Donegal are licking their wounds on the way down to Division Two of the Allianz National League.
After a tumultuous week which saw the departure of manager Paddy Carr, Donegal limped out of the top rankings on the wrong side of a 0-21 to 0-9 scoreline at Dr Hyde Park against Roscommon.
Aidan O’Rourke and Paddy Bradley took charge of the team for the final league game of the season.
But the game had all that familiar ring to it after Donegal started brightly only to fade badly.
They were five points down at half-time, 0-12 to 0-7 despite a decent opening to a lively encounter.
Points from Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Caolan McGonagle and Conor O’Donnell saw the visitors level at 0-3 apiece early on.
But Roscommon soon began to take a hold and Brian Stack, Ben O’Carroll and Enda Smith all found the range.
Two more points from Diarmuid Murtagh and another O’Carroll score helped Roscommon end the half on top.
Frustratingly for Donegal they would kick only two more points in the second half as the home side put on an impressive display in front of their home supporters.
Kieran Tobin (St Eunan’s) and Keelan Dunleavy (Glenswilly) were both introduced in the second half for their league debuts, but it was another disappointing day at the office for Donegal to round off a dismal league campaign.
Roscommon : Conor Carroll , Conor Hussey , Brian Stack (0-01), David Murray , Niall Daly (0-01), , Eoin McCormack , Tadhg O Rourke (0-01), , Dylan Ruane , Keith Doyle (0-02), Ciaran Murtagh (0-01), Niall Kilroy , Enda Smith 0-03), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-04/1f), Conor Cox (0-01), Ben O Carroll (0-03),
Subs ; Donie Smith for O Carroll ( h/t), Richard Hughes and Cian McKeon (0-02)for Niall Daly and Kilroy (40mins), Cian Connolly (0-01) for Cox (50mins),
Donegal ; Shaun Patton , Mark Curran , Caolan Ward , John Ross Molloy , Marty Reilly , Brendan McCole , Eoghan Ban Gallagher (0-01), Micheal Langan (0-01f), Jason McGee , Caolan McGonagle (0-01), Ciaran Thompson (0-02), Conor O Donnell (0-01), Johnny McGroddy , Hugh McFadden , Jamie Brennan (0-02.
Subs: Kieran Tobin and Jeaic McKelvey (0-01) for Langan and Reilly (h/t), Keelan Dunleavy for McGroddy (40mins), Joel Bradley Walsh for McGee (60mins), Brian O Donnell for Eoghan Ban Gallagher( 70mins).
