Roscommon much too strong for brave Down

Roscommon much too strong for brave Down

9 March 2016

CIARAN Murtagh grabbed 1-6 as Roscommon racked up their third straight victory in Division 1 at the expense of basement side Down in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford.

Fintan Cregg was also outstanding as last year’s Division 2 champions effectively secured top flight football for another season. And who knows, they could yet end up battling for Division 1 honours, such is their form and confidence of late.

Much had been made in the build-up of the fact that Roscommon had to concede home advantage for the game due to an unplayable Hyde Park, but it mattered little as they were still much too strong for a Down team who seemed destined for a quick return to Division 2.

Down started the brighter with points from Darragh O’Hanlon and Connaire Harrison (free) before Ciaran Murtagh opened the Rossies’ account from a free.

The Roscommon captain levelled from another placed ball before adding two more points to give his side a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Neil Collins and Connaire Harrison both received yellow cards before a Fintan Cregg free left the Connacht men 0-5 to 0-3 ahead after 21 minutes. Cregg then scored a beauty from play and Conor Daly was also on the mark before late points from Harrison and Mark Poland cut the gap to three at half-time, 0-4 to 0-7.

Roscommon reasserted their grip on proceedings with a point from play by Cregg and a long-range free from Murtagh.

Down might have got themselves back in it if Harrison hadn’t fisted against the crossbar, but Barry O’Hagan’s 47th minute point did give them hope.

The Rossies lost veteran attacker Senan Kilbride to a black card in the 50th minute, but they remained in the driving seat as further scores from Conor Daly and Cregg stretched out their lead to 0-12 to 0-6.

Down looked a beaten docket from a long way out and their misery was complete when Murtagh slotted home a late penalty after goalkeeper Michael Cunningham, who made a superb save to deny Conor Devaney a goal in the 23rd minute, was issued with a black card.

Roscommon: G Claffey, S McDermott, N Collins, N McInerney, C Daly (0-2), S 

Purcell, D Murray, E Smith, I Kilbride, F Cregg (0-3, 1f), C Murtagh (1-6, 1-0pen, 0-4f), C Devaney, C Connolly, S Kilbride, C Cregg (0-1). Subs: R Stack for E Smith, N Kilroy for S Kilbride (BC), R Daly for C Cregg, C McHugh for C Connolly, C Shine for I Kilbride, J McManus for N McInerney.

Down: M Cunningham, R Boyle, G McGovern, G Collins, J Flynn, A Carr, D O’Hanlon (0-1), P Turley, M McKay, C Maginn, M Poland (0-1), R Mallon, C McGovern, C Harrison (0-2, 1f), B O’Hagan (0-1). Subs: D O’Hare for C Harrison, N Madine for B O’Hagan, P Devlin (0-1) for M Poland, D McKibben for J Flynn, C Doyle for C Maginn, S Kane for M Cunningham (BC).

Roscommon 1-12

Down 0-6

NFL DIVISION 1