By Cian O'Connell

Roscommon manager Anthony Cunningham acknowledged Diarmuid Murtagh's vital contribution at Croke Park.Talented substitute Murtagh mined a brilliant goal in the closing stages to earn Roscommon the Allianz Football League Division Two title.

Having led by five points in the second half Roscommon then conceded six in a row as Galway hit the front.Late on, though, Cunningham's charges responded. "We were up five, they came back to level it, and it was a great strike by Diarmuid, testament to the man," Cunningham reflected. "He is fighting to get back on the team, he had a great run with his club, St Faithleach's, and wasn't in for the first half of the season. He is working very hard on his game - as are all of the players - I'm just delighted for the work the lads have put in."

Cunningham was encouraged about the manner in which Roscommon enjoyed a productive third quarter with Donie Smith and Conor Cox carrying a threat.

"We tagged on a few points with the flow of the game," Cunningham replied. "We had tremendous performances at midfield with Ultan (Harney) and Eddie (Nolan). 

"We were very solid in defence, and up front the lads were threatening all day. Ciaráin Murtagh was buzzing all day - the inside two Donie and Coxy were always a threat. It is just a win here, it helps massively with confidence. We are just getting ready for the Championship."

Despite the defeat, Galway manager Padraic Joyce was satisfied with aspects of the maroon and white display.

"We were disappointed not to win it, but there was a lot of good stuff out there," Joyce reflected. 

"Obviously 22 points should win any game, but we got caught at the end there. We took our foot of the gas just after half-time, they got five or six points up. In saying that we fought back well to get a point up, but then conceded a sucker punch of a goal where we made no contact on the player that ran across the pitch and then cut inside. He finished the goal well, but from a defensive point of view it was poor from our side."

Ultimately Joyce is satisfied that Galway will operate in Division One next year.

"Again it was a good league campaign, it was our sixth or seventh weekend on the road," he added.

"We aren't making excuses, it was a good game of football. We knew it was going to be tough and that it would good down to the wire - which it did. That part of the game will stand to us, we will learn a lot from it, no doubt."