Rossies rule against Rebels as Cavan pip Down late on

March 01, 2025

Cork's Paul Walsh and Diarmuid Murtagh of Roscommon ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Roscommon got their promotion bid to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League back on track thanks to an emphatic 1-21 to 0-13 victory over Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening.

After suffering their first defeat of the campaign to Meath last weekend, Davy Burke’s men bounced back in style here with an impressive display away to the Rebels which saw them win out by double figures.

The Rossies held a 0-12 to 0-8 lead at the halfway stage, with Diarmuid Murtagh registering half their tally after 35 minutes, and the scores of Ultan Harney and Conor Hand would see them seven points up early in the restart.

Mark Cronin was the biggest scoring threat for the hosts but, after trimming their deficit back to five points, they’d concede a penalty which Enda Smith dispatched with expertise.

After that, the visitors would run away with it as Hand, Ciarain Murtagh and Diarmuid Murtagh sent over the scores ahead of Ben O'Carroll's goal wrapping up what would be a 14-point win in the end.

The earlier game in Division 2 saw Cavan come up with the goods against Down late on to record their third successive win of the campaign.

The scoreboard read 1-20 to 1-18 come the final whistle at Kingspan Breffni, where the hosts held a 0-12 to 1-6 lead at half-time, with Miceal Rooney having bagged Down’s goal in the 15th minute.

A two-pointer from Rooney and a ‘45’ by ‘keeper Ronan Burns saw Conor Laverty’s side level within six minutes of the resumption and they’d go up by two points before All-Star defender Padraig Faulkner netted a well-timed goal for the Breffni men.

From there, the teams would be level four more times and Down edged in front again only for Gearoid McKiernan to land a monster two-pointer at the other end for Cavan.

Ryan McEvoy sent over to square the sides for the final time with five minutes remaining, but his point would be wiped out as Raymond Galligan's side dug deep in the dying stages and, in the end, two frees from Oisin Brady proved the difference for the Blues.


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