14-man Roscommon missed out on an All-Ireland semi-final following a 2-12 to 0-12 defeat to Armagh at Croke Park.
The Orchard men dominated the contest overall and a goal in each half proved decisive resulting in a six-point victory.
Armagh made an explosive start leading 0-1 to no score inside ten seconds. Conor Turbitt with the game’s opening score.
The brilliance of Roscommon full-back Brian Stack kept the deficit at one solitary point on six minutes.
Barry McCambridge latched onto a loose ball in the Roscommon goalmouth but saw his goal bound effort blocked by the St. Brigid’s clubman.
Niall Grimley doubled Armagh’s advantage on 16 minutes, 60 seconds later Conor Cox eventually opened Roscommon’s account.
Armagh moved four points clear on 20 minutes when Barry McCambridge registered a spectacular goal. The wing-back ghosted behind the Roscommon defence, collected a pass from Rory Grugan and rifled the ball to the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Conor Cox and Niall Higgins replied with a point each for the Rossies who were down to 14 men 60 seconds from the break.
Ruaidhri Fallon received a second yellow card for a challenge on Rory Grugan. Roscommon’s Conor Cox slotted over a free on the stroke of half-time leaving Davy Burke’s men two points down at the break; 1-3 to 0-4.
Roscommon showed tremendous urgency after the restart. Scores from Eoin McCormack and Dylan Ruane saw parity restored within three minutes of the restart.
Armagh responded with three successive points. Scores from Barry McCambridge, Oisin Conaty and Stefan Campbell made it 1-6 to 0-6.
Roscommon reduced the margin to two points on two further occasions, each time Armagh responded by moving three points clear.
Armagh find another gear
Armagh doubled their advantage on 52 minutes, effective pressing resulted in a goal from Conor Turbitt.
Niall Higgins was caught in possession, Tiernan Kelly collected the loose ball and fed Turbitt who rifled to the net.
Roscommon’s Diarmuid Murtagh eventually got off the mark four minutes from time. The Rossies still trailed by four points.
Armagh finished strongly. Two points from Oisin Conaty pushed Armagh seven points clear 60 seconds into injury time.
Conor Cox replied with a pointed free two minutes later but the Orchard men held on for a comfortable victory.
