Cork cut Roscommon’s summer short with a two point victory in final group game.
Roscommon Knowing that a draw or win was needed to progress, started brightly with points from Daire Cregg and Donie Smith.
Cork replied with points from Sean McDonald and the ever influential Mark Cronin.
Senan Lambe and Brian Hurley exchanged points as the lead swayed back and forth throughout what was an entertaining first-half.
Enda Smith got Roscommon’s final score of the first half with 22 minutes played.
Cork finished the first half strongly with four unanswered points coming through Ian McGuire, Sean McDonald and Mark Cronin. Cork headed for the break leading by four points on a score line of 0-10 to 0-6.
Daire Cregg and Dylan Ruane got Roscommon off to a strong start early in the second-half. Sean McDonald, Eoin McSweeney and Mark Cronin restored Corks four point advantage as Roscommon struggled to gain any control.
The introduction of Cian McKeon injected life into Roscommon with him helping to trim Corks six point lead with two points. Paul Walshe and Eoin McSweeney added to Corks tally either side of two Daire Cregg points.
Indeed, Roscommon tried working a two pointer to draw the game level as the hooter sounded in Portlaoise. However, Diarmuid Murtagh attempted a two-point, but Brian O’Driscoll.
Cork were victorious by two points on a scoreline of 0-19 to 0-17, bringing a disappointing 2025 to an end for Roscommon.
