By Jackie Cahill

Liam Kearns believes that former manager John Evans was correct to declare that Roscommon’s senior footballers can challenge All-Ireland honours over the next few years.

Following last year’s Division Two success, Evans declared that Roscommon can go all the way and win the Sam Maguire Cup, comments that were met with criticism in some quarters.

Current Tipperary supremo Kearns was Roscommon coach last year and feels that Evans was “badly treated” when he came under pressure to step down following a disappointing 2015 championship campaign.

Evans took Roscommon from Division Three to the top flight but did not seek an extension following championship defeats to Sligo and Fermanagh.

And fellow Kerry native Kearns said: “I just feel that John Evans was badly treated.

“He did a fantastic job there, put great foundations in place and in fairness, the current management team is building on that.”

Kearns conceded that while perhaps Evans should not have stated his bold ambition publicly, it was exactly what the Roscommon camp was thinking at the time.

He said: “While we might have thought it, maybe he shouldn’t have stated it but that showed the confidence that John Evans had in that group of players, that they were going to the top.

“He got a lot of stick for saying it out but I don’t think people are laughing at him now.

“I do think they will compete at the highest level in the next five years – there are definitely huge things ahead of this squad of players.”

But Kearns has admitted that Roscommon’s staggering rate of progress in Division One of the Allianz Football League has taken him by surprise.

He added: “They’ve gone to Cork, Kerry and Donegal, bastions, and you don’t take points from those places normally.

“Not alone have they beaten them, they’ve beaten them well.

“I worked with their forwards and they’re as good a forward line as I’ve ever worked with.

“I told them after they were beaten by Sligo in the Connacht championship last year, and mugged by Fermanagh, that these were just blips in their careers.

“It’s something they’ll learn from and they’ll have many, many great days.

“I want to qualify that by saying that I wasn’t sure they were ready for the top level this year.

“I felt they would do well to survive and then grow and become a serious force in the next four or five years.

“I do expect them to win Connacht titles and contest but I wondered if this year was too early.

“In fairness, they’ve shown it’s not too early.

“I have to say they’re a fantastic bunch, a group of players with a great attitude and very talented. I only wish the best for them – anything they get they deserve.”

Roscommon host Connacht rivals Mayo on Sunday week in what could be a dress rehearsal for a provincial final later in the summer.

And Kearns believes that the Rossies can strike a significant early-season blow by winning a fifth straight game and pile relegation misery on Mayo.

But he warned: “The other thing I’ll say is that teams are now gearing towards the championship.

“The weather is better and the ground is harder. We’ll find out more about Roscommon in the latter stages of the League.

“Kerry, Dublin and Donegal will be seriously tuned in but from Roscommon’s point of view, it doesn’t matter how they do from here on in in the League.

“As long as they held their own, and competed, that’s all they needed to do.

“I can only see good things ahead for Roscommon – what has surprised me is that they’re doing so much, so early.”