By Cian O'Connell

Niall McInerney is simply used to marrying sport and study by now.

A medical student at UCD, McInerney, who continues to impress for Roscommon and St Brigid's relishes the opportunity to operate at inter-county level.

McInerney was involved in UCD's run to the Independent.ie Sigerson Cup Final where they were beaten by St Mary's, Belfast in a thrilling decider last February.

Former Galway All Ireland winner John Divilly managed that talented UCD outfit and McInerney is delighted to be featuring for Roscommon in important clashes out west. “I probably couldn’t imagine myself not playing for Roscommon," McInerney admits. 

"I have played Under 21 and senior every year I have been in college. I love playing for Roscommon and I love studying medicine.

“It’s easy doing it when you love it and you have passion for it and it doesn’t really faze you in that sense that you can just keep going and enjoying yourself.

“It’s challenging, but you just get on with it. It’s worth it in end and it will definitely be worth it if we win a Connacht Final.”

Disappointed that Roscommon were beaten by Galway in a 2016 Connacht Final replay, McInerney acknowledges Kevin McStay's charges face a tricky task this weekend in Salthill.

“Galway and Mayo would be the two best teams in Connacht and up there with the best teams in Ireland and that’s definitely where we are trying to get at," McInerney remarks about Roscommon's ambitions.

“Galway have got eight or nine good forwards and from our perspective it will be a very tough challenge for us going down to Salthill facing those lads."