Roscommon avoided the prospect of a shock defeat in consecutive years in the Connacht championship as they beat Sligo 4-16 to 2-13 at Hyde Park.
Sligo had the best of the opening exchanges and raced into a 2-8 to 0-6 lead at the break, carrying all the threat and purpose of a team ready to upset the odds once again.
Adrian Marren scored the opening goal of the, holding his nerve from the spot to send Castlerea St Kevin’s clubman Geoffrey Claffey the wrong way.
The momentum edged towards Sligo midway through the first half and midfielder Niall Murphy slotted over a superb point, after catching a Roscommon kick-out.
Ciaran Murtagh brought the difference back to three with a short-range free and Cathal Cregg manufactured a goal chance shortly after, which he horribly squandered. After making an incisive run through the Sligo defence, he played a one-two with Senan Kilbride but the resultant shot sliced off his boot awkwardly and spun out over the end line.
Ciarain Murtagh converts from the spot. Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Marren added another point for Sligo, to bring his tally to 1-3 but that proved to be his last score of the game when he was dismissed from the game on a black card.
Sligo recovered from this loss by two more points through the boot of Pat Hughes before Kyle Cawley dealt the killer blow just before the half-time whistle with a second goal.
Niall Murphy sliced a pass through the Roscommon defence which resulted in Cawley winning a race for the ball and after his first shot was kept off the line, he duly ensured the ball would hit the net on the second kick.
After the restart, Roscommon came out a team transformed.
Just 30 seconds to strike back after the restart when Senan Kilbride fisted a long delivery into the net. Donie Shine added points for Roscommon before Ciarain Murtagh pulled another goal back for Roscommon.
With the wind at their backs, the Rossies sealed victory with a third goal from Enda Smith.
Kilbride got a goal of his own and Roscommon will now have to wait to see if they'll face Galway of Mayo in the final.
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