Armagh 0-15 Roscommon 2-17
Armagh lost out to Roscommon by eight points in today’s Division 3A league final, missing out on the title and promotion.
An early goal from Roscommon full forward Conor Mulry gave the Rossies the initiative and they never looked back.
The Rossies netted late on as well, through Mickey Joe Egan, to seal their promotion to Division 2B.
Roscommon made the brighter start, hitting 1-3 to Armagh’s 0-1 inside the opening ten minutes of the game.
From there, the sides were evenly matched, but the gap was too big for Karl McKeegan’s men to close.
Three quick fire points from Mickey Joe Egan (2) and Paddy Fallon got the eventual winners up and running.
Armagh captain Fionntan Donnelly fired back for his side with a free before Roscommon snatched the game’s only goal.
Fallon and Donnelly both converted from dead balls, while Fallon and Egan stretched Roscommon’s advantage to seven.
Fallon made it ten but Donnelly’s accuracy from frees kept Armagh in touch with three points on the trot.
Donnelly traded scores with his namesake Adam to bring the half to an end. Six points was the difference as the short whistle sounded, with Roscommon ahead 1-9 to 0-6.
Second half
Donnelly exchanged efforts once again, this time with Eoin Fitzgerald before Cormac Jennings chipped in with a point.
Naos Connaughton. Fallon (free) and Mulry made it a double score lead for Roscommon, 1-13 to 0-8.
Scores from Tomas Galvin and top marksman Donnelly narrowed the gap while Donnelly matched a Fitzgerald score.
Two Fallon points were split by a Tiarnan Nevin score, first of the campaign, before Egan added a second goal.
Tiarnan O’Hare’s free was cancelled out by Egan (free), before O’Hare followed it up with his second.
Tiarnan O’Hare’s free was cancelled out by Egan (free) before O’Hare grabbed his second of the game.
Barry Shortt drifted forward to close the gap with Armagh’s final score as they lost out by eight in the end.
It’s a disappointing end to Armagh’s journey. All focus will swiftly turn to the upcoming Nickey Rackard Cup campaign, where they once again meet Roscommon in round one.
