NFL DIVISION FOUR Roscommon 2-13 Carlow 0-8:A WELL-TAKEN fifth-minute goal by Michael Finneran following a slick team move set the home team on their way to a facile victory at Hyde Park.

Roscommon, for whom Finneran and Kevin Higgins impressed, started and finished strongly but in between there were frequent bouts of scrappy play. They led 1-9 to 0-4 at half-time with all Carlow’s scores coming from their best player, JJ Smith.

Points from Smith and Alan Kelly reduced the deficit to six points by the 52nd minute. But Roscommon pulled away again and scored a second goal after 68 minutes as sub Fintan Cregg and Higgins set up Cathal Shine, who palmed the ball to the net.

ROSCOMMON: M Miley; S McDermott, D Ward (0-1), S Ormsby (0-1); N Carty, D Keenan, S Purcell; M Finneran (1-2), K Higgins (0-3); S O'Grady, D O'Gara, C Cregg (0-2); J Rogers (0-3, one free), C Shine (1-0), J Dunning (0-1). Subs: C Beirne for Ormsby (47 mins), F Cregg for O'Gara (53 mins), J Connaughton for O'Grady (64 mins), M Reynolds for Dunning (66 mins), J McKeague for Ward (69 mins).

CARLOW: T O'Reilly; BJ Molloy, S Redmond, B Kavanagh; A Curran, T Bolger, P Cashin; S Gannon, D Foley; E Finnegan, P Hickey, E Ruth; JJ Smith (0-6, four frees), A Kelly (0-2), T Walsh. Subs: C Mullins for Finnegan (44 mins), W Minchin for Hickey (53 mins), A Murphy for Curran (59), M Carpenter for Foley (60), C Pender for Ruth (66 mins).

Referee: R O'Donnell(Donegal).