Monaghan fell to Roscommon as the Farney men ran out of steam at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.
Monaghan scoring a 3-16 to 1-16 victory after Monaghan came flying out of the traps.
Louis Kelly fired the ball past Aaron Brady for a goal inside the opening four minutes.
A Michael Bannigan two-pointer, aided by the breeze, helped Monaghan establish early control. However, Roscommon responded through Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh to keep the contest finely balanced.
The sides traded scores throughout an open first-half. Enda Smith rattled the net for Roscommon before Rory Beggan marked his return with a well-taken 45.
Monaghan edged ahead approaching the break thanks to points from Ryan McAnespie, Andrew Woods and Gary Mohan, and they went in two points clear at half-time, leading 1-8 to 1-6.
Roscommon emerged with renewed intensity after the restart and quickly turned the tide.
Goals from Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith, the latter converted from the penalty spot. This proved decisive as Monaghan struggled to cope with Roscommon’s pace and direct running.
Daire Cregg was influential from placed balls, landing a superb two-pointer as the hosts began to pull away.
Despite a battling effort from Monaghan, including a series of points from Bannigan and Stephen O’Hanlon, Roscommon continued to punish turnovers.
Dylan Ruane, Paul Carey and Murtagh kept the scoreboard moving as the hosts stretched their advantage in the closing stages.
A late two-pointer at the death underlined Roscommon’s dominance as the hooter sounded, sealing a deserved six-point victory and rounding off an impressive display in front of the home support.
