Jordan snatches victory for Tyrone over Roscommon

Jordan snatches victory for Tyrone over RoscommonImage source, InphoImage caption, Eoin McElholm scored Tyrone's first goalByOdhran CrumleyBBC Sport NI Journalist, AtDr Hyde ParkPublished3 minutes agoEthan Jordan's last-gasp free saw Tyrone edge Roscommon 3-16 to 2-18 in an absorbing All-Ireland SFC first round clash. Jordan finished with 0-7 as first half goals from Eoin McElholm and Ronan Cassidy, plus a second-half strike from the evergreen Mattie Donnelly paved the way for victory. Tyrone were playing their first game in six weeks after their Ulster preliminary round defeat by Armagh, while Roscommon were coming into the game on a high after beating Galway to lift the Connacht title a fortnight ago. The Red Hands were without the influential Canavan brothers, Darragh and Ruairi, as both forwards did not make the match-day panel due to injury. However, Malachy O'Rourke was boosted by the fitness of midfielder Brian Kennedy who went off injured in that Orchard clash, but the injury was not as bad as first feared.Tyrone ahead after frantic first stanzaThe game started at breakneck speed, with Ciaran Daly rattling the side-netting when going for goal with the very first play. Darragh Heneghan brought the large home crowd to its feet in the fifth minute, carrying on his fine form by blasting to the net beyond Niall Morgan. Despite the warm conditions, the electric pace of the game refused to let up as Ethan Jordan, Conn Kilpatrick and Eoin McElholm led the Red Hand charge. It was the latter's 21st-minute goal that gave Tyrone a 1-7 to 1-4 lead, taking the time to pick his spot amongst a spew of opposition defenders. Two further Roscommon scores followed before Ronan Cassidy took matters into his own hands, bursting through Rossies defence before blasting to the roof of the net to cap a fine solo run. Diarmuid Murtagh, who kicked five first-half points, traded orange flags with Jordan as Tyrone, playing with the aid of a slight breeze, led 2-11 to...