John Evans admitted that Benny McArdle's second yellow card before half-time had a big bearing on the outcome of today's Allianz Football League Division 2 final.

The Down centre back's controversial dismissal in the 33rd minute marked a turning point in the game as Roscommon took control in the second half to run out 1-17 to 0-15 winners after the sides had gone into the break level on 0-7 each.

"We've worked hard for it. I suppose the sending off did take from the game a small bit," the Roscommon manager said in an interview with RTE.

"The first half was a bit of a damp squib, but, you know, we got some very, very good scores [in the second half]. We came out in the second half and we got at the game."

The Kerry man expects the Rossies' second successive Allianz League title win in Croke Park to stand them in good stead for their Connacht SFC opener against London on May 24, and for the remainder of the season.

"We've trained extremely hard and, of course we've consideration of the final, and we wanted to give the guys a chance there," he continued.

"It was great to see young lads getting out on the field, that haven't experience of Croke Park.

"I'm just delighted that we got through it, we got over it. We have picked up one injury, I think. And fair play to Down: they stayed at it, they stayed going.

"We're just happy to win back-to-back titles. We're a growing team, and it'll give them that little bit more confidence for next year and maybe even for the championship this year."

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