London pushed the visitors hard in the second half, despite, with Exiles forward Lorcan Mulvey delivering a Man of the Match performance.

The Cavan native helped London battle back from a nine-point deficit in the 40th minute, to hold the visitors to just one point in the closing 15 minutes - a point from debutant Ultan Harney late on.

Hot off the heels of their Division 2 Allianz League success, Roscommon were firm favourites heading into this encounter, and they started strongly.

John Evans side led by 0-11 to 0-5 at half-time, with Enda Smith contributing four first half points, with Laois native Cathal Óg Greene black-carded for the hosts after 25 minutes.

Roscommon didn’t ease up in the early part of the second half, where Murtagh’s goal pushed them nine points clear in the 38th minute.

However, London dug deep with Mulvey working hard, finishing with eight points, five from placed balls.

If Murtagh claimed the only goal of the contest, it was Enda Smith who impressed for the visitors in the opening half, registering four points before the interval.

Roscommon began this game in impressive fashion, and powered to a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage after 13 minutes, with Smith and the Shine brothers Donal and Cathal also on target.

Smith added his third point before London responded well, with Adrian Moyles, and Alan O’Hara, who was lining out against his home county registered scores.

However, the Exiles were also guilty of some missed chances, with Paul Coggins men punished by a more fruitful Roscommon attack.

It was another case of ‘brothers in arms’ for Roscommon, with Diarmuid and Ciaran Murtagh impressive up front, with Mulvey continuing to keep London in touch.

However, the 22nd minute dismissal of Laois native Cathal Óg Greene on a black-card after a foul on Neil Collins, handed the hosts a major challenge.

A Donie Shine pointed free helped Roscommon to a 0-11 to 0-5 interval lead.

Murtagh’s well crafted goal arrived shortly after the restart, and while Mulvey scored five second-half points for London they weren't clinical enough to snatch a victory.

Sligo are next up for Roscommon, another away contest, in Markievicz Park on June 20.

ROSCOMMON: D O’Malley; S McDermott, N Carty, N Collins; D Ward, N Daly, C Cafferkey; I Kilbride (0-1), C Shine (0-2); E Smith (0-4), D Shine (0-2, 2fs), C Murtagh (1-2); D Murtagh (0-2, 1f), S Kilbride, C Cregg. Subs: R Stack for Ward (40); C Connolly for S Kilbride (48); U Harney (0-1) for E Smith (48); D Smith for D Murtagh (52); T Featherston for Carty (55); R Daly for C Murtagh (60).

LONDON: D Traynor; B Collins, P Butler, D McGreevy; D McCarthy, C Carty, S Curran; M Gottsche, M Carroll; S Conroy, C Og Greene, J Moran; A O’Hara (0-1), L Mulvey (0-8, 5f), A Moyles (0-1, 1f). Subs: P O’Shea for Greene (22 Black Card); P McGoldrick for Moyles (44); M Walsh for Moran (46); A Carr for Carroll (54); S Devine for McCarthy (55); S Buckley for Conroy (69).

REFEREE: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).