Roscommon’s unbeaten start to Allianz football league division two continues after beating Down 1-18 to 0-10 at Pairc Esler in Newry.
Anthony Cunningham’s men laid a solid foundation for victory in the first half leading 1-10 to 0-5 at the break before finishing with 11 points to spare.
Down led 0-2 to 0-0 on three minutes before Roscommon were awarded a penalty a minute later when Cian McKeon was fouled by Finn McElroy.
Enda Smith found the net with a well-taken penalty kick and further points from Donie Smith and Conor Cox saw the Rossies move three points clear.
A wonderful point from Caolan Mooney made it a two-point game on 17 minutes but Down would fail to score for another 16 minutes.
Roscommon amassed three points during that period; two points from Conor Cox and one from Eddie Nolan gave the visitors a five-point cushion.
Pat Havern ended Down’s barren spell on 33 minutes before four points without reply gave Roscommon an eight-point lead at the break.
Cathal Heneghan opened Roscommon’s second-half account nine minutes after the restart but a minute later, Pat Havern replied making it a seven-point game.
Down subsequently endured a 24-minute scoring famine and Roscommon capitalised hitting five successive points. The Rossies were now 11 points clear one minute from time.
The sides cancelled each other out thereafter as Roscommon ran out convincing winners and took a giant step towards promotion to the top tier.
