Roscommon made it two wins from two with a two point victory over Louth in Drogheda.
Louth opened the scoring inside the first minute with a point from Craig Lennon. Lennon was substituted two minutes later after picking up an injury.
Two quick-fire points from both Murtagh brothers put Roscommon in ahead after five minutes. Sam Mulroy who was a threat all day levelled the scoring five minutes later, before Andy McDonnell put Louth ahead on 15 minutes.
Roscommon scored five without reply through Ciaran and Diarmuid Murtagh, Shane Cunnane and Enda Smith. The Rossies led by four after 26 minutes seven points to three.
Sam Mulroy registered Louth’s first score after going 12 minutes without one. In added first-half time Donie Smith replied for Roscommon before Diarmuid Murtagh raised the orange flag with a two pointer.
Roscommon lead by five points on 10 points to five at half-time.
Seven minutes had elapsed in the second-half before Diarmuid Murtagh scored a well taken point. Louth’s Ciaran Downey and Donie Smith traded points before Sam Mulroy added to his tally on 45 minutes. Roscommon leading 12 points to seven.
Diarmuid Murtagh added another point from play on 47 minutes before Kieran McArdle replied for the hosts. Roscommon, at this stage had begun to empty their bench with Senan Lambe and Cian McKeon entering the fray.
Sam Mulroy struck a two pointer from a free before quickly adding another point to his individual tally. Indeed, Daire Cregg steadied the Roscommon ship with a free, moving Roscommon into a three-point lead.
The game looked sealed, when Keith Doyle found the back of the Louth net on 63 minutes, with Ben O’Carroll and Ruaidhri Fallon coming on immediately after.
It seemed like Roscommon were in full control heading into the home stretch. Two further points coming from the ever-present Ciaran Murtagh and Ben O Carroll left Roscommon in a nine-point lead.
Same Mulroy added another two pointer for Louth, before some individual brilliance from the Naomh Mairtin club man teed up Val Leedy to finish to the back of the Roscommon net.
Conor Cox replied for Roscommon to settle the nerves putting Roscommon four in front with one minute of the four added played.
Sam Mulroy and Dara McDonnell scored a point each for Louth, but it came too late for the Wee County.
Roscommon held out to leave Drogheda with two points ahead of their next fixture against Monaghan in Dr Hyde Park in two week’s time.
