Roscommon haven't retained the Connacht SFC title since 1991 so manager Kevin McStay is particularly eager to stay perched on top of the western summit.

Last year Roscommon delivered in style when cliaming provincial glory and an Allianz Football League Division Two crown this spring added to the feel good factor.

A comprehensive Championship win over Leitrim ensures Roscommon are now intent on beating Galway again at Dr Hyde Park.

"Retaining the title is a very big target for us, we’d love nothing more than to retain our title here in the Hyde," McStay admits.

"It’s a new experience for the players, lads year was a much more difficult experience for them because we were the big underdogs, we had a massive challenge against Galway away from home after the season we had up, it was a tough one up to that point.

"So the lads shouldn’t be as anxious, they should be able to take it more in their stride, they’re more experienced."

Reaching the All Ireland Quarter Final series is Roscommon's objective. "Not to be in the Super Eights would hurt this group," McStay states.

"If it’s not us, it’ll be Galway, Mayo, Tyrone, or some team that we’d like to think that we could compete with in the future are going to get three All Irelands that we won’t get, if we don’t come through.

"From that point of view it’s vitally important, but if you throw yourselves back to this time last year, as a management team and as a group of players, we were fighting for our sheer reputations as footballers and people involved with football teams. So therefore winning Connacht was a monstrous prize for us.

"This year to me is about moving on, building on what we did. That said, some people undervalue Connacht medals, but we certainly don’t, so for us to get a pair of them in a row would be unreal and it would launch us brilliantly into the rest of the campaign."

McStay is adamant that Roscommon supporters are starting to truly believe in a team that is starting to produce at senior level.

"The Roscommon crowd are beginning to take on this team," McStay adds. "I feel that after matches and when I meet people on the street. "They’re a young, up and coming team, people are beginning to nail their colours to the mast and follow them unconditionally, but then it’s never unconditional with a supporter, he loves you more if you’re winning."