Galway give Roscommon hiding

Roscommon 1-08, Galway 3-12 (full-time)

All-Ireland champions gave neighbours and Connacht champions Roscommon a lesson in football in their Senior Football Championship tie at Dr Hyde Park.

The Tribesmen gained revenge for their Connacht Final defeat of last year by beating their rivals by 10 points.

Roscommon roared into the lead with Gerry Lohan and Seamus O'Neill pointing inside the first three minutes.

Galway captain Padraig Joyce kept his side in touch with a pointed free.

However Paul Noone extended Roscommon's lead to 0-03 to 0-01 with 20 minutes gone.

Padraig Joyce put two over from frees to draw the sides level.

Two Nigel Dineen frees saw Roscommon pull ahead again after Joe Bergin scored the Tribesmen's' first point from play.

Padraig Joyce brought Galway to within a point with another free before Derek Savage pointed in injury-time to give Galway the lead for the first time in the game.

There was more drama to come in injury-time as Walsh caught and passed to Michael Donnellan - who went on a fine solo, and in turn fed Padraig Joyce, who was through on goal.

Joyce was judged to have been taken down by Roscommon keeper Derek Thompson and a penalty was awarded.

Derek Savage stepped up to take his injury-time tally to 1-01 and send the Connacht champions into the dressingroom in arrears.

Roscommon grabbed a second-half lifeline in the 52nd minute through a Paul Noone goal after an Alan Keane blunder gifted him with an open net.

Galway responded through Alan Kerins. The dual star beat Derek Thompson but his effort was parried out by a Roscommon back - however, the linesman deemed the ball had gone over the line.

Galway added two points and Roscommon one through Frankie Dolan before Alan Kerins stepped up to score his second goal of the game.

He collected a shot and with his first touch blasted past Derek Thompson to put Galway 3-11 to 1-06 in front.

Sean Og de Paor added another for Galway before Roscommon were given a penalty in the dying minutes, and a chance to give the scoreline some respectability.

Galway keeper Alan Keane made up for his earlier mistake by saving and parrying the ball over the bar - but at that stage it was well and truly over as the Tribesmen sent out the message that they are not giving up the Sam Maguire without a fight.