Allianz Football League Division One

MONAGHAN 2-17 ROSCOMMON 1-13

By Colm Shalvey at Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen

Monaghan moved into a four-way tie at the top of the Allianz Football League Division One with a comfortable win over Roscommon in Inniskeen.

Monaghan led by four points at the end of an entertaining first half, before goals by Owen Duffy and Jack McCarron sealed a return to winning ways for the hosts.

McCarron top-scored with 1-7 as he continued his impressive form. Roscommon battled gamely throughout, but their losing run continued and a return to Division Two is now in store for Kevin McStay’s side.

Monaghan started brightly with points from Conor McManus and Jack McCarron (two), while McManus also had a shot at goal saved by Darren O’Malley, before Ciaráin Murtagh got Roscommon off the mark.

Dessie Ward marked his first league start for Monaghan with a 10th minute point and Darren Hughes added his name to the list of scorers, but a brace of frees by Murtagh kept Roscommon in touch. McCarron and McManus moved the hosts four clear, only for Roscommon to fight back to draw level thanks to scores from Murtagh (two), Conor Devaney and Seán Mullooly.

McCarron ended 11 scoreless minutes for Monaghan and McManus soon converted a free and although Dónie Smith responded, a Shane Carey point and a pair of McCarron frees made it 0-12 to 0-8 in Monaghan’s favour at half-time.

McCarron picked up where he left off with the first point of the second half, before McManus and Murtagh also added to their tallies from frees. Dónie Smith got Roscommon back within four, but McCarron pounced on a loose ball to find the net at the end of the third quarter, following a strong run by Darren Hughes.

Substitute Owen Duffy and Fintan Kelly added points for Monaghan, before the former palmed home the second goal at the end of a well-worked move involving McManus and another sub, Conor McCarthy. Ward opened up a 12-point gap, before Enda Smith got one back and a quickly-taken free by substitute Ultan Harney set up Tadhg O’Rourke for a consolation goal.

**Scorers for Monaghan: **J McCarron 1-7 (5fs), C McManus 0-4 (2fs), O Duffy 1-1, D Ward 0-2, D Hughes 0-1, F Kelly 0-1, S Carey 0-1.

Scorers for **Roscommon: **C Murtagh 0-6 (5fs), T O’Rourke 1-0, C Devaney 0-2, D Smith 0-2, E Smith 0-1, D Murtagh 0-1 (f), S Mullooly 0-1.

**MONAGHAN: **R Beggan; F Kelly, D Wylie (Capt.), R Wylie; K O’Connell, N McAdam, R McAnespie; D Hughes, K Hughes; G Doogan, S Carey (0-1), K Duffy; J McCarron, C McManus, D Ward.

**Subs: **O Duffy for Carey (46), C McCarthy for McAnespie (51), V Corey for K Duffy, O Coyle for D Wylie (both 62), B Greenan for D Hughes (64), S Gollogly for O’Connell (65).

**ROSCOMMON: **D O’Malley; T Featherston, S McDermott, N McInerney; D Murray, S Mullooly, G Patterson; T Corcoran, T O’Rourke; F Cregg, C Devaney, E Smith; C Murtagh (Capt.), D Smith, C Connolly.

**Subs: **U Harney for Cregg, P Brogan for Featherston, R Stack for Patterson (all H-T), D Murtagh for Connolly (49), C Compton for D Smith (53).

**REFEREE: **N Mooney (Cavan).