Lee Keegan: Roscommon and Monaghan are different beasts in provincial system

RTÉ GAA analyst Lee Keegan has said that the opening two weeks of the football championship have reinforced the idea that some teams just seem better suited to blossom inside provincial boundaries.

Roscommon and Monaghan are both into provincial semi-finals after impressive away-day wins over Mayo and Tyrone respectively over the last eight days.

If Monaghan were to win against Derry on 29 April then they'd be into their fifth Ulster final since 2013 and would be chasing their third title in that time-frame.

Roscommon, who face Galway this Sunday [Live on RTÉ2], are aiming for their sixth Connacht final appearance final in the same period and, also, their third Nestor Cup in that time.

Despite both counties’ fine performances in the provincial arena, Monaghan have only reached one All-Ireland semi-final in the last 34 years – a 2018 loss to the Red Hands – while Roscommon haven’t been there since 1991, also losing out by a point with Meath the victors.

"I think what it tells us is that the likes of Monaghan and Roscommon in particular, they thrive in provincial systems. They still have a huge pride within that," Keegan told the RTÉ GAA Podcast

"Roscommon don’t fear Mayo or Galway ever in Connacht. Now I can’t say nationally, when they come across us, we don’t play them too often outside of Connacht, but I know within the province itself they are very proud of their provincial status.

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"I wouldn’t say that always cause upsets, but they do cause a stir because they’re always kind of