Roscommon through to Connacht final

Roscommon 1-13 Leitrim 0-11

Roscommon got on top in the second half at Dr Hyde Park as they qualified for their first Connacht SFC final since 2004.

Donie Shine's 39th-minute goal put the Rossies four points clear and Leitrim could not muster a comeback in sweltering conditions.

Free-takers Shine and Michael Foley shared out 11 points in a first half that ended 0-8 to 0-7 in Leitrim's favour.

But Leitrim, who has Tomas Beirne sent-off in the closing stages, struggled after the restart as Fergal O'Donnell's men deservedly progressed to the July 18 decider.

Galway or Sligo await in the final and Roscommon, following two tidy wins, will have a good deal of momentum behind them heading into that game.

O'Donnell made one change to the team that saw off London in the last round, with David Casey coming in for the injured Mark O'Carroll (knee) at wing back and the Boyle clubman turned in a man-of-the-match performance which included a vital point early in the second half.

There was a minute's silence held before the start to acknowledge the tragic passing of Leitrim footballer Philly McGuinness, and his team-mates, in their first Championship outing since his death, broke into an early 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Hit by injuries, emigration and retirements, Leitrim boss Mickey Moran selected a team that showed seven changes to the side that lost 2-13 to 2-9 to Roscommon in last year's Championship. Wing back Wayne McKeon and corner forward Ray Mulvey also stepped up for their Championship debuts this afternoon.

The early exchanges were dominated by frees, with Foley notching a long range opener by punishing Sean Purcell for over-carrying. Shine replied with a fourth minute effort off the ground, and the tit-for-tat continued.

Shine and Foley exchanged frees again before Leitrim linked two points together in as many minutes, newcomer McKeon and David O'Connoe doing well to set up full-forward James Glancy for a score, and influential wing forward Foley followed up with an effort from play.

Both sides were opting for the long ball tactic, lobbing deliveries in towards Shine and Glancy, and the former curled over two excellent frees to level the game by the midpoint of the first half.

Foley's fourth point - third from a free - nosed his side into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead by the 21st minute and Leitrim's terrific work-rate in defence and attack allowed them maintain that lead for the break.

O'Connor added his name to the scoresheet, but two more frees from Shine, who also top-scored against London last time out, had Roscommon back on terms at 0-6 apiece.

The Rossies' opening point from play followed, Ger Heneghan registering it, only for Foley to reply with another textbook free from a wide position and a quick counter out of defence led to wing back James Glancy restoring Leitrim's one-point advantage.

Roscommon corner forward John Rogers had a glorious chance of a goal in injury-time, but he left-footed into the side-netting having done most of the hard work.

Would the miss come back to haunt the home side? In the end, no. Although they hit four early wides, Roscommon picked off points through Cathal Cregg and Karol Mannion as the second half action got underway.

The decisive goal put Leitrim in even more trouble. As David Keenan knocked a long ball through, Leitrim captain John McKeon was beaten by Shine who rounded goalkeeper Enda Lyons and finished to the net.

Shine knocked over a free soon after to take his tally to 1-7, but his team-mates also stepped up to the mark as Casey raided forward for a point and Cregg collected his second.

Leitrim failed to respond from open play, relying on three frees from Foley to keep them in touch. The Kilcock clubman finished with eight points altogether.

Foley's eighth of the day put four between the sides in the closing stages, and really Leitrim needed a goal. But Roscommon's control of midfield helped them set up Rogers for the clinching point.

The hosts could afford to hit three late wides as Leitrim's gallant challenge collapsed, losing hard-working midfielder Beirne to a second yellow card.