Allianz National Football League Division Three

Roscommon 0-8 Monaghan  0-7                   24/3/13

Monaghan missed out on the chance to secure promotion with a game to spare in the NFL with this one-point loss in a scrappy game away to Roscommon at a bitterly cold Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday. Despite failing to make good use of the wind advantage in the first half, Monaghan led for most of the match, but Roscommon gradually reeled them in through the second period before Michael Finneran kicked a late winner. Finneran, Niall Carty, Seán McDermott, Niall Daly and Cathal Cregg were to the fore for Roscommon, while Darren and Kieran Hughes, Dessie Mone, Colin Walshe and Neil McAdam were best for Monaghan.

Roscommon were first off the mark with a well-struck free by Donie Smith after a foul on Scott Oates, but Conor McManus won and scored a 50-metre free to bring Monaghan level. Ten scoreless minutes followed before Owen Duffy popped up at the end of a patient move involving Drew Wyllie, Colin Walshe, Paul Finlay and Gavin Doogan to kick the first point from play, before Monaghan had a penalty appeal turned down when Kieran Hughes appeared to be brought down. Hughes linked up with Owen Duffy to double Monaghan’s lead at the end of a counter-attack started by a Drew Wylie interception.

Monaghan wasted a couple of chances to pull away, as McManus missed a scoreable free before sending a goal chance wide following good work by Owen Duffy and Kieran Hughes. Owen Lennon linked up with midfield partner Neil McAdam to add a point to Monaghan’s tally and although Cathal Cregg kicked a fine point to end 25 minutes without a score for the hosts, Darren Hughes burst through to provide a quick response. Monaghan were unable to add to that, though, and they had to settle for a 0-5 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

Roscommon took less than a minute to open their second-half account through Fintan Cregg, but a foul on McAdam allowed Finlay to convert a 30-metre free for Monaghan, who moved four clear when Kieran Hughes took a pass from his brother Darren and landed a smart point on the turn. Monaghan failed to score in the remaining 25 minutes, however, with Conor Daly bringing Roscommon back into it and Smith converting a 45-metre free minutes after Cathal Cregg had miscued another free.

Kevin Higgins landed a big point for John Evans’ side, who drew level when Cathal Cregg won and scored a 30-metre free five minutes from time. Roscommon took the lead when Michael Finneran kicked a huge point in the final minute of normal time and they held on to end any lingering relegation worries and cling on to their hopes of promotion. Monaghan now need to beat Antrim in Inniskeen on April 7 to be sure of going up.

Roscommon: D O’Malley; S McDermott, N Carty, N Collins; D Keenan, N Daly, C Daly (0-1); M Finneran (0-1), K Higgins (0-1); C Cregg (Capt., 0-2, 1f), J Connaughton, F Cregg (0-1); D Smith (0-2f), S Oates, C Devaney.

Subs: D McDermott for Oates (inj., 10 mins), E Smith for D McDermott (49), I Kilbride for F Cregg (51), C Dineen for Devaney (57).

Monaghan: R Beggan; D Mone, D Wylie, R McNally; K Duffy, D Hughes (0-1), C Walshe; O Lennon (Capt., 0-1), N McAdam; G Doogan, P Finlay (0-1f), O Duffy (0-1); K Hughes (0-2), C McManus (0-1f), D Malone.

Subs: V Corey for K Duffy (53), D Clerkin for O Duffy (58), S Gollogly for Doogan (65), M Keogh for Beggan (inj., 66)

Referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary).