Goals from Enda Smith (2) and Cathal Cregg helped Roscommon to a 3-17 to 1-16 victory over 14-man Cavan at Breffni Park.

The hosts never recovered from the dismissal of midfielder Tomas Corr before the start of the second half as the Rossies came back from their disappointing Connacht semi-final defeat to Sligo.

There was little to separate the teams during the first half, with the winners taking a slender 1-7 to 1-6 advantage into the break.

It would be fair to say both teams started like houses on fire: 1-2 apiece after seven minutes with Cregg and Martin Reilly - who tucked the ball beneath Darren O'Malley inside 30 seconds! - getting the goals.

Smith cancelled out Cian Mackey's equaliser and Ultan Harney - a late addition to the Roscommon starting XV - provided the score that ensured the rampant Rossies of a two-point advantage at the end of the opening quarter.

Ciaran Murtagh slotted a Roscommon free after wing back Niall Murray claimed the Breffni County's third point and a converted Donie Shine free left three in it with eleven minutes remaining before the break, 1-6 to 1-3.

Gearoid McKiernan, Mackey (free) and Reilly all pointed as the hosts rallied to draw level by the 31st minute. At the other end, Harney swatted off a defender to restore the visitors' lead and the hosts could perhaps consider themselves fortunate to finish the first half with the full complement after Corr's petulant swipe at Harney initially went unseen and therefore unpunished

Roscommon were first out for the second half and were kept waiting, huddling in the middle of the pitch and receiving some words of encouragement from manager John Evans.

Aware that Corr was going to be in trouble when the action resumed, Cavan opted to replace the No.9 at half time, with Conor Moynagh taking his place. However, referee David Gough called Corr from the bench and issued him with a straight red card and the hosts were forced to start the second period with 14 men.

It got worse when Conor Daly doubled the difference within seconds of the restart and Shine followed up with a converted free in the 39th minute. Murray - from an acute angle - and Daly swapped points. Mackey floated over the next Cavan point but only after Smith was allowed to run unchecked through their defence from 50 metres before planting the ball in the back of the net from close range.

Michael Argue supplied a second point in as many minutes for Cavan but Harney replied in the 45th minute - 2-11 to 1-9. No better time for the Rossies to throw Diarmuid Murtagh into the fray! The No.26 quickly fisted a point for his side.

Cregg cancelled out substitute Barry Reilly's free and the Kingscourt man pulled back a nice score from play before too many Roscommon cooks spoiled the broth as the away team messed up a decent goal-scoring chance. Martin Reilly made it a four-point affair with 14 minutes to go…

Ciaran Murtagh and substitute Ciaran Brady grabbed a score at either end and Diarmuid Murtagh's second score left five between the sides with an hour played - 2-15 to 1-13.

Barry Reilly (free) reduced the arrears with less than seven minutes remaining but Donie Smith chipped over a 66th-minute '45' in response. Diarmuid Murtagh pointed again via the inside of the upright in the 69th minute. And Smith provided the icing on the cake when he had the simplest task of palming the ball to an empty net in injury time after the non-existent Cavan defence was penetrated again.

Martin Dunne and Martin Reilly's late consolations meant nothing as Cavan's season petered out and the Rossies progressed to the third round of the back-door series.

Roscommon - D O'Malley; S McDermott, N Collins, D Murray; N Daly, D Keenan, C Cafferky; I Kilbride, K Higgins; C Daly (0-2), C Cregg (1-1), E Smith (2-1); U Harney (0-3), D Shine (0-3, 2f), C Murtagh (0-3, 1f). Subs: D Murtagh (0-3) for K Higgins, R Stack for I Kilbride, D Smith (0-1'45) for C Murtagh, B Murtagh for D Shine, T Featherstone for D Murray, C Connolly for C Cregg.

Cavan - R Galligan; J McLoughlin, J McEnroe, K Brady; N Murray (0-2), F Flanagan, D O'Reilly; G McKiernan (0-1), T Corr; C Mackey (0-3, 2f), D McVeety, M Reilly (1-3); R Flanagan, M Argue (0-1), N McDermott (0-1f). Subs: T Hayes for N McDermott, C Moynagh for F Flanagan, B Reilly (0-3, 2f) for K Brady, C Brady (0-1) for D O'Reilly, M Dunne (0-1) for R Flanagan, P Smith for M Argue.

Referee - D Gough.

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