“The championship is all about momentum. It is so important to build up a head of steam and for players to have confidence in themselves.”

EFFORT: Niall Murphy in action against Roscommon in the 2016 Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship, a semifinal that the Rossies won at Dr Hyde Park, 4-16 to 2-13. This is the last time that the counties met in the provincial championship at senior level.

judge a team going forward.”

“That game had its merits in being tight and not one-sided, but we’re now back to what we would consider to be a ‘normal’ championship game.” McEntee is aware of Roscommon’s credentials. “They are after performing really well in this year’s Allianz Football League. They have improved.

“If you look at them in recent years, they’ve always managed to get back to Division One. They clearly have a lot of heart and desire – I think they are a more balanced side and, in particular, they have an excellent set of forwards.

“Credit to Anthony Cunningham, he has made a really good job of this team – defensively and offensively.” McEntee admitted: “Roscommon are a number of years ahead of where Sligo would like to be – we are very fortunate at the minute to have some good underage teams coming through and so there’s a bright future ahead.

“But Roscommon have had a steady stream of winning teams at underage level for a number of years.” Following last week’s capture of the Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship – a first for the county – and Sligo’s success in last year’s Connacht GAA Minor Football Championship, the first such title since 1968, Sligo GAA can finally feel good about itself.

Seeds sown in recent years are now bearing fruit. McEntee can see this success feeding into the senior team in the coming years.

Right now, though, it is all about giving it a lash on Saturday. Even as underdogs, Sligo must believe they can rattle the Rossies.