Roscommon hammered by Dublin in Div 2

The size of the task interim manager Paul Earley and his successor face in ressurecting Roscommon football was plain to see at Parnell Park tonight as they were hammered 3-20 to 0-7 by an unforgiving Dublin side.

Despite missing a number of regulars including Stephen Cluxton and Mark Vaughan, the Dubs ran out comfortable winners as they took over at the top of the table and confirmed Roscommon's relegation.

The Rossies opened the scoring with a first-minute Ger Heneghan point but there were scoreless for the next 27 minutes and 2-8 to 0-4 behind at half-time.

Conal Keaney, who tallied up 1-5, netted in the 17th-minute, stabbing home after Paddy Andrews' initial shot had struck an upright.

Diarmuid Connolly, whether he meant it or not, managed to chip Roscommon goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey for the hosts' second major, seven minutes later.

Claffey spared his side's blushes by saving efforts from Bernard Brogan and Barry Cahill but Mossie Quinn completed the rout with a 62nd-minute goal.

At Pairc Ui Rinn, Monaghan lost their unbeaten record and missed out on the chance to nail down promotion as Cork put together a super-charged second half display.

The Rebels ran out 0-12 to 0-10 winners, helped by a fantastic burst of scoring in the second half when they sent seven successive points over Padraig McBennett's crossbar.

In a free-flowing game, Seamus McEnaney's visitors led 0-6 to 0-5 at the break with Tommy Freeman landing three points.

Cork had hit eight first half wides but they tightened up their ship and showed a clinical edge on the restart with Daniel Goulding (0-4), Fintan Goold, Seanie O'Brien and Alan O'Connor hitting points.

All-Star forward Freeman replied with the game's final four scores but Cork, who lost midfielder Nicholas Murphy to a nose injury, were full value for the win.

Meanwhile, Armagh scored only two points in the entire second half at Pairc Tailteann as Meath claimed a 3-7 to 1-6 victory to gain ground in the promotion race.

Armagh, who had their captain Paul McGrane back from suspension, took an early lead courtesy of an Aidan O'Rourke penalty.

However, goals from Joe Sheridan, after a one-two with Graham Geraghty, and Cian Ward, whose long range free deceived goalkeeper Paul Hearty, had the Royals leading 2-3 to 1-4 at the interval.

The visitors badly fell off the pace in the second half with only Aaron Kernan and substitute Oisin McConville scoring for them.

And while their number was up when Sheridan knocked home Meath's third goal from a penalty, Armagh were also fortunate when it appeared that a refereeing error - Martin O'Rourke was shown two yellow cards but not sent-off - allowed their player to stay on the field before being substituted.