Roscommon 1-15

New York 0-17

The 2016 football championship almost began with a massive shock in Gaelic Park this afternoon as Roscommon were pushed to the pin of their collar by New York.

The Rossies, who lit up Division 1 of the Allianz League with a series of brilliant displays this spring, needed a late point from substitute Senan Kilbride to spare their blushes after the plucky Exiles had staged a late rally. Ciaran Murtagh scored the game's only goal from a penalty in the 21st minute to help the red-hot favourites to a 1-7 to 0-6 interval lead, but New York refused to lie down and came tantalisingly close to registering their first ever Connacht SFC victory.

It was without doubt their best performance in the championship since they gave Galway the fright of their lives in 2010 and atoned for the heavy defeats suffered at the hands of Galway, Mayo and Leitrim in recent years.

Justin O'Halloran's underdogs signalled their intent by opening the scoring through Monaghan's Darren Freeman. A Ciaran Murtagh free and a Cian Connolly point from play edged Roscommon in front before the Exiles replied with three-in-a-row from Westmeath's Luke Loughlin (two) and Offaly's Brian Connor to lead 0-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Murtagh's penalty restored the Rossies' lead, only for Freeman to equalise again. The visitors then enjoyed a dominant spell which yielded scores from Ciaran Murtagh, Fintan Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh (two) and Conor Devanney to lead by four at the break.

Tyrone's Paddy McNiece got the first score of the second half, but frees from Murtagh kept Roscommon in the driving seat. As the rain started to pour down, a brace of Fintan Cregg points pushed the winners 1-11 to 0-8 ahead, but New York remained in touch through efforts from Connor and Brian Gallagher. 

Roscommon continued to lead by five, 1-14 to 0-12, entering the closing stages, but New York were matching them for fitness as two more Connor points and one each from Loughlin and Freeman reduced the deficit to the minimum.

Kilbride gave the Rossies some breathing space with a brilliant effort in the 69th minute. Kevin Connolly left the minimum in it again, but it was a case of too little, too late as New York were denied what would have been a famous upset.

Roscommon - G Claffey; S McDermott, N Collins, S Mullooly; J McManus, D Keenan, N McInerney; N Daly, C Compton; F Cregg (0-4), C Murtagh (1-3, 1-0pen, 0-1f), C Devanney (0-3); C Connolly (0-1), D Murtagh (0-2, 1f), C Cregg (0-1). Subs: J McDermott for C Compton, D Shine for C Connolly, S Kilbride (0-1) for D Murtagh, N Kilroy for F Cregg.

New York - V Cadden; R McGinley, G McCartan, K Moynagh; K Scally, J Duane, K Quinn; J Glynn (0-1), B Gallagher (0-1f); L Loughlin (0-3), B Connor (0-4, 2f), P McNeice (0-3); P Boyle, K Connolly (0-1), D Freeman (0-4). Subs: J Comerford for K Quinn (BC), P Lambe for J Comerford, S Hogan for J Duane, N Egan for J Glynn.

Referee - M Deegan.

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