sparkle alongside Diarmuid Murtagh, with Enda Smith and Niall Kilroy offered goal-scoring threat from deeper positions.

Cathal Cregg does that too – and also pulls the strings, although Tyrone will feel they can curtail the Western Gaels clubman.

Much has been made of the Red Hands' 'reversion' to a deep defensive approach since the poor performance in their Ulster semi-final defeat by Donegal.

However, although they obviously aren't as much altered as Roscommon, Tyrone aren't quite the same as last year either, despite some arguments to the contrary.

Injury effectively ended Cathal McCarron's Tyrone career in that Croke Park encounter and since then there's been a battle for a place in the full-back line.

Hugh Pat McGeary replaced McCarron that day and has become a fairly regular starter, but Michael McKernan has slipped out of the starting side since the Longford qualifier, with Rory Brennan replacing him.

Mickey Harte may not have to consider bringing back Tiernan McCann, free from suspension but still troubled by the injury he sustained against Donegal.

Yet although Kieran McGeary merits being a starter, there are question marks around his role in defence, but the temptation to hand the versatile Padraig Hampsey a start after injury is likely to be resisted.

The key change for Tyrone this year has involved the role of Cathal McShane.

The Owen Roe's clubman was the star of the U21 team which defeated Roscommon en route to winning the 2015 All-Ireland at that level, but it's only this season that he's really demonstrated his talent on the senior stage.

A midfielder four years ago, McShane has become Tyrone's talismanic target man. So far in this Championship he's scored 2-30, 2-16 of that from play – but there's much more to his game now.

McShane truly leads the attack, operating around that 'D' for danger zone. Mulloolly will obviously be backed up by the Dalys and David Murray, but the home backs will also have to watch out for a rejuvenated Darren McCurry, as well as the highly talented half-forward line of Mattie Donnelly, Niall Sludden, and Peter Harte.

Tyrone also quite literally have a scoring threat from one to 15, with goalkeeper Niall Morgan having registered from play and from frees in that February draw at this match venue.

Although the Connacht champions may historically be regarded as below their counterparts from Leinster and Munster, especially when the identities are Roscommon, Dublin, and Kerry, at least the western province still counts for something as a contest.

The Rossies have been in four consecutive provincial finals, winning two of those, so they have been a coming force, even though great credit goes to Anthony Cunningham for his work with them this season.

The hosts will know that beating last year's All-Ireland Finalists would be a serious statement win – and revenge not only for last year but for a defeat four seasons ago.

It's been well-documented how many players Tyrone have brought through from their 2015 All-Ireland U21 champions, but Roscommon have also progressed plenty from the side beaten in that year's semi-final by the Red Hands.

The Rossies really fancied their chances of national success, which was unsurprising as that team included Niall McInerney, Mullooly, Ronan Daly, Cathal Compton, Tadhg O'Rourke, Killoran, Ultan Harney, Diarmuid Murtagh, and Enda Smith.

Tyrone's proved better though, by five points, and sent even more through to their senior set-up: Padraig Hampsey, Michael Cassidy, Rory Brennan, Kieran McGeary, Frank Burns, McShane, Conor Meyler, Ciaran McLaughlin, Lee Brennan, and Mark Bradley – although those last two both chose to absent themselves from the set-up this year.

There may be a reduced 'cuteness', creativity, without those two smaller attackers, but Darren McCurry seems back on form, and the likes of Connor McAliskey and Richie Donnelly offer powerful options in attack.

The Red Hands won't outmuscle Roscommon this time, but they may just benefit enough from recent outings to edge this encounter.

There's the usual debate at this stage of the season about the weight of the wait compared to the burden or bonus of coming through the qualifiers.

Roscommon haven't had a competitive outing since their comeback win over Galway on June 16; since then, Tyrone have won in Longford and Kildare and beaten Cavan in St Tiernach's Park.

A home win would not be a shock, but expect the visitors to keep rolling onwards on their winning ways.