Aspiring to make a maiden impact on the Westmeath senior football championship, Rosemount manager, Frankie Dolan, is striving for on pitch progression for a playing squad who suffered defeat at the quarter final stage of last year’s competition.
Following the revised draw format, Rosemount encounter Castledaly in their opening Group 2 championship fixture with The Downs, under the management of former Mayo and Galway supremo, John O’Mahony, completing the three team division.
The initial Group 2 round robin fixture promises to be an eagerly anticipated clash with players from both teams having competed together for honours at underage level under the amalgamated club name, Cill Oige.
As throw in fast approaches, the Rosemount manager, is looking forward to the start of the condensed senior football championship.
“We have three weeks in earnest to prepare for our opening fixture against Castledaly and we will look no further than this game. A short time ago, the realisation was one of no competitive action this calendar year but thankfully, the restrictions have eased and Rosemount now have a senior football championship to contest.
“The hope is that a return to play is safe and all personnel involved remain healthy for the duration of the competition,” Frankie emphasised.
Having been appointed to the role in late 2019, the enforced lockdown could not have arrived at a more inopportune time as the All-Ireland club winning medallist was becoming acquainted with his playing squad.
“A three month break from training was obviously not ideal. The players have been working on their own personal fitness but working within a group setting enables the creation of a mode of play and engenders team morale which is of essence prior to a championship campaign,” Frankie asserted.
Having returned to training and contested pre-championship tussles with Tulsk and Padraig Pearses, Frankie is assessing the squad prior to that crucial first fixture with near neighbours Castledaly.
“We have had in excess of thirty players at our training sessions to date which creates positive energy within the camp but as a management team it is now our job to assess the squad available and create a balance which can positively impact the championship ahead,” Frankie continued.
With such a condensed championship to come (the final is due to be played on Sunday, September 27 ), Frankie is if the view that there maybe a few unexpected results as the games progress.
“You have to be in competitive form from that opening throw in as with only two round robin fixtures your championship campaign may reach a conclusion within a short timeframe. We obviously want to advance to the knockout phase and stave off any relegation fixture concerns.
“A victory in our opening game will be a boost for confidence and we can approach our game against The Downs with the hope of knockout phase progression,” Frankie added.
