Roscommon take Division 3B title

Roscommon 0-17 Mayo 1-12

Roscommon overcame their Connacht rivals Mayo to be crowned Allianz Hurling League Division 3B champions at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Mayo started without dual player Keith Higgins, who failed to recover in time from an injury.

They began brightly with a Ronan Cullinane goal getting his side off to a perfect start as they gained a 1-08 to 0-09 interval lead.

But it was a strong final quarter performance which earned Roscommon silverware with Kevin Conneely playing a crucial role.

Conneely scored three points in this game, which saw the Rossies, who are managed by Seamus Qualter, avenge a 0-17 to 1-06 loss to Mayo in their league opener eight weeks ago.

Niall Murphy and Stephen Broderick claimed early points as Mayo took a 0-02 to 0-00 lead in the opening stages, but Roscommon quickly equalised.

Little separated the sides throughout the opening 35 minutes. Roscommon moved 0-04 to 0-03 ahead in the tenth minute, before the sides were tied at 0-05 each.

Murt Connolly's men had the best of the scoring opportunities at this stage, but found it difficult to convert them into points.

There were goal misses for both Eoin Madigan and Cullinane, before the latter made amends by rippling the Roscommon net in the 28th minute.

Cullinane's green flag propelled Mayo into a 1-05 to 0-07 lead, and they extended their advantage to three points at the break.

But Roscommon raised their game in the second period, getting back on terms just nine minutes after the restart.

Mayo struggled thereafter and were held to just four second half points as Qualter's side, with a number of Under-21s on board, gained promotion to Division 3A for 2012.

Both Roscommon and Mayo are back in action next Saturday afternoon. The new Division 3B champions are away to London in the opening round of the Nicky Rackard Cup, while Mayo entertain Division 3A winners Wicklow in the Christy Ring Cup in Castlebar.