Roscommon were first on the score sheet with a great point from play from wing forward Grainne Tarmey in the first minute. Three minutes later Jenny Higgins goaled for Roscommon after running through the Mayo defence. Laura Brudell stretched the lead to five in the sixth minute which was immediately followed by a second Tarmey point from play in the seventh minute. From the kick out the ball was won by Joanne Cregg and move involving Laura Brudell set up Natalie McHugh for Roscommon's second goal. Mayo's Aileen Gilroy got the home sides first score in the ninth minute with a well taken goal after some good build up play. Lisa Cafferky reduced the deficit to five in the tenth minute with a pointed free. Mayo were in for a second goal only for some tenacious defending from the Roscommon backs her snap shop at goal was taken off the line by Laura Fleming and he long delivery to Maebh Holmes who set up Natalie McHugh for her first point of the afternoon. Two further Roscommon points from Tarmey and McHugh had eight between the sides on the quarter hour mark.

Mayo dominated the game for the next ten minutes with three unanswered points Gilroy two and a pointed free from Cafferkey. McHugh pointed for Roscommon in the twenty seventh minute this was quickly cancelled out by Gilroy with a point from play at the other end to leave five between the sides with half time looming. Natalie McHugh had the final say of the half her point from play in the first minute of injury time was followed by goal number two for the Kilglass Gaels player on the stroke of half time to put her side into a nine point lead.

Roscommon got the perfect start to the second half from the throw in the ball was picked up by Joanne Cregg who floated the ball towards Rebecca Coyle who took off on a menacing run through the Mayo defence and fired to the back of the Mayo net. Gilroy pulled one back of Mayo two minutes later with a point form play. Mayo were using the long ball tactic taking full advantage of the strong breeze and began to land ball in on top of Gilroy. Mayo were awarded a penalty in the thirty fourth minute after a foul on Gilroy, the same player stepped up to take the resultant penalty and fired past Sarah Morahan in the Roscommon goals. Grainne Tarmey pointed for Roscommon in the thirty seventh minute this was cancelled out two minutes later a pointed free from Cafferky. Gilroy goaled for Mayo in the in the fortieth minute to leave five between the sides.

McHugh settled Roscommon nerves with her hat trick one minute later. But Mayo responded instantly with a goal from their centre back. A second half Mayo substitute reduced the deficit to four with fifteen minutes remaining. But the Roscommon backline Rachel Corcoran Sarah Brady Ellen Beirne Sheila O'Dowd Laura Fleming Gillian Dufficy and Rachel Finan when introduced curtailed Mayo to three points in the final quarter. Roscommon also tagged on three points in the final quarter McHugh two one free and Laura Brudell one to leave the full time score Roscommon 5-12 Mayo 4-11.

Roscommon now play Galway in Ballintubber on Saturday evening next at 7p.m. as part of their official opening week-end.