By Cian O’Connell

“We work off honesty and attitude,” Roscommon manager Francis O’Halloran says about the approach being adopted in the western county.

Sport continues to occupy a central role in O’Halloran’s life so this adventure in the west is being embraced. Always eager to learn, O’Halloran, who has stitched a formidable backroom team together, is hoping that Roscommon can develop further.

On Sunday Roscommon host Louth in Division 3A of the Allianz Hurling League at Dr Hyde Park. The key, though, for the Clare native is to develop Roscommon.

“Talent will bring you so far, but if you have the honesty and attitude right we will bring these players up to another level that they can go back to their clubs,” O’Halloran adds.

“I think that is what it all comes down to. You are working off a couple of clubs in Roscommon. If you go to Clare, Limerick or these places they have 20 or 30 hurling clubs.

“We are up there to do a job and the job is to bring it to another level from where we got it.”

Roscommon divided the spoils with Mayo on the opening weekend of the league. “While it was a setback and disappointing that we got a draw last week when we should have won on Saturday, we will keep working away and there will be no stone unturned for the length of time I'm there,” O’Halloran remarks.

“I have this year and an option of a third year if I want it - we will work hard. I won't be wanting in terms of trying to get the best out of Roscommon hurling in my time.”

That is what O’Halloran intends to do. Tommy Guilfoyle, a cherished figure in Clare, remains involved, while the decorated former Kilkenny forward Richie Power is an interesting addition to the management set-up.

“I was lucky enough to be involved with Mary I when we won a Fitzgibbon. I think 15 of that group we trained have All-Ireland medals in their back pocket,” he says. “So the enjoyment I get in Roscommon - we have excellent coaches, S&C, Lauren is our lead physio, we probably brought a new dimension to Roscommon hurling last year when we took it over.

“Richie coming in has brought that level up another notch. We have 28 guys that are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel for Roscommon hurling which is great.

“If you bring a guy to any set-up that has eight All-Ireland medals it is massive. When he talks, you listen. It would put the hair on the back of your head standing, he has been there, he has done it the hard way.

“He worked under Cody and alongside the likes of Shefflin, all of these guys. The experience, we are all going to learn- it is massive.”

Acquiring knowledge has been part of O’Halloran’s own coaching story. Training teams at every level of the game brought various challenges, but he always watches how others operate. The time spent with Mary I and Clare was rewarding.

“You had Cregan, Donal Maloney, Gerry, Donal Óg was in at the time, Liam Cronin from Ardscoil, Ciaran O'Grady, Kieran Corcoran. The absolute best coaches out there in terms of knowledge and trying to get the twist on other teams. Then watching Kinnerk when he was with the seniors.

“Every day I go on to the field whether it would be here in Ruan or above in Athlone or Hyde Park or in UL - you are learning. I'm a tutor for the last 10 or 12 years doing courses like the Award Two, you are learning off all of the coaches that come through the doors. I'm learning every day.

“Like everything else every day you go out there you'd be hoping that you'd pick up some nugget or small bit you'd bring back to get something out of. Whether it be hurling, football, basketball, rugby - that is the way I would be looking at it, every day is a school day, you are learning all of the time.”

Ultimately it means coaches want to be innovative. The standard continues to rise according to O’Halloran. “It is very high,” O’Halloran says.

“This thing of going in doing courses sitting down in front of a table looking at a PowerPoint is all kinda gone. Now you are out on the field with all hands on deck, it is game based stuff. You are looking at what soccer are doing or basketball or rugby, you are trying to bring all those nuggets into play.

“It is the same in hurling with them trying to feed off the football ideas. It is evolving. Every couple of months somebody is coming up with an idea trying to beat the opposition.”

One thing O’Halloran remains adamant about is Roscommon’s potential. The 2022 Nickey Rackard Cup Final defeat to Tyrone was a setback, but there was sufficient evidence in the campaign to suggest Roscommon can make significant strides.

“That was the thinking when we left Croke Park,” O’Halloran responds. “We were very disappointed. I'd be a guy that looks into the stats, that kind of stuff, we would have been better than any of the teams going into Croke Park.

“I've been lucky enough to be up there a few times with the Clare set-up, but when you get to Croke Park you have to perform. We didn't. I thought that would spur on a lot of the lads.

“We've a turnover of 12 or 13 players from last year's panel for different reasons - work, fellas going away, fellas transferring, and lads that just couldn't commit.

“It is a five day a week set-up with your gym and the three days that you are going to be on the field. It is a massive commitment for any young lad. I'd take my hat off to any of these lads - even the elite guys playing Division One - what they are sacrificing as a young lad.”

O’Halloran is committed too. The Roscommon hurlers generally train in Athlone. Hurling talk inevitably peppers the conversations.

“Tommy and myself might travel together the odd night, but I'm stationed in Limerick,” he says. “I might have to come up what we call the Bog Road - it isn't a great road to come up into Athlone, but we are lucky to have the base in Athlone. It is always in great condition, fair play to the groundsmen.

“We have a great relationship with them for the last two years, they have looked after us. We have looked after them in terms of minding the facilities whether it be the dressing rooms or on the pitch.

“We are not starved in that situation. We have a lot of lads Dublin based and other lads in college, and others doing the Leaving Cert. They are coming training from every angle.”

O’Halloran is also enjoying the journey.