Cunningham hoping Rossies can earn long stay at the top

Roscommon manager Anthony Cunningham is hoping that the impressive nature of their promotion back to Division 1 can be the starting point for a sustained stay in the top tier.

The Connacht outfit have been the very definition of a yo-yo team in recent seasons having been promoted to Division 1 four times in the last eight years – including 2022 - and relegated on three occasions.

Cunningham's men ended the group stage as the only unbeaten team of all four divisions following Sunday’s 1-20 to 1-15 win over Galway, and the manager is taking the positives out of that.

"For the development of players, to get to the next level, any every player of our panel wants to get to the next level, to do that you’ve got to ply your trade every day against Division 1 opposition or top-class Division 2 opposition," Cunningham told RTÉ Sport.

"We’re no different than any other county, we want to be there [Division 1] and we want to progress."

Roscommon face one more threat to their unbeaten league season ambitions as they will face Galway once again next Sunday in the Division 2 final at Croke Park.

With promotion already secured, Galway boss Pádraic Joyce rested a number of players on Sunday, and Cunningham feels that the Tribesmen will be a different proposition in the rematch.

"The job is done, we've got promotion and for us it’s championship now and a league final against Galway again next weekend.

"It’s going to be easier for Galway to get up for this than us but we’ll have another battle again."

Galway manager Joyce said that his side wouldn't be holding back next Sunday with their big Connacht Championship meeting with Mayo on 24 April quickly coming into view.

"We’ll be going to Croke Park trying to win the game, simple as that," said