Donegal's unbeaten league run ended by Roscommon
· Yahoo Sports
Roscommon denied Donegal the chance to secure a National League final place before the final round as they claimed a hard-earned 2-20 to 0-20 victory at Dr Hyde Park.
Playing with a strong wind and in sporadic heavy showers, the hosts dominated the opening half and surged into an 11-point lead by the interval.
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However, Donegal mounted a strong second-half comeback and cut the deficit to a single point, before substitute Conor Hand's goal restored Roscommon's cushion and kept the race for a league final place open heading into the final round.
Enda Smith set the tone immediately with a two-pointer from the first kick of the game. Donegal responded through Conor McCahill, but Roscommon quickly seized control.
Another sweeping counter finished by Smith for a second two-pointer stretched the lead before Conor O'Donnell replied for Donegal.
After 12 minutes, league top scorer Diarmuid Murtagh finished a slick passing move to the net after good work by Patrick Gavin and Niall Higgins.
With the wind at their backs, Roscommon converted additional points through Keith Doyle, Robert Heneghan and two points from corner back Colm Neary. Late scores from Gavin Mulreany and Michael Murphy left Donegal trailing 1-13 to 0-05 at the break.
The Tir Chonaill men produced a dramatic response after half-time. Substitute Shea Malone sparked the revival with an early point before scores from Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Jason McGee and Michael Langan – including a series of two-pointers – quickly cut the gap.
Donegal's surge continued as Jason McGee and Conor O'Donnell reduced the deficit to two points, before Finnbarr Roarty landed a long-range score to register Donegal's fourth two-pointer of the half.
Roscommon steadied themselves with scores from Doyle and Smith, but Donegal edged within a point when substitute Jamie Brennan split the post.
The decisive moment for the Rossies arrived five minutes from time when Murtagh picked out Conor Hand, who palmed to the net to restore Roscommon's cushion.
Murtagh added a late free to seal victory and revive Roscommon's hopes of reaching the Division One final, while Donegal's unbeaten league run came to an end.