Rossies arrive fighting for safety

Roscommon travel to Pearse S tadium on Saturday afternoon fighting for their safety in division one, with the throw-in at 3.30pm.

Roscommon are sitting in sixth place with three points, and they will need at least one win in their last two games to secure division one status for another year.

With Monaghan to play Cavan in a bottom-of-the-table clash, anything other than a win will see both teams relegated, if Roscommon beat Galway.

And Galway are not yet safe. Just one point is needed from the last two rounds to ensure that Kevin Walsh and his team are plying their trade in the top division again in 2020.

Having been soundly beaten in the FBD final in January, Galway will need to produce a much improved performance if they are to topple a second Connacht team in this season's National League.

Galway have made significant changes since that day in Tuam, with three wins from five in the league, including a narrow loss to Kerry. A win in Pearse Stadium and a win in Omagh on March 24 could still possibly set up another league final for the Tribesmen, depending on results elsewhere.

Having played each other in the last five FBD finals and the last three Connacht finals, including the drawn final of 2016, at this stage the teams know each other inside-out. Both managers will be looking at their new players to make the difference - Galway’s John Daly and Antoine O’Laoi, and Roscommon’s new recruit Conor Cox have all made their presence felt throughout the league.

Both teams have talented sets of forwards, but based on the respective teams’ league outings so far, it is tough to see this being a shoot-out. With Walsh, Daly and the two Smiths, there is potential for some great scores on the day. And with Walsh, McHugh and Cox all kicking their placed balls so far in the league, both defences will need to be very careful with their tackling.

Both sets of players will be fully focused on ensuring their status in division one of the league for another year. A win and a positive performance will have all supporters in Galway looking forward to the summer months and what may come in the championship.

 

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