Roscommon remain unbeaten after seeing off Louth by 1-17 to 1-15 in a bruising encounter that went down to the wire at the Integral GAA Grounds.
The Murtagh brothers again will get the plaudits for the winners. Ciaráin Murtagh started the game having come off the bench last week in their opening win and that was crucial.
The link-up play with himself and Diarmuid between the two lines of attack was devastating for Louth.
Despite a return to Drogheda soil for the first time since 2020, the Murtaghs with that added space could not be denied, regardless of a spirited late Louth flurry.
The home side got used to their surroundings straight away, with Craig Lennon bursting through for the opening score, but subsequently has to be substituted.
The loss was a huge blow and Ger Brennan could have done without that loss as early as the third minute.
The opening exchanges were quite even, but Davy Burke’s side punished Louth’s kickout and the St Faithleach’s siblings really got to work, sharing seven of their side's first 10 first-half points.
The last point of the half showed Roscommon’s killer edge on the day. With the last kick of the opening period, Diarmuid stretched the lead to 0-10 to 0-5 with a free that was brought out to beyond the arc.
The option is a real trend as the rounds go by and the timing would really come to hurt Louth down the stretch.
The packed stand in Drogheda was waiting for a spark to get their side into the game.
Sam Mulroy eroded the Roscommon lead but missed a couple of crucial two-point frees that really would have piled the pressure on Burke’s men.
When impressive midfielder Keith Doyle palmed in at the back post to push their lead out to six, it was Louth that eventually roared into proceedings.
Playing with abandon and the help of the rule enhancements, the exciting finale crescendoed into a raucous affair.
With his first touch on his debut, Val Leddy lashed into the net after Ciaran Downey found the range with a two-pointer.
That five-point streak, had the hosts within two.
However, the experience of higher divisions told for Roscommon as Conor Cox came off the bench to steady the side.
Louth would push, but it would not be a happy return.
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch, Donal McKenny; Conall McKeever, Emmett Carolan, Craig Lennon (0-01); Tommy Durnin, Dara McDonnell (0-01); Andy McDonnell (0-01), Sam Mulroy (0-082tpf, 0-04f), Ciaran Murphy; Daire McConnon, Ciaran Downey (0-03 1 tp), Sean Reynolds.
Subs: Tadhg McDonnell for Lennon (3), Pearse Grimes Murphy for Murphy (39), Kieran McArdle (0-01) for Reynolds (43), Liam Jackson for Carolan (49), Val Leddy (1-00) for McConnon (62).
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Niall Higgins, Pearse Frost, Colm Neary; Brian Stack, Shane Cunnane (0-01, 1m), John McManus; Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle (1-00); Shane Killoran, Ciaráin Murtagh (0-04), Enda Smith (0-01); Diarmuid Murtagh (0-06, 1f, 1tpf), Donie Smith (0-02), Daire Cregg (0-01, 1f).
Subs: Senan Lambe for Nolan (49), Cian McKeon for Killoran (52), Ultan Harney for D Smith (57), Ruaidhri Fallon for McManus (Blood 57) Ben O’Carroll (0-01) for Cregg (62), Conor Cox (0-01) for D Murtagh (70).
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
