Galway captured their tenth FBD League title when they came from behind to win an exciting final by 1-18 to 1-16.
This was the seventh year in a row these sides have met in the final and Galway made it 4-3 in their favour as they came good when it mattered most.
A good spell after the break proved decisive as Pádraic Joyce's men retained the crown as both sides got a good workout ahead of the Allianz League campaigns.
The pace of the game, similar to the other matches which have taken place indoors at the superb Connacht GAA Air Dome, was fast and furious from the outset, with a score a minute for the opening eight minutes with Roscommon opening up a 0-08 to 0-05 lead.
Conor Cox led that early Roscommon onslaught with three excellent points but Rob Finnerty, Paul Conroy and Johnny Heaney responded for the Tribesmen.
Finnerty grabbed a second point to cut the gap after 17 minutes but the Smith brothers Donie and Enda landed three between in a blistering spell as both sides continued to move the ball at pace.
Roscommon looked set to pull away but then a flowing move from deep which started with newcomer Sean Fitzgerald ended with the full-back fisting to the net after continuing his run and a couple of passes from Dessie Conneely and Patrick Kelly to cut the gap to 0-08 to 1-04 after 22 minutes.
Anthony Cunningham’s men responded well with points from Andrew Glennon and Cathal Heneghan in between Johnny Heaney rattling the crossbar after a good run from former Antrim player Owen Gallagher on his debut for the Tribesmen.
Galway finished the half well and points from Finnerty and sub Tony Gill reduced the gap to 0-10 to 1-06 in favour of Roscommon.
Galway got on top in the third quarter and outscored Roscommon by 0-06 to 0-02 as both sides emptied their benches to lead by 1-13 to 0-12 at the second water break.
Conroy and Heaney extended that lead for Galway but then Enda Smith got a goal for Roscommon after a turnover by sub Cian McKeon to reduce the margin to 1-15 to 1-12 after 57 minutes.
Two points from sub Cathal Sweeney pushed that out to five before Cox and Ciaran Sugrue got it back to a goal with two minutes left but Shane Walsh’s fourth pointed free extended the lead. Late scores from Ultan Harney and Cox ensured an exciting finish but the Tribesmen held on for victory.
Galway: Conor Flaherty; Cillian McDaid, Sean Fitzgerald (1-0), Liam Silke; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly (0-1), Johnny Heaney (0-2, 1’45); Paul Conroy (0-3, 1f), Paul Kelly; Cormac McWalter, Owen Gallagher, Finnian Ó Laoí; Paddy Kelly, Rob Finnerty (0-5), Dessie Conneely.
Subs: Shane Walsh (0-3, 3f) for McWalter (25), Tony Gill (0-1) for McDaid (25), Matt Tierney (0-1, 1’45) for Conneely (half-time), Cathal Sweeney (0-2) for Ó Laoí (45), Tomo Culhane for Gallagher (48), Dylan Canney for Finnerty (48), Kieran Molloy for S Kelly (61), Jack Glynn for P Kelly (66), Liam Costello for Canney (69).
Roscommon: Patrick O’Malley (0-1, 1’45); Eoin McCormack, Colin Walsh, Richard Hughes; Ciaran Lawless, Ultan Harney (0-1), Dylan Ruane; Fergal Lennon, Shane Cunnane; Cathal Heneghan (0-1), Enda Smith (1-3), Diarmuid McGann; Andrew Glennon (0-1), Donie Smith (0-3, 1f), Conor Cox (0-5, 3f).
Subs: Keith Doyle for Cunnane (38), Cian McKeon for Glennon (43), Ben O’Carroll for Heneghan (47), Thomas O’Rourke for McGann (53), Brian Derwin for Lennon (53), Cathal Kenny for Lawless (56), Aengus Lyons for Ruane (57), Ciaran Sugrue (0-1) for D Smith (58), Evan McGrath for E Smith (60), Adam McDermott for Walsh (60).
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).
