Good afternoon and welcome to Croke Park where we’re all set for a National Football League final double-header.

The Dubs and Cork meet in the Division 1 decider at 4pm but first, it’s the Division 2 clash between Down and Roscommon.

Throw-in is at 2pm.

TEAM NEWS: Here’s how the Down team will line out — no personnel changes from the side which beat Laois to secure promotion.

1. Stephen Kane (Cill Chua)

2. Gerard Collins (RGU Dun Phadraig)
3. Luke Howard (Ath Bhriain)
4. Damien Turley (Cnoc na Mi)

5. Darren O’Hagan (Cluain Daimh)
6. Brendan McArdle (Eanach Cluana)
7. Conall McGovern (Boireann)

8. Peter Turley (RGU Dun Phadraig)
9. Paul Devlin (Cill Chua)

10. Conor Maginn (Ath Bhriain)
11. Kevin McKernan (Boireann)
12. Mark Poland (Cloch Fhada)

13. Conor Laverty (Cill Chua)
14. Caolan Mooney (Caislean Ruarai)
15. Donal O’Hare (Boireann)

TEAM NEWS: Here’s the Roscommon team as named earlier this week.

1. Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)

2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
3. Niall Carty (Padraig Pearses)
4. Neil Collins (Castlerea St Kevin’s)

5. Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses)
6. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
7. Ciaran Cafferkey (Western Gaels)

8. Kevin Higgins (Western Gaels)
9. Cathal Shine (Clann na nGael)

10. Donal Smith (Boyle)
11. Ciarain Murtagh (St Faithleach’s)
12. Ronan Stack (St Brigid’s)

13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleach’s)
14. Senan Kilbride (St Brigid’s)
15. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)

Very little to choose between these two sides on the basis of their league form, and on the basis of the bookies’ odds as well.

Down are evens; Roscommon are 11/10; and it’s 15/2 the draw.

Late changes on both sides – Darragh O’Hanlon starts at corner-back in place of Damian Turley on the Down team.

And Aidan Carr is in at wing-forward for Mark Poland.

For Roscommon, Cian Connolly is in for Diarmuid Murtagh at corner-forward.

Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Here’s the view from the Croke Park press box. Small crowd so far but it’s a nice afternoon for a game — cool, dry, and no real breeze.

Referee Maurice Deegan gets us underway. Roscommon attacking the Hill 16 end in this first half — there couldn’t be more than 30 people on the terrace.

Down 0-1 Roscommon 0-0: Early mistake by Roscommon and Down have the game’s opening score. Niall Carty was beaten by the bounce of a long ball and Conor Laverty took full advantage to point.

Roscommon playing with just the two men inside in these opening minutes, with Cathal Cregg drifting out from the full forward line.

Down 0-1 Roscommon 0-1: Cregg tries to point but he’s off balance and sends his shot skywards. Roscommon hang on to possession though and Cregg makes no mistake at the second attempt.

Roscommon 0-2 Down 0-1: Quick sideline from Senan Kilbride and Ciarain Murtagh fists a simple point over the bar.

Roscommon 0-3 Down 0-1: Great response by Roscommon after a shaky start. Cian Connolly points the free.

Roscommon 0-3 Down 0-2: Donal O’Hare points the free to bring Down back within a point.

Roscommon 0-3 Down 0-3: All square! Brendan McArdle bursts forward from the half-back line and rifles a shot over the bar.

Good, patient build-up by Roscommon and eventually they win the free as Cregg is swarmed by four defenders. Connolly should have the distance but underhits his shot and it drops short.

Donal Smith tries to turn Cian Connolly loose with a quick free but Connolly ends up running himself into trouble and Down force the turnover.

Down corner-back Darragh O’Hanlon tries his luck from all of 45 yards rather than attempt to plot a way through the yellow wall. His shot drops short into Darren O’Malleys arms.

It’s gone a little bit quiet in these last few minutes…

OOOH! Hairy moment for Down there as Ciarain Murtagh’s shot clips the inside of the upright and drops in front of Stephen Kane’s goal. Cathal Cregg gathers the loose ball but he’s crowded out before he can get a shot off.

CHANCE! That should really be the game’s opening goal. Cathal Shine plays a long ball into to Cathal Cregg who has a clear run on goal after his marker Gerard Collins slips. He drags his shot though and it rolls harmlessly across the face of goal and wide.

Roscommon 0-4 Down 0-3: Wahay! A score! Our first in 13 minutes.

This one has Senan Kilbride written all over it. He plays a neat one-two with Cian Connolly and then points from the left of the posts.

Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Luke Howard tries to angle a long ball over the top to Donal O’Hare, who is on the shoulder of the last Roscommon defender, but it’s overhit and bobbles wide.

Roscommon 0-4 Down 0-4: Niall Daly is penalised for a tug on the jersey and Paul Devlin points the free to level it up.

Roscommon 0-5 Down 0-4: Not for long. Cian Connolly shows good strength to hold off his man and fist Roscommon back into the lead.

Roscommon 0-5 Down 0-5: We’re practically spoiled for scores now. Down take a quick free and Conor Maginn sends it over.

RED CARD! Brendan McArdle is sent off in the final minute of this first half for a second yellow — this one for a pull on Kilbride.

Roscommon 0-6 Down 0-5: Cian Connolly points the free

Down 0-7 Roscommon 0-6: Down lead! What a response! Caolan Mooney points the equaliser, and then Donal O’Hare puts them into an unlikely lead.

We’re playing three additional minutes.

Down 0-7 Roscommon 0-7: Donal Smith points. This might turn into a game yet, you know!

Down 0-7 Roscommon 0-7

We’re back underway here. Can 14-man Down stay in this?

Substitutions: A change apiece at the break. Peter Fitzpatrick replaces Peter Turley for Down; Diarmuid Murtagh replaces Donal Smith for Roscommon

Roscommon 0-8 Down 0-7: Fine score by Ciaran Cafferkey as he pushes on from wing-back. More of that please!

Roscommon 0-9 Down 0-7: Ask and ye shall recieve! Senan Kilbride floats over a marvellous score from the Hogan Stand side. Roscommon lead by two.

Roscommon 0-10 Down 0-7: Make that three! Ciarain Murtagh tacks on a free and Down are in danger of letting Roscommon out of sight here.

Roscommon 0-11 Down 0-7: Poor discipline by Down as a jersey pull gives Roscommon a very scoreable free. Cian Connolly obliges — that’s his fourth point of the afternoon

Roscommon 0-11 Down 0-9: Down sub Peter Fitzpatrick points and Kevin McKernan follows it up with another to cut the deficit in half.

Roscommon 0-11 Down 0-10: One-point game! Donal O’Hare breaks down the left and takes his point.

Roscommon 0-12 Down 0-10: Senan Kilbride looks threatening every time he gets on the ball and he points his third of the day.

Substitutions: Ryan Johnston on for Paul Devlin for Down; Ultan Harney replaces Cathal Cregg for Roscommon.

Roscommon 0-12 Down 0-11: Great determination by Down skipper Conor Laverty to hang on to possession in a crowd of bodies. It’s worked back to McKernan, who is fouled in the process of shooting, but the ball sails over the bar anyway.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Roscommon 0-13 Down 0-11: Senan Kilbride again!

BLACK CARD! David Murray grabs Donal O’Hare with a high tackle around the neck and the Roscommon corner-back is shown a black card.

Roscommon 0-13 Down 0-12: Donal O’Hare points the free.

Brian Murtagh on to replace Murray (black card).

Roscommon 0-14 Down 0-12: Another Connolly free — and it’s his last involvement as he’s called ashore to be replaced by Donie Shine.

Roscommon 0-15 Down 0-12: Daylight between them again as Niall Daly plays in Diarmuid Murtagh, who points. Can Roscommon close it out from here with less than 15 minutes to play?

Roscommon 0-16 Down 0-12: Donie Shine sends over a long-range free. Roscommon well in control now.

Down sub: Niall Madine on in place of Aidan Carr.

GOAL FOR ROSCOMMON! Donie Shine fists down an high ball and Ciarain Murtagh is the first man on to it, blasting the ball into the roof of the net.

Game. Set. Match.

Roscommon sub: Colin Compton on for the goalscorer, Ciarain Murtagh.

Down sub: Arthur McConville replaces Conor Maginn.

Roscommon 1-16 Down 0-13: Down sub Ryan Johnston points but it’s goals that Down need now.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Roscommon 1-17 Down 0-14: Donal O’Hare (free) and Ultan Harney score at either end to keep the margin at six.

Roscommon 1-17 Down 0-15: Jerome Johnston points a free. We’re nearly done here, another historic day for the Rossies.

There’ll be two additional minutes here as Senan Kilbride is named Man of the Match.

Roscommon 1-17 Down 0-15

Maurice Deegan blows the final whistle and that’s it — Roscommon are the Division 2 football champions!

Another proud day as they continue their rise up the football ranks.

Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO