Roscommon race away

National Football League Division Two A/ Roscommon 0-12; Monaghan 1-4: Monaghan offered meek resistance at Dr Hyde Park yesterday…

National Football League Division Two A/ Roscommon 0-12; Monaghan 1-4: Monaghan offered meek resistance at Dr Hyde Park yesterday as Roscommon led all the way, with Frankie Dolan in impressive form from frees.

Roscommon raced into a five-point lead after 15 minutes through Gary Cox, Dolan (two frees), Karol Mannion and Ronan Cox.

Monaghan battled gamely against the gale-force wind but failed to take their chances. However, Roscommon were equally culpable, as it took the home side another 25 minutes to register a score - a Dolan free in the 30th minute. The corner forward added another three minutes later. Substitute Rory Woods opened Monaghan's account with a free on 35 minutes, before the same player swapped points with Gary Cox.

Monaghan trailed 0-8 to 0-2 at the interval, and with wind advantage they mounted the expected second-half revival. Within 25 seconds of the restart, Tomás Freeman found the net and he added a point to reduce the arrears to three. But they scored only one more point, from Dick Clerkin in the 64th minute.

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Cox, Nigel Dineen, Mannion and Seamus O'Neill kicked further scores to put Roscommon's promotion hopes back on track. Gary Cox harshly received a red card for a heavy tackle, while, in a separate incident, Monaghan's James Conlon was also dismissed after receiving two yellow cards.

ROSCOMMON: S Curran; R Cox, M Ryan, P Noone; E Towey, F Grehan, J Rogers; S O'Neill (0-1), B Higgins; G Cox (0-2), J Hanley, R Cox (0-1); N Dineen (0-1), K Mannion (0-2), F Dolan (0-5, frees). Subs: J Tiernan for R Cox (58 mins); J Egan for J Hanley (69 mins).

MONAGHAN: G Murphy; J Conlon, J Coyle, E Lennon; G McQuaid, JP Mone, F Doogan; E Lennon, J Hughes; N Corrigan, D Clerkin (0-1), D McArdle; T Freeman (1-1), R Ronaghan, K Tavey. Subs: R Woods (0-2)for Tavey (23 mins); K Finlay for Corrigan (62 mins); P McKenna for Hughes (71 mins).

Referee: Aidan Mangan (Kerry)