Two years ago, Derry rolled into the Division One final on the crest of a wave.
An early defeat to Cork in the league was the only chink in a fresh piece of armour that knew no bounds.
They went to Kerry and won. They welcomed Dublin to Celtic Park and beat them out the gate. They beat Mayo and they beat them again with 14 men in Croker to book their place in the decider.
The momentum was serious. Unstoppable. Derry had no fear of anyone and they strutted into headquarters with such confidence and self-assurance that they decided to take on Dublin – possibly the greatest attacking side ever – toe-to-toe. They decided to exchange blows with Dublin to see who would come out on top.
The game lasted about 18 minutes.
Derry were annihilated. The players played within themselves and they never came back out for the rest of the summer as two championship games were their lot.
After facing off with Dublin and finding themselves dismantled, there were too many pieces for Brian McIver to pick back up because his team suddenly knew that they were beatable and they suddenly realised the true gap that separated them from the likes of the Dubs.
Roscommon are a lot better than that Derry side.
They have a firm footing to stand on and they have a strong gust coming behind them in support.
But, on Sunday, they met a Croke Park Kerry side and, on Sunday, they were given a cruel reminder of just how far they have to climb yet.
And it all started so seamlessly too. Roscommon were the same Roscommon that had been plotting around Division One declaring war on anyone and everyone.
VIDEO: Cathal Cregg's complete lack of fear of Donegal's defence typifies the Roscommon rise https://t.co/ywe99Ta1Qb
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 13, 2016
Neil Collins was marking Colm Cooper from the front, Cathal Cregg was simply swatting Marc Ó Sé out of his sight and the yellow jerseys were attacking in waves as their boisterous natives roared louder from the Hogan Stand.
Gradually, though, the screw stopped tightening. Eventually, Kerry sent Kieran Donaghy inside for the first time, they hit one high and long for the first time, and Darran O’Sullivan was there at the end of Star’s fists to tap over the first score from play.
Gradually, those household names that the Rossies were once disregarding, they were becoming bigger and clearer and they were being respected. And they took control. Because they were allowed to.
Then, everything that had made this Roscommon run so great evaporated without a trace. They weren’t taking men on anymore, they weren’t showing for the ball in unison anymore and they weren’t going for the posts with no fear and with no inhibitions. They played within themselves. They played the jersey – the Kerry jersey.
The short kickouts stopped, the first-time handling got sloppy and men were left isolated because Roscommon players shrunk. They stopped believing in themselves. Just like Derry did.
The game was over as a contest by half time and Kerry used the remainder of the match presumably just as an exercise in trying to stop Dublin et al.
Kerry's second half attacking set-up.
Presented without comment. pic.twitter.com/ALqz1k6z2t
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 10, 2016
It was too late for Fergal O’Donnell and Kevin McStay to prevent the premature ending to this semi-final but now the task is to ensure that this isn’t the premature end of the Roscommon season.
Last year, their league success blew up in their faces when they hit the warmth of the summer. This year, the white heat of Kerry on Dublin soil threatens to blow up their season if for no other reason but they now know the difference in standard. They now know the task ahead of them.
They can go two ways: they can give up, surrender. They can fear. Cower.
Or they can fight back. They can go back to Roscommon and get to work. Because if they didn’t know how far the good teams were from the great teams, they sure as hell know now.
Roscommon are a good team. They are not a great team yet.
And they’ll either thank or curse Kerry at the of the season for either reigniting their challenge or stopping it dead in its tracks.
