Down marked their return to Allianz League Division Two with a 1-20 to 3-21 away defeat against Roscommon.
The promoted Tailteann Cup winners had led by five at half-time at Dr Hyde Park despite conceding a pair of first-half goals to Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh.
Smith also saw a penalty saved by Down’s John O’Hare in an eventful first 35 minutes as Conor Laverty’s side took early advantage of the new rules.
The Mournemen regularly took aim from beyond the arc to raise six orange flags in the first half alone.
Pat Havern led the way in that regard with a quartet of two-pointers in the opening period as part of his personal tally of 11 points.
While Ryan McEvoy palmed home for Down’s only goal of the game, the Rossies stormed back in the second-half.
Gareth McKibben and Pat Havern further extended the visitors’ lead but a two-pointer from Shane Cunnane marked the start of the turning of the tide.
After Smith hit the bar, points from Ben O’Carroll and Eddie Nolan brought Davy Burke’s side back within three.
Despite a black card Ben O’Carroll, Ciarain Murtagh scored Roscommon’s third goal of the day with 12 minutes remaining as he found the empty net with O’Hare caught upfield in a Down attack.
While a Havern point got his side back within four, Down would get no closer as Roscommon extended their advantage in the closing minutes.
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