F Dolan 2-2, one point from a free; G Lohan 0-5, one from a free; N Dineen 1-1; G Cox 0-2; J Hanley 0-2; M Ryan 0-1

New York 1-9 P Loughran 1-4, one from a free; P O'Connor 0-2; K Lilly 0-2, from frees; G O'Driscoll 0-1

REFEREE: J McKee (Armagh)

ATTENDANCE: 3,000

Roscommon failed to impress despite defeating New York by a 10-point margin in this ill-tempered Connacht quarter-final at Hyde Park on Saturday evening.

At one stage the exiles threatened to cause a major upset when they reduced a commanding Roscommon lead to a mere two points midway through the second half. Roscommon had failed to score for a 20-minute period but when New York had both their wing half backs PJ Lanigan and Niall McCready sent off within 10 minutes of each other, the home side took full advantage and went on to score 1-6 to New York's 0-1 in the closing 15 minutes.

This was a bad-tempered game of mostly inferior football, with referee Jimmy McKee of Armagh brandishing five yellow and three red cards for foul play.

New York were the principal offenders although Roscommon were first to be reduced to 14 men when goalkeeper Sean Curran foolishly struck New York centre half forward Paddy O'Connor in an off-the-ball incident after 25 minutes.

Roscommon were leading 2-2 to 0-1 at that stage after goals from corner forwards Nigel Dineen and Frankie Dolan in the 17th and 21st minutes. They were forced to take off corner back Denis Gavin to make way for substitute goalkeeper Derek Thompson after Curran's dismissal and they never looked as composed thereafter.

It took New York 22 minutes to record their first score - a point from Paddy O'Connor - and by half-time Roscommon led 2-6 to 0-4. A goal from impressive full forward Peter Loughran, six minutes into the second half, gave New York real hope and they played their best football in the next 10 minutes when two points apiece from Kevin Lilly and Loughran brought them to within two points of Roscommon.

However, the sending off of Lanigan 10 minutes into the second half robbed them of their numerical advantage and when the already yellow-carded McCready joined him after a heavy tackle on John Hanley, the prospects of a shock faded.

Substitute Gary Cox broke Roscommon's barren spell when he pointed 15 minutes from full time and pointed frees from Dineen and Gerry Lohan further steadied the home side before Hanley was brought down inside the square and Dolan found the net from the resulting penalty.

Roscommon certainly didn't over extend themselves in this game but one suspects they will be far more motivated when they meet Galway in two weeks.