Roscommon star Daire Cregg says the return of clubmate Cian McKeon to the county fold is a ‘massive addition’ for 2025.
Rossies fans are already licking their lips at the prospect of Ciarain Murtagh‘s comeback after a year out.
Murtagh won a Boston SFC medal back in August before playing for Connacht alongside Cregg in last month’s interprovincial tournament at Croke Park.
Cregg reckons there are ‘not too many better footballers in the country than Ciarain’ and revealed that McKeon has also signed up.
McKeon was a starter for Roscommon in 2023 but opted to travel this year and also impressed in the US, winning the Chicago SFC with Wolfe Tones.
Speaking on Shannonside FM’s The Rossie GAA Podcast, Cregg said Roscommon have the talent to target provincial and All-Ireland honours.
Cregg said: “We’re lucky we’re getting Ciarain Murtagh back who is a massive addition. I played the summer with him in Boston and there are not too many better footballers in the country than Ciarain.
“We have a couple of really good young lads coming back too, even Cian McKeon, my own clubmate is back.
“He’s a massive addition. We just feel really confident going into it. I think we’re really building and hopefully that will show when it comes down to it.”
Cregg starred in the Sigerson Cup final for UCD and started all of Roscommon’s National League and Championship games.
They were only defeated by eventual champions Armagh at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage and the Boyle man is upbeat about the coming seasons.
Asked if he’s targeting a Connacht title, Cregg said: “Listen, a Connacht title is…I want to win one on the way to winning an All-Ireland.
“We’re probably long enough waiting around in Roscommon now not to be talking about…if we’re going to have a chance, we have a really good unit now, a really good team.
“We all get on so well. We have a great bond on and off the pitch. I think we’re right up there. Listen, an All-Ireland is everyone’s goal at the start of the year and I’m no different. I think we’re really not too far away.”
Cregg is among the game’s most talented young attackers and knocked back an AFL approach from Carlton this year.
The 2021 All-Ireland U-20 finalist revealed: “I probably love the game too much and I don’t feel I’d be fully…that I’d be getting the best out of myself over there because I’d miss this side of things too much.”
On football’s proposed new rules, which should favour attackers like Cregg, he said he’s ‘excited’ about them.
Cregg said: “I think the two-point arc felt a little bit forced so hopefully the more games happen, the more natural that will become.
“I’m glad they’ve got rid of the four-point goal, I think that would have created too much gaps between teams.
“I liked the mark as it was, as a rule. I know a lot of people didn’t, it was a nice rule. The fact that’s been kept in some regard is nice.
“I think they’re exciting, definitely, and it’ll make for a very different league and Championship campaign.”
