Another experimental Roscommon U21 side suffered a seven point defeat to Longford in Round Three of the Hastings Cup at Keenagh earlier.
Roscommon U21 Manager Adrian Dockery made seven changes to the team which started in the defeat to Westmeath.
Roscommon led by 1-2 to no score after 13 minutes, thanks to points from Hubert Darcy and Eoin McCormack and an own goal following pressure by Cian McKeon. Two minutes later they suffered a double blow. Gearoid Keenan was show a Black Card and moments later Longford scored a goal. Eoin McCormack added another point a minute later but Longford had to wait until the 23rd minute to get their first point. They then went on a scoring spree, added 1-4 during the remainder of the half. Half-Time score: Roscommon 1-3 Longford 2-5.
The second half began with the sides trading points; the Roscommon scores coming from Hubert Darcy. Longford then kicked four unanswered points before Cian McKeon got Roscommon’s next score in the 54th minute. Longford extended their lead but points from Cian McKeon and Aengus Lyons, in the 60th minute, reduced the deficit to six. Longford continued to attack and added two further points in injury time. The Longford defence stood strong in the face mounting pressure from Roscommon with only a last minute point conceded. Final score: Roscommon 1-10 Longford 2-14.
Team: Richard Thompson (St Croans); Mark Richardson (Padraig Pearses), Keelan Bernie (Strokestown), Lorcan Daly (Padraig Pearses); John Brennan (St Ciarans/Fuerty), John Duffy (Western Gaels), Michael Cox (St Faithleachs); Gearoid Keenan (Oran), James Featherstone (Roscommon Gaels); Eoin McCormack (0-2) (St Dominics), Conor Payne (Padraig Pearses), Brian Stack (St Brigids); Hubert Darcy (0-3) (Padraig Pearses), Cian McKeon (1-2) (Boyle), Brian Kelly (Roscommon Gaels).
Subs used: Conor Murray for Gearoid Keenan (BC); Aidan Murray for Brian Kelly; Aidan Brogan (0-1) for Conor Payne; Jack Casey for Conor Murray; Aengus Lyons (0-3) for Michael Cox.