O'Carroll stars as Rossies rock Tyrone

Ben O'Carroll emerged as the star of the show as Roscommon claimed a stunning win over Tyrone in their Allianz Football League Division 1 clash at Dr Hyde Park today (Sunday).

O'Carroll scored 1-2 and produced an outstanding display - which earned the St Brigid's player the man of the match award - in Roscommon’s 3-11 to 1-12 victory over the 2021 All-Ireland champions.

Having regularly impressed at underage and club level, O’Carroll got his chance at the highest level and he gave none other than Tyrone All-Ireland winning captain and double All-Star Padraig Hampsey a torrid time.

Overall, it was a memorable day for the St Brigid's club as Brian Stack's first league match as Roscommon captain ended in a notable victory, while Robbie Dolan was also part of the starting team.

Considering the calibre of opposition in Division 1, many pundits were predicting that Roscommon would find it difficult to avoid relegation, but this victory is a major injection of confidence.

It was also a wonderful result for Davy Burke in his first league match in charge.

Roscommon led 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time but a goal from Kieran McGeary saw Tyrone go 1-9 to 0-9 in front early in the second half.

But the home side responded in style with a goal from substitute Ciaráin Murtagh, following a fine pass from fellow sub Enda Smith.

Diarmuid Murtagh's goal put the Rossies in the ascendancy and the third goal, scored by O'Carroll, sealed the victory.

Scorers - Roscommon: B O’Carroll 1-2; C Murtagh and D Murtagh 1-1 each; N Daly 0-3; C Cox 0-2 (2f), B Stack and D Cregg 0-1 each. Tyrone: K McGeary 1-1; D McCurry 0-3 (1f); D Canavan 0-2 (1f); N Devlin, D Mulgrew, R Donnelly, N Sludden, P Harte (1f) and N Morgan (1f) 0-1 each.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Conor Hussey, Conor Daly, Eoin McCormack; Dylan Ruane, Brian Stack, Niall Daly; Tadhg O’Rourke, Keith Doyle; Robbie Dolan, Daire Cregg, Ciarán Lennon; Diarmuid Murtagh, Conor Cox, Ben O’Carroll. Subs: Enda Smith for Lennon (43 mins), Ciaráin Murtagh for Cox (48), Richard Hughes for Ruane (48), David Murray for McCormack (53), Donie Smith for Diarmuid Murtagh (60).

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Cormac Munroe, Padraig Hampsey; Cormac Quinn, Peter Harte, Niall Devlin; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; David Mulgrew, Kieran McGeary, Conor Meyler; Cathal McShane, Mattie Donnelly, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Darren McCurry for McShane (h-t), Ryan Jones for Mattie Donnelly (51 mins), Richard Donnelly for Mulgrew (58), Niall Sludden for McGeary (58).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).