Roscommon 2-10
Meath 0-14

Roscommon are up to second place in Division 2 after second half goals from Cathal Cregg and Senan Kilbride gave them a narrow victory in today's re-fixture against Meath at Hyde Park.

A late Mickey Newman free left two points in it, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Royals whose promotion hopes hang by a thread after this defeat, which was their second of the campaign to Connacht opposition.

After Padraig Harnan opened the scoring for the visitors, Diarmuid Murtagh edged the winners in front with a brace of points. Graham Reilly levelled before points from Ciaran Murtagh and goalkeeper Darren O'Malley ('45') restored the home side's advantage.

Roscommon boss John Evans responded to some poor shooting by his attack by introducing Donie Shine and Donie Smith in the second quarter as late call-up David Bray's injury-time point left just a point between the sides, 0-6 to 0-5, at the break.

Meath retained the lead on the restart through scores from the returning Kevin Reilly and Mark O'Sullivan, only for Shine and the increasingly influential Cregg to reply. The Rossies then moved into a 1-7 to 0-8 lead when Cregg finished the ball to the net soccer-style after Senan Kilbride's initial effort had been blocked.

Points from Newman and substitute Eamon Wallace kept Meath in contention before Kilbride capitalised on a poor kick-out by Paddy O'Rourke and made it 2-9 to 0-10.

Newman responded once again before Shine restored the Rossies' three-point lead, 2-10 to 0-13. Mick O'Dowd's men fought to the bitter end, but left themselves with too much to do.

The win leaves Roscommon - who face local rivals Galway next - on seven points, one behind leaders Down.

Roscommon - D O'Malley (0-1'45); N Collins, N Carty, S McDermott; D Keenan, D Murray, N Daly; C Shine, M Healy (0-1); C Daly, C Murtagh (0-1f), C Cafferkey; D Murtagh (0-4, 2f), S Kilbride (1-0), C Cregg (1-1). Subs: D Shine (0-2, 1f) for M Healy, E Smith for C Murtagh, C Compton for D Murtagh, D Ward for C Cregg.

Meath - P O'Rourke; D Tobin, C McGill, D Dalton; M Burke, D Keogan, B Power; B Menton, A Flanagan; G Reilly (0-2), P Harnan (0-1), K Reilly (0-1); M O'Sullivan (0-1), D Bray (0-1f), M Newman (0-7, 6f). Subs: N Judge for D Tobin (BC), J McEntee for D Dalton, S O'Rourke for D Bray, E Wallace (0-1) for M O'Sullivan, C Gillespie for B Menton, B McMahon for C McGill.

Referee - A Nolan.

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