Allianz Football League Division 2

ROSCOMMON 1-21 LOUTH 0-12

By Dan Bannon at the Gaelic Grounds Drogheda

Roscommon put their Allianz Football League Division 2 promotion plans back on track on the road in Drogheda at a bright, but cold Gaelic Grounds.

Louth on the other-hand suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and look a side drastically short on confidence.

Kevin McStay had to deal with two omissions not only from his squad, but his starting defence from their last outing versus Down. It mattered little to the Connacht side as Louth couldn’t make any headway in attack.

Substitute Donie Smith illustrated the depth McStay has on offer, striking seven second half points, four from play, three frees and a yellow card in a virtuoso match-winning cameo from the bench.

Despite the long trip, the travelling Connacht Champions started the brightest, opening up a five point lead after barely seven minutes played.

Impressive captain Conor Devaney and Enda Smith helped themselves to brace after midfielder Conor Daly scored right from the throw in.

It was in fact a proud day for the Daly family as all three Daly brothers Ronan, Niall and Conor from the Padraig Pearses club started for Roscommon for the first time. They excelled, too.

Ryan Burns once again got Louth up and running with two frees after a quarter of an hour played.

The second quarter was tit for tat with both sides duelling point for point.

Midfielder Tommy Durnin got Louth’s first from play in the 19th minute and half backs Derek Maguire and Anthony Williams got forward to score for Louth, but Diarmuid Murtagh was on hand to respond every single time with well taken points.

The half ended 0-10 to 0-6 to the primrose and blue with all of their scores coming from open play. That point taking ability was the effectively the difference between the two sides going in contrasting directions.

Louth did get the first score of the half through substitute Gerard McSorely narrowing the gap to three, however that was as close as the game would be as a contest.

Roscommon gave the impression they could lift it when they felt like it and Diarmuid Murtagh’s injection of pace and finish to the net demonstrated the gears they possessed.

Donie Smith was already on at this stage scoring with his first touch Pete McGraths’s men simply weren’t able to handle him as he aided the Rossies to a double score victory pulling up.

Scorers for Roscommon: Donie Smith 0-7 (3f), Diarmuid Murtagh 1-3, Conor Devaney 0-3, Ciaráin Murtagh 0-2 (1f)  Conor Daly 0-2, Enda Smith 0-2, Ciaran Lennon 0-1, Niall Daly 0-1.

**Scorers for Louth: **Ryan Burns 0-3 (3f), Gerard McSorley 0-3, Andy McDonnell 0-1, Bevan Duffy 0-1, Andy McDonnell 0-1, Anthony Williams 0-1, Derek Maguire 0-1, Tommy Durnin 0-1.

LOUTH: Craig Lynch; Darren Marks, Emmet Carolan, James Craven; Derek Maguire, Bevan Duffy, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin, Andy McDonnell; Eoghan Lafferty, Conor Grimes, Ronan Holcroft; William Woods, Declan Byrne, Ryan Burns. **Subs: **Ross Nally for W Woods BC (HT), James Stewart for T Durnin (HT) Gerard McSorley for R Holcroft (HT), Fergal Donohoe for A Williams BC (57) Eimhin Keenan for D Maguire (63)

ROSCOMMON: James Featherston; Seanie McDermott, Peter Domican, David Murray; Ronan Daly, Niall Daly, Ross Timothy; Enda Smith, Conor Daly; Ciaráin Murtagh, Niall Kilroy, Conor Devaney; Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciaran Lennon, Cathal Cregg. **Subs: **John McManus for R Timothy (12), Donie Smith for C Cregg (40), Cathal Compton for D Murray (53) Fintan Cregg for C Murtagh (63), Ian Kilbride for E Smith (67), Shane Killoran for D Murtagh (69).

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 4