IRVINESTOWN .........................0-11

ROSLEA ...................................1-9

This was a key game in the overall context of the second division, two teams who are regarded as the main promotion contenders.

Irvinestown have hit a rocky patch and this match was an especially important one for them as they attempted to get their campaign back on the rails but despite putting in a solid enough display for the opening threequarters of the contest they were to be caught out by a late Roslea revival.

So Roslea were to chisel out the narrowest of wins and this was an absolutely vital success for them as it propels them back into a commanding position at the top end of the table. They appear to be well back on track for the primary target of their year.

Featuring strongly for them was Ruairi McGuinness who contributed a string of points for them and he had his best match of the season, always a problem for the Irvinestown back line.

Another to shine for the winners was midfielder Kevin Cosgrove who fielded well in the middle of the park while in the defence, Ciaran Connolly and Shane McMahon both delivered solid displays.

As for Irvinestown, Shane Goan was their steadiest player and he did sound work in organising the defensive set up which did a generally competent job of work until they suffered a blip as the final quarter got underway.

That blip was to see Roslea work their way in for what proved to be the all important score, the game's only goal and that score effectively clinched the result for the visitors.

For the bulk of the first half though it was to be Irvinestown who looked just that little bit more composed and they were to hit a tally of seven points, thanks to some enterprising play. Conor McGuigan, Manus O'Kane and Gary Maguire were all featuring for them and they looked the more determined side.

Roslea had kept in range however with Ruairi McGuinness enjoying a lively spell and just two points adrift at the break they were far from being mastered.

On the changeover it was still Irvinestown however who held the edge and they had a couple of more scores to move into what seemed a match winning position.

But the tenor of the game was to be altered by the Roslea goal, Aaron Mulligan finding himself in a one on one situation with Fergal Murphy and he struck his shot firmly to the net.

That score levelled the sides, gave Roslea an immediate impetus and it was no surprise to see them enjoy a brief passage which had them dominate.

They pushed on with a couple of points and though Irvinestown were to stage a committed late rally in an attempt to retrieve the situation, the home side couldn't make up the lost ground and they only managed a late point from a placed kick.

Referee Pat McGurn Derrygonnelly.