By Cian O'Connell

These are exciting times for Roscommon, who are delighted to embrace the challenge of three All Ireland Quarter-Final games in the coming weeks. 

Ciaráin Murtagh, such a key figure in Roscommon's rise, admits it will be hugely beneficial for the development of Kevin McStay's team to face Tyrone, Donegal, and Dublin.

"It is great to be back in the top eight in Ireland," Murtagh says. "We did it as well last year.

"We are going to be playing against the best teams now week on week, so you get to see how good your team is, how good your panel is so it is going to be great.

"We will relish the chance of playing against the top teams. Tyrone next week, Donegal the following week and then Dublin, I mean that is what you dream of  when you start out playing football."

Roscommon, though, want to build on their Round Four success over Armagh by making an impact in the All Ireland Quarter-Final round robin series.

"We always wanted to get to the Super 8’s, but we are not there to make up the numbers now," St Faithleach's clubman Murtagh states.

"We will be going out to express ourselves. Every man will be driving it on this week to try and get into the 26 next week.

"It is going to be a massive few weeks for us but hopefully we can drive it on now."

Murtagh is adamant that the depth of the Roscommon panel has improved during the past few years.

"The way the game has gone, you need every man," Murtagh responds. "There are lads who are not even togged who are not on that pitch so the substitutes are massive in these kind of games and we are going to need them now in the next three games because it is going to be week on week after this.