Roscommon surge clear

CONNACHT FBD LEAGUE: Roscommon 1-15 GMIT 1-11:ROSCOMMON ROUNDED off their FBD League campaign with a deserved four-point victory over a plucky GMIT side in Ballyforan yesterday.

The Connacht champions looked to be heading for a facile victory when they surged 10 points ahead by the 50th minute. However, the students refused to throw in the towel and Darren Clabby’s spectacular 59th minute goal put a healthier gloss on the scoreline for visitors.

Séamus O’Neill’s return to the Roscommon colours was marked by a point in the second minute and points from Ronan Brady, John Dunning (2), James McKeague, Senan O’Grady and Fintan Cregg (2) left them 0-8 to 0-5 ahead at half-time. Stephen Griffin’s three first-half points kept Pat Fallon’s GMIT side in the hunt.

The visitors reduced the deficit to a point with points from Eoin Ward and Griffin. However, Roscommon made a push for home with substitutes Brian Cregg, Cian Smith and Colm Garvey hitting 1-5 between them. Cregg got the goal in the 42nd minute, fisting Terence Kelly’s pass to the net.

ROSCOMMON:E McGinley; J Carney, J Nolan, R Brady (0-1); R Dooner, C Beirne, J McKeague (0-1); S O'Neill (0-1), J Connaughton; F Cregg (0-3, two frees), J Dunning (0-2), S O'Grady (0-1); T Kelly, C Shine (0-1), D Hussey. Subs:C Garvey (0-1) for Dooner (23), B Cregg (1-1) for Connaughton (half-time), C Smith (0-3, one free) for O'Grady (half-time), J Sharkey for McKeague (41 mins).

GMIT:B Walsh; M Kelly, D Crawford, J Lacey; D Lee, C Hands, S Bohan; G Kelly (0-1), S Boyle; N Prenty, E Ward (0-3), M Coady; A Thompson (0-1), S Griffin (0-6, three frees), D McIntyre. Subs:D Clabby (1-0) for McIntyre (46 mins), S O'Kennedy for Prenty (48 mins), D Rogers for Kelly (51 mins), M Joyce for Coady (54 mins).

Referee:R McBrien (Leitrim).