Roscommon hold nerve

Roscommon had to fight all the way against a determined Leitrim at Elphin yesterday.

The home side overwhelmed Leitrim in the early stages scoring seven points without reply. Leitrim, finally got on the scoreboard in the 20th minute with a Paul Kiernan free, added to three minutes later by Adrian Cullen. Two more Roscommon points by Grehan and Eddie Lohan gave Roscommon a 0-9 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

In the 37th minute, Padraig Kenny finished an Aidan Rooney free to the net. Two more Leitrim points from Rooney narrowed the gap but Roscommon held their nerve in the hectic closing minutes.

Roscommon: Derek Thompson; D Gavin, E Gavin, R Owens; B Butler, C McDonald, B Mannion; J Gillooly, D Casserly; S Casey, F Grehan (0-3), E Lohan (0-2); F Dolan, S Lohan (0-3), N Dineen (0-2). Subs: F O'Donnell (0-2) for S Lohan, David Thompson (0-1) for B Mannion, M Ryan for B Butler, P Noone for S Casey, A Nolan for D Casserly.

Leitrim: G Phelan; M McGuinness, S Quinn, R Greenan; C Murray, O McGuinness, D Lynch; P Farrell, B Doyle; P Kiernan (0-2), A Rooney (0-3), P Kenny (1-0); A Fee; F McBrien, A Cullen (0-1). Subs: M Maguire for A Fee, P Gaffey for B Doyle, R Hazlette for P Kenny.

Referee: M Daly (Mayo).