Roscommon falter as Monaghan land division two title

Roscommon came undone in Croke Park as Monaghan landed the Allianz league division two title by 10 points.

Monaghan dominated the second-half, landing four two-pointers, having trailing Roscommon by one point at half-time. Roscommon with no answer to the Monaghan onslaught.

The game was very close, in the first-half. The sides were tied three points apiece after 10 minutes. Diarmuid Murtagh (free), Ciaran Murtagh and Ben O’Carroll with Roscommon points. Dessie Ward (2p) and Andrew Woods replying for Monaghan.

Monaghan worked their way into a two point lead by the 20^th minute. Woods, Conor McCarthy (2p), and Ryan McAnespie pushing the farney eight points to six ahead. Enda Smith, Conor Carroll (45), and Diarmuid Murtagh replying for Roscommon.

Cian McKeown and Eddie Nolan levelled the game at eight points each on 22 minutes. Indeed, Michael Bannigan restored the Monaghan lead only for Ruairi Fallon and Ciaran Murtagh to move the Rossies 10 points to nine ahead on 28 minutes.

However, Rory Beggan tied the game up with a 45 on the half-hour. The Murtagh brothers sent over a point each to move Roscommon two ahead.

Ryan Wylie closed out the first-half scoring as Roscommon led 12 points to 11 at half-time.

Monaghan produce big third-quarter performance

Indeed, Monaghan produced a big third-quarter performance which saw them to victory. Stephen O’Hanlon equalising within seconds of the restart.

Diarmuid Murtagh restored the Rossies lead with a free before the Monaghan onslaught. Rory Beggan fired over two 2-pointers and a free. Michael Bannigan added a 2-pointer and Monaghan led 18 points to 13.

Diarmuid Murtagh made it a four point game on 46 minutes. However, Ciaran McNulty responded with a point immediately, while Diarmuid fired over a 2-pointer as the farney led 0-19 to 0-16.

Ciaran Murtagh converted a free before Jack McCarron landed Monaghan’s 20^th point of the game. Enda Smith responded with a point as Roscommon trailed by two.

In the flash of an eye Monaghan moved in on the game. Conor McCarthy burst through the Roscommon defence, laying it off to Jack McCarron who found the net. McCarron added a point from the restart to moved Monaghan six clear.

Gary Mohan and Bannigan extended the fareny lead with two minutes remaining making it 1-23 to 0-18.

Donie Smith landed Roscommon’s first score in 14 minutes before Beggan landed another 2-pointer. Bannigan fired over the final point as Monaghan landed the division two title, 1-26 to 0-19.