WINS FOR LAOIS, ROSCOMMON
THE Murtagh brothers, Diarmuid and Ciaran, led the way as champions Roscommon marched into their third Connacht SFC final in a row.
Kevin McStay’s men landed some superb points – 13 different players scored – as they brushed past Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Roscommon were well on their way to their eighth win in-a-row over Leitrim when leading 0-9 to 0-2 at the interval.
Two points from Keith Beirne gave Leitrim hope in the early stages, with a brace from Diarmuid Murtagh deadlocking the sides after nine minutes.
But Leitrim, often with two sweepers, did not score again during the opening half and Roscommon took charge.
The two Murtaghs were in top form for Roscommon and scored six points between them in the opening half. Fintan Cregg and Brian Stack also delivered quality scores, while Leitrim goalkeeper Diarmuid McKiernan superbly tipped over an effort from Enda Smith after 22 minutes.
Roscommon continued to dominate after the restart with Niall Kilroy becoming their sixth forward to score when he found the range on 44 minutes. Leitrim subs Damien Moran, Darragh Rooney and Ryan O’Rourke injected some accuracy in the second half but it was too little, too late
But their haul of six points never troubled Roscommon who will now meet either Galway or Sligo in the provincial final.