ROSSIES STARING AT RELEGATION
KEVIN McSTAY has accepted relegation is inevitable for struggling Roscommon who remain the only team in Ireland without a win. Jack McCarron’s 1-7 blast for high flying Monaghan consigned McStay’s Rossies to their fifth consecutive defeat and they need a miracle now to stay up. They must beat Dublin at Croke Park next weekend and then overcome Cavan, and hope results elsewhere go their way, to avoid the drop. Roscommon were outclassed again in the continued absence of key players like Cathal Cregg who have declined to play for McStay. ‘It’s not over until it’s over but we’re playing the best team of the modern era in their home ground next Saturday night and they’re chasing an unbeaten record too,’ said boss McStay. ‘It ain’t gonna be simple. Then we’re playing Cavan who’ll be fighting for their lives. Obviously it’s not over until it’s over but you wouldn’t be putting a shed load of money on us staying up either.’ McCarron was excellent for the hosts and his 53rd minute goal put Monaghan seven ahead and in the clear. Sub Owen Duffy added their second goal on the hour mark to wrap up a comfortable win. McCarron’s return from serious knee and hamstring issues has lightened the scoring burden on Conor McManus who chipped in with 0-4. Monaghan were only really troubled midway through the first-half when Roscommon hit four points on the spin. The home side responded with five of the last six points in the first half, including three from McCarron, to lead 0-12 to 0-8 at the break. The third quarter was forgettable but Monaghan came alive in the final 20 minutes with those two goals wrapping it up. MONAGHAN: R Beggan; F Kelly, D Wylie (O Coyle 62), R Wylie; R McAnespie (C McCarthy 51), N McAdam, K O’Connell (S Gollogly 66); D Hughes (G Greenan 65), K Hughes; G Doogan, S Carey (O Duffy 47), K Duffy (V Corey 62); J McCarron, C McManus, D Ward. Scorers: J McCarron 1-7 (5f), O Duffy 1-1, C McManus 0-4 (2f), D Ward 0-2, F Kelly, D Hughes, S Carey 0-1. ROSCOMMON: D O’Malley; S McDermott, T Featherston (P Brogan h/t), N McInerney; G Patterson (R Stack h/t), S Mullooly, D Murray; T Corcoran (S Killoran 63), T O’Rourke; F Cregg (U Harney h-t), C Devaney, E Smith; C Murtagh, D Smith (C Compton 55), C Connolly (D Murtagh 50). Scorers: C Murtagh 0-6 (5f), T O’Rourke 1-0; D Smith, C Devaney 0-2; G Patterson, E Smith, D Murtagh (1f) 0-1. Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).