Late Murtagh free secures derby spoils for battling Rossies

KEVIN McSTAY said yesterday’s thrilling one-point win over Galway at Dr Hyde Park should give his side a boost ahead of Roscommon’s Division 2 clash against Louth next weekend, with sub Diarmuid Murtagh pointing an injury-time free to hand the Rossies their first FBD crown since 2015.

“Getting the win is nice, but I wouldn’t overstate it. Still, it’s better to be facing up to Drogheda with a win, and it was against Galway – a team we’re trying to measure ourselves against,” he said.

Roscommon made a blistering start with four unanswered points from Donie Smith, Ross Timothy and man of the match Cathal Cregg (two).

However, a bad slip by Roscommon keeper James Featherston allowed Frankie Burke to fire home a simple goal for Galway in the 18th minute and he found the net again on 26 minutes with a classy effort.

Roscommon responded with a goal of their own three minutes from half-time, with Cregg palming into the net to leave it 2-4 to 1-6 at the break.

The home side’s prospects were enhanced when Enda Smith hit his side’s second goal, but the game took another twist when Galway sub Dessie Conneely found the net.

Extra-time looked likely until a Galway defender was harshly penalised for over-carrying among a ruck of players, leaving Murtagh with the simplest of tasks to land the winner.