For Roslea veteran Niall Cassidy the hunger is as ravenous as ever as he and his team-mates look to recapture the New York Cup. Having won four titles in five years they were defeated in last year’s decider by Derrygonnelly Harps although Cassidy insists that the team have not been looking further than the game in front of them.
“We have always taken that approach and we won’t be changing that. We were not looking past St Pats in the first round. In fact I didn’t even go to any other games before our match was over and we weren’t looking at who else were playing each other. We were just totally focused on ourselves,” Cassidy explained.
Roslea saw off St Pat’s, who are flying high in division two by three points with a Brendan Sherlock goal the difference between the sides.
“They were very tricky opponents because they have been going so well in division two yet we didn’t really know an awful lot about them. They have some really good young players and we definitely know more about them now, they are a very good team and we are just glad to get into the semi final.”
In that semi final Roslea will meet Erne Gaels in a repeat of last years semi. On that occasion a replay was needed to separate the sides with indiscipline on the part of Erne Gaels a real factor in the second encounter although Cassidy is adamant that last year’s tussles won’t have any bearing on this game;
“I don’t think last year will effect this game at all. We won’t be thinking about it. Erne Gaels have had the better of us since then and have beaten us twice in the league so they will be very confident of being able to beat us again so we will have to be ready for a real battle.”
Despite those two defeats to Erne Gaels the league campaign was a success for Roslea finishing top and qualifying for the league semi final although Cassidy is not getting carried away with their league position;
“We did well in the league and that was important because we want to do well in every match and competition that we play but it doesn’t really come in to play in the championship. This is a completely new competition and we want to put our best foot forward in the championship too.”
Roslea have a new man holding the reigns this year in the shape of former Tyrone ace Brian Gormley. The Carrickmore native has impressed Cassidy to date.
“Managers come in and they always say that they will have a clean slate but he really means it. He does not care what you have done in the past or who you are he will pick the team based on who is playing well and that is the only way to have it.”
Gormley is working with a Roslea squad who has changed quite significantly over the past two seasons. The loss of inspirational captain James Sherry was obviously a serious blow but Cassidy feels that the team are beginning to absorb that now;
“When you lose someone like James you are not just losing a brilliant player but also a leader. He was our captain for all our wins and off the field he was such an influence. But I think other players are stepping up now and the likes of Connor Quigley is playing the best football of his life and then you have a lot of the younger players really coming into their own as well. So we are looking forward to this semi final.”
Roslea don’t often lose semi finals and Erne Gaels will have to be at their best to stop the Shamrocks making it seven finals in eight seasons.