Roscommon promoted to Divison One

Westmeath 0-12 Roscommon 2-13: Roscommon manager John Evans hailed his side’s promotion to Division 1 of the National Football League by saying: “This meant everything to us today to win promotion. 

We have been working really, really hard as a unit to get promotion and we have a lovely quiet, slick, fast, physically strong team, who were really tested today. We put everything into this for the past two years.”

Second-half goals from Conor Daly and Senan Kilbride helped Roscommon to a seven-point victory over Westmeath in Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday. Sean McDermott was sent off on a straight red card offence near the end, but nothing could dampen the team’s spirit.

Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin queried the commitment and effort of some of his players after his side lost their fourth game in a row and were relegated to Division 3 next year, having played in Division 1 only a year ago.

“Most of our players gave everything. There are a few players not performing for us. You need your big players to perform if you are going to deliver. A few of our leaders lay down and some of the players have serious questions to answer over the next few weeks ’cause we may have to work ahead without these players,” Cribbin said.

Scorers-Roscommon: C. Daly 1-1, D. Murtagh 0-4 (0-1 free), S. Kilbride 1-0, C. Murtagh 0-3 (0-2 frees), D. Smith 0-1, F. Kelly 0-1, K. Higgins 0-1, C. Compton 0-1 free, C. Cregg 0-1.

Westmeath; J. Heslin 0-7 (0-6 frees), S. Dempsey 0-2, G. Egan 0-1, R. Foley 0-1, D. Glennon 0-1

ROSCOMMON: D. O’Malley; S. McDermott, N. Carty, N. Collins; D. Keenan, N. Daly, C. Cafferky; C. Shine, C. Daly; F. Kelly, M. Healy, C. Cregg; D. Smith, S. Kilbride, C. Murtagh.

Subs: D. Murtagh for D. Smith (26 minutes), K. Higgins for F. Kelly (half time), E. Smith for C. Murtagh (half time), U, Harney for M. Healy (55 minutes), R. Stack for C. Cafferky (57 minutes), C. Compton for E. Smith (black carded, 67 minutes).

WESTMEATH: D. Quinn; M. McCallon, K. Maguire, K. Daly; D. Lynch, J. Gilligan, J. Egan; J. Stapleton, P. Holloway; K. Martin, R. Connellan, G. Egan; J. Connellan, P. Sharry, J. Heslin.

Subs: R. Foley for P. Sharry (injured, 9 minutes), S. Dempsey for J. Stapleton (22 minutes), D. Glennon for J. Connellan (half time), J. Dolan for R. Connellan (48 minutes), Lorcan Smyth for R. Foley (64 minutes).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).