Donegal come good in second-half to defeat Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park

Donegal took a giant step on the road to Division 2 of the Allianz National Hurling League next season as they came from behind for an eventual seven-point win over Roscommon on Sunday in Dr Hyde Park. 

The visitors started on the front foot and posted the game's first seven scores.

Gerard Gilmore, Ruairi Crawford, Oisin Grant, Conor Gartland, Brian Óg MacIntyre and Liam McKinney all found the target against a stiff breeze.

And the men from the North West were still six up as they led 0-9 to 0-3 by the end of the first quarter hour of play.

Conor Mulry and Gilmore traded points while Brendan Mulry and Cian Murray also raised white flags for the Rossies. 

But a Conor O’Grady strike seven minutes from the end of the half was Donegal’s only score in the closing ten minutes as Roscommon finished the half strong with four unanswered points to cut the Donegal half-time lead to two at 0-12 to 0-10.  

Roscommon opened the second half in whirlwind fashion with a goal and two points in the opening three minutes to come from two points down to go up three clear. 

The Rossies now led 1-12 to 0-12 with Brendan Mulry getting the flick on for the goal and James Hardiman and Cian Murray striking for points that turned the game on its head.  

But it proved a false dawn as Donegal awakened to the challenge in the closing quarter with Gilmore and company raising the stakes as the scores flowed. 

Grant, Gilmore, Jack O’Loughlin, Daire ÓMaoileidigh and Peter Kelly all split the posts as Donegal ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Donegal scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-7,5f 1’65; Liam McKinney 0-5; Oisin Grant 0-2; Daire Ó Maoileidigh 0-2; Peter Kelly 0-2; Ruairi Campbell 0-1;  Conor Gartland 0-1; Brian Óg MacIntyre 0-1; Conor O’Grady 0-1; Jack O’Loughlin 0-1; Luke White 0-1.

Roscommon scorers: Rory Lyons 0-1,1f; Adam Donnelly 0-1; James Hardiman 0-2; Cian Murray 0-2, Brendan Mulry 1-2; Cian Murray 0-1; Paddy Fallon 0-4; Brian Lawlor 0-1.  

Donegal: Luke White; Ciaran Curran, Stephen McBride, Gavin Browne; Bernard Lafferty, Conor O’Grady, Stephen Gillespie; Sean McVeigh, Gerard Gilmore; Josh Cronolly McGee, Brian MacIntyre, Oisin Grant; Ruairi Campbell, Liam McKinney, Conor Gartland. 

Subs; Jack O’Loughlin for Cronolly McGee (46); Daire Ó Maoileidigh for B Lafferty (45); Sean Ward for C Gartland(65). 

Roscommon: Brendan Quinn; Mark Ward, Declan Leonard, James Dillon; Conor Cosgrove, Jack Donnelly, Jack Dowling; Darragh Finn, James Hardiman; Brian Lawlor, Brendan Mulry, Cian Murray; Rory Lyons, Adam Donnelly, Conor Mulry.

Subs: Paddy Fallon for R Lyons (30); Keelan Ryan for D Finn (66). 

Referee: Conor Daly (Kildare)