Roscommon were crowned division two champions after beating Galway 1-20 to 0-22 in the Allianz football league final at Croke Park.
The game was evenly contested throughout and the sides were level heading into injury time before a late goal from Diarmuid Murtagh helped the Rossies to victory.
The teams traded five points each in the opening 22 minutes where Donie Smith (two), Conor Cox (two) and Eddie Nolan were on target for Roscommon. All scores came from placed balls.
Cian McKeon registered Roscommon’s first score from play on 25 minutes and a minute later Ciaran Murtagh stretched the lead to two points when he added another point.
Points from Sean Kelly and Damien Comer saw Galway draw level four minutes later before the sides traded two points each making it nine points apiece at half-time.
The second half began in explosive fashion with the sides hitting four points in as many minutes, three of which came Roscommon’s way.
Damien Comer got the first score of the second half before points from Cian McKeon, Donie Smith and Ciaran Murtagh restored Roscommon’s two-point cushion.
Four minutes later, Donie Smith made it a three-point game before two more points from Conor Cox maintained the three-point lead on 49 minutes.
Roscommon went five points clear on 54 minutes before five points on the trot saw Galway level the game with eight minutes remaining. Shane Walsh came off the bench to kick the equalising score.
The teams subsequently traded two points each and a moment of genius was required to break the deadlock; Diarmuid Murtagh obliged two minutes into injury time
Murtagh carved open the Galway defence with a penetrating solo run before blasting the ball to the net and suddenly the Rossies were three points clear.
Galway subsequently reduced the margin to a single point but couldn’t find an equaliser as Roscommon won by the smallest of margins.
