Roscommon 1-20 Galway 0-22
Diarmuid Murtagh came off the bench to hit 1-1 and blast Roscommon to Division 2 glory against Galway at Croke Park.
The Tribe scored six points in a row to take a one-point lead heading into the final minutes of the game, before the St Faithleach's man stepped up.
Deadlocked at 0-19 apiece, the tricky forward blasted a decisive goal into the top corner to set the Rossies up for a one-point victory.
Both sides knew they were guaranteed Division 1 football for 2023 but played out an exciting game of 43 scores.
Paul Conroy hit six points from play over the course of the game, including five during the first half, with Damien Comer the only other Galway man providing a consistent outlet.
Dessie Conneely hit the crossbar with a goal attempt but it was the Rossies who began to settle and show a more varied threat.
Donie Smith, Cox and Eddie Nolan slotted over placed balls, while Cian McKeon and Ciaráin Murtagh did likewise from open play.
The game was level at 0-9 apiece at the interval, and the Rossies would soon have forged a strong lead but for missed goalscoring chances.
Donie Smith and Ciaráin Murtagh knocked over some fine scores as they went 0-17 to 0-12 ahead, but the Tribe eventually fought back to lead thanks to a Comer fisted point.
Then, substitute Diarmuid Murtagh carried around the ‘D’ on 72 minutes, eventually headed goalward, and slipped past a Shane Walsh challenge into the penalty area to blaze the ball into the top corner.
Galway kept going and added a pair of Matthew Tierney points as well a Connelly point from distance that clipped the bar, but Cunningham’s men held on to lift the title.
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