Saoirse Wynne excited to build on Roscommon's All-Ireland win

Michael Bolton

After a heavy defeat for Roscommon to Leitrim in the Connacht Intermediate final, the thought of an All-Ireland title looked unlikely.

For Saoirse Wynne and her teammates, it made the Rossies reflect and regroup, in what was the start of a remarkable journey.

On their way to the final, they avenged their defeat against Leitrim, along with a dramatic victory against Westmeath in the semi-finals.

At Croke Park, Roscommon dominated from start to finish, as they defeated Fermanagh 2-12 to 0-6.

For Wynne, enjoying their football was key to victory.

"I think after the Leitrim game in the Connacht final, it was a real eye-opener for us that we were just not enjoying our football.

"So, we just came together as a group after that and decided let's not let another year go by us. I think we always lacked that little bit of belief.

"It was later in the season then, Lloyd Kelly came in and he made a big difference with the group and just really lifted the whole group.

"It was just then when we started getting the results that we got that little bit of belief. I think the majority of the hard work had been done from down through the years with different management and stuff. So, it just all came together nicely then."

"If you are enjoying what you are doing, it is easy. If everyone is getting on, it will transfer on to the pitch, and you just trust each other so much better as well.

"You just look forward to the next session, and you don't mind getting in those extra sessions because you enjoy it."

Despite Roscommon putting on an attacking spectacle, Antrim's last gap victory over Carlow, and Galway ending their 22-year wait for the Brendan Martin Cup, the crowds were not what was hoped.

The attendance for the final was 26,471, the lowest since 2013.

With four finals in four weeks at a time in the summer when people could be on holidays, Wynne suggests a double header for football could bring more eyes to the women's game.

"I think it is definitely getting a lot better than it was, but it would be nicer if the women's and men's were joined; it would be better.

"The problem was that there wasn't enough coverage of women in the past, but it has really improved, and it is only going to get better down the line."

The jump to the senior championship is also significant, with Mayo and All-Ireland winners Galway awaiting them in the Connacht championship.

They will have to do it without manager Finbar Egan who resigned after their All-Ireland win, but the Roscommon defender is excited by what the future holds.

"I think it's exciting because it's a fresh start going up to senior and everything.

"The fact that we have such a good underage coming up as well is really exciting with the U16s winning the All-Ireland B. The minor girls just fell short on the All-Ireland A final as well.

"It just goes to show the quality of footballers that are coming along behind us. I know there's a lot of girls in the county at the minute that didn't play this year and hopefully they'll come back next year as well. So yeah, it's exciting for next year."