Niall Carew’s Sligo created the biggest surprise of the football championship so far when they were deserved winners over a fancied Roscommon side.

Sligo's Darragh MacConnan and Eoin Flanagan celebrate after their team's win today. PictureL Inpho

Roscommon, after successive promotions to Division One, were strongly expected to challenge Mayo’s drive for five Connacht titles in a row but John Evans now has a battle on his hands to get to regroup for the qualifiers.

And that won’t be easy after their bid for a first Connacht title since 2010 lay in tatters in Sligo.

They could have few complaints against a Sligo side who were clearly up for the fight from the start.

Sligo needed a solid start to rattle Roscommon and they got it with Cian Breheny and - on his championship debut - Adrian Marren landed early points.

Roscommon finally got on the scoreboard when Enda Smith pointed after 10 minutes with an excellent score.

However, Sligo continued to take the game to the favourites. Pat Hughes extended their lead before Marren kicked his second free. Sligo began to have real belief as they opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

Roscommon were struggling to impose themselves but Cathal Cregg and a free from Ciaran Murtagh cut the gap to the minimum 10 minutes before the interval.

Sligo were clearly up for the battle and they took charge again from there to the break, with Marren adding another free after the impressive David Kelly was fouled.

Ciaran Cafferkey responded with a fisted point for the Rossies but three minutes from the break Sligo struck a telling blow when Marren blasted home a penalty after Neil Collins was fouled.

Sligo suffered a set-back when Criostóir Davey was black-carded before the break but they went in leading by double scores at 1-7 to 0-5 when Hughes landed another point.

Cathal Cregg hit a point just ten seconds after the restart for Roscommon but Sligo met the challenge head-on and Marren and Cian Breheny extended their lead.

Donie Shine had to be content with a point from a goal effort before Marren set up Cian Breheny and he put two goals between the sides.

Roscommon, though, kept chipping away at the Sligo lead with Enda Smith leading the way.

However, they never looked like catching Sligo and Niall Carew’s men held out for a deserved success.

Scorers:

Sligo 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), P Hughes 0-2, C Breheny 0-2, M Breheny 0-2, D Kelly 0-1.

Roscommon: C Cregg 0-4, C Murtagh 0-2 (2f), E Smith 0-2, C Cafferkey 0-2, I Kilbridge 0-1, N Daly 0-1, F Cregg 0-1 (f).

Sligo: A Devaney; R Donavan, K McDonnell, D Maye; E Flanagan, B Egan, K Cawley; C Breheny, N Murphy; C Davey, M Breheny, N Ewing; D Kelly, P Hughes, A Marren.

Subs: B Curran for Davey (35 +3 BC), S Gilmartin for C Breheny (62).

Roscommon: D O'Malley; S McDermott, N Carty, N Collins; N Daly, D Ward, C Cafferky; I Kilbride, C Shine; E Smith, R Stack, C Cregg; D Murtagh, S Kilbride, C Murtagh.

Subs: C Connolly for D Murtagh (34), D Smith for Stack (h-t), D Keenan for Ward (42), C Compton for S Kilbride (55), F Cregg 0-1 (1f) for C Murtagh (62).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).