Roscommon booked their ticket to the last four in Connacht with a gutsy 2-13 to 2-9 defeat of Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon. Blistering Mediterranean-like conditions beamed down at the home of Leitrim football and the local team did their best to provide the home support amongst the 13,000 attendance with the result they so desperately craved. But it was Fergal O'Donnell's well-drilled side who maintained their excellent record at this venue. Nobody could argue with the result as the Rossies - fielding five of their All-Ireland minor winning team of three years ago - claimed passage to a June 20 provincial semi-final meeting with holders Mayo. The hosts could hardly have got off to a better start: after just two minutes, Colm Clarke tore the Ros' defence open and sent the temperature soaring with a stunning goal. Mickey Moran's men refused to acknowledge the bookmakers' pre-match odds and they remained in front with efforts from James Glancy and Mossie Byrne. But the winners were level at 1-3 apiece by the 18th minute thanks to a penalty goal from Karl Mannion after a foul on Senan Kilbride. Donie Shine began to pepper proceedings with some exceptional finishing and Roscommon went on to take a four-point interval advantage, 2-5 to 1-4. Their second goal arrived on 25 minutes when Kilbride reacted quickest to the breaking ball after Conor Devaney had struck the woodwork. It was a case of deja-vu as Leitrim also made a lightening start to the second half. John McKeown bagged the losers' second goal after an interchange with Byrne and the match was momentarily back in the melting pot, with just a point between the teams. When questions were asked of Roscommon, they responded positively with impressive scores from Seanie McDermott, Conor Devaney and Gary Cox. Leitrim battled creditably but could never quite get back on terms. Roscommon always maintained a slight edge and Kevin Higgins' sumptuous point was the crowning score of a victory that is worthy of celebration. Roscommon - G Claffey; P Domican, J Nolan, P Kelly; S McDermott (0-1) , D Flynn, D Keenan; M Finneran, B Higgins; G Cox (0-3), K Mannion (1-0, pen), D Shine (0-5, 3f); C Devaney (0-2), S Kilbride (1-1) , J Dunning. Subs - P Gleeson for Keenan, F Cregg for Higgins, K Higgins (0-1) for Dunning, D O'Gara for Kilbride. Leitrim - N Gill; M McGuinness, J McKeon (1-0) , D Reynolds; B Prior, G McWeeney, J Glancy (St Mary's); G McCloskey, S Canning; P McGuiness (0-2, 1f), T Beirne (0-1), C Clarke (1-0); R Cox (0-2, 1f), D Maxwell (0-1), J Glancy (Glencar/Manor) (0-2). Subs - D O'Connor for J Glancy (G/M), G Reynolds for J Glancy (St Mary's), D Beck for McWeeney, B Gallagher for McCloskey, S Foley (0-1) for Clarke. Ref - Derek Fahy (Longford). Tweet

Most Read Stories