Roscommon produced a superb performance at Pairc Esler to beat 14-man Down by 1-15 to 1-11.

The winners led by double scores at the break, 1-9 to 0-6, with Diarmuid Murtagh slotting the goal after taking a pass from Senan Kilbride in the 34th minute.

Down actually led by 0-6 to 0-5 23 minutes into the first half but the visitors then hit them with an unanswered 1-4 salvo before the short whistle.

A run of points from substitute Jerome Johnston (2), Conor Maginn and Paul Devlin (free) had fired the Mourne County ahead but points from Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciaran Murtagh, Niall Daly and Ciaran Cafferky - allied to by Murtagh's goal - saw the Connacht side kick on before the interval.

The first four points of the second half were shared as Diarmuid Murtagh slotted two free for the winners and Down had scores from Donal O'Hare (free) and Johnston. Substitute Arthur McConville's goal in the third quarter reduced the arrears to just three points but the dismissal of Luke Howard for a second yellow-card offence really scuppered Down's hopes.

Further points from McConville and Peter Fitzpatrick saw the hosts get back to within the minimum, 1-11 to 1-10, but three late points from substitute Cathal Cregg and another from Donie Smith saw John Evans' men across the winning line.

Roscommon - D O'Malley; S McDermott, N Carty, N Collins; C Daly, N Daly (0-1), C Cafferky (0-1); I Kilbride, C Shine; M Nally (0-1), D Shine (0-1f), E Smith; C Murtagh (0-2), S Kilbride (0-1), D Murtagh (1-4, 0-2f). Subs: U Harney for M Nally, D Smith (0-1) for D Shine, C Cregg (0-3) for D Murtagh, M Whyte for D O'Malley.

Down - S Kane; D O'Hagan, B McArdle, L Howard; P Devlin (0-2, 1'45, 1f), D Turley, K McKernan; N Madine, P Fitzpatrick (0-1); C Maginn (0-1), C Laverty, C Mooney; C Crilly, D O'Hare (0-3, 1f), D Savage. Subs: J Johnston (0-3) for C Mooney, C Garvey for K McKernan (BC), M Poland for D Savage, A McConville (1-1) for C Crilly, D O'Hanlon for D Turley, N Donnelly for C Garvey (BC).

Referee - B Cassidy.

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