A defence splitting Roscommon move midway through the second half ended with Devaney blasting the ball to the back of the Sligo net following good play by Kenny and David Hoey. The goal put the visitors seven points ahead and ended Sligo's interest in the contest.

Roscommon got a dream start with early points by Aidan Dooney and David O'Gara. Stephen Coen got Sligo off the mark after nine minutes and a couple of points by Scanlon and David Kelly at the end of the half reduced the deficit. Roscommon led by 0-9 to 0-6 at half-time. John Scanlon opened the second half scoring with a Sligo point but they then hit a barren spell during which Roscommon scored a goal and three points to put the result beyond doubt.

ROSCOMMON

C Nicholson; T Bannon, M Killilea, S Ormsby, S Higgins, P Domican, A Murtagh; D Hoey (0-1), R Dooner; C Cregg (02), D O'Gara (0-3), D Keenan, C Devaney (1-2, 1f), E Kenny (0-3), A Dooney (0-1) Subs P Gleeson for Bannon, R Brady for Hoey, A McEvoy (0-1) for Dooner, F Cregg for C Cregg, J Collins (0-1) for Dooney

SLIGO J Farrell; N Ewing, A McIntyre, G Gaughan; B Kennedy, S Colleary, M Gormley; K Beirne, K Raymond; S Stenson (0-3, 2f), M Gordon (0-1), D O'Grady; S Coen (0-1), D Kelly (0-1), J Scanlon (0-4, 2f) Subs D McDonagh for McIntyre, S Gilmartin for Beirne, P Wilson for Raymond, S Henry for Coen, T Quinn for Scanlon Referee D Corcoran (Mayo)