Scoreline flatters Dubs in front of dismal Croke Park crowd

Roscommon kept spluttering All-Ireland champions on edge for spells until they emptied their bench to seal 12-point opening Group 2 victory 

EXCLAMATION POINT: Con O'Callaghan of Dublin, 14, scores the second goal, in the 69th mitue, during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Dublin and Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

DUBLIN 2-19 ROSCOMMON 0-13 

A dismal crowd, estimated to be short of 15,000, watched a passable, flattering but winning Dublin performance in Croke Park this evening.

The All-Ireland SFC champions opened their Group 2 campaign with a victory over their seemingly perennial round-robin opponents Roscommon that was only confirmed when substitute Colm Basquel finished low for a 66th minute goal. Con O’Callaghan finished off a swift move with a palmed goal three minutes later to give the scoreline an unfair reflection.

A fretting Dublin had all but emptied their bench by the 53rd minute but they were keeping their noses in front. Seán Bugler sent over two points soon after his introduction, those efforts swung over either side of Daire Cregg’s third point.

But Dublin had been spluttering. Brian Fenton inexplicably missed with two efforts, one going wide and the other hitting a post, Cormac Costello fisted a point attempt wide and Brian Howard gambled poorly on a low percentage shot.

Roscommon relied heavily on their full-forwards for scores – the usually brilliant Enda Smith cut a peripheral figure in the middle of the park – and their game of containment eventually relented with those Basquel and O’Callaghan goals. Roscommon’s last score of four in the second half came in the 54th minute, 19 minutes from the final whistle.

Despite being down to 14 men for the last five minutes of the half when Eoin McCormack was black carded, Roscommon outscored the hosts two points to none to trail by a point, 0-9 to 0-10, going into the tunnel.

Their efficiency had been exceptional in the opening period and it wasn’t until the 28th minute that they registered their first wide and even at that Conor Cox slipped in the process of kicking the ball. But he and his fellow inside forwards Cregg and Diarmuid Murtagh had given fine accounts of themselves and contributed all of Roscommon’s scores.

Dublin’s first quarter was marked by lightning quick attacks and they were 0-5 to 0-2 up after the 13th minute. Niall Scully was providing the creative spark around the middle and Paul Mannion was finding his range.

Roscommon through Murtagh and Cox brought their team within one by the 18th minute only for Dublin captain O’Callaghan to announce himself with a quick braces of scores, the latter applying the finishing touch to a counterattack.

However, Roscommon sent over the next two scores and then cancelled out Ross McGarry and Cian Murphy scores with a couple of Diarmuid Murtagh frees, which were on the soft side.

Scorers for Dublin: C. O’Callaghan (1-4); C. Basquel (1-0); B. Fenton, P. Mannion, R. McGarry, N. Scully, S. Bugler, C. Costello (frees) (0-2 each); C. Murphy, J. Small, T. Lahiff (0-1 each).

Scorers for Roscommon: D. Murtagh (0-5, 3 frees); C. Cox (0-5, 1 mark, 1 free); D. Cregg (0-3).

DUBLIN: S. Cluxton; S. MacMahon, E. Murchan, M. Fitzsimons; B. Howard, C. Murphy, J. Small; B. Fenton, T. Lahiff; R. McGarry, C. Costello, C. Kilkenny; P. Mannion, C. O’Callaghan (c), N. Scully.

Subs for Dublin: S. Bugler for P. Mannion (45); J. McCaffrey for T. Lahiff (48); C. Basquel for N. Scully, P. Small for R. McGarry (both 53); T. Clancy for C. Murphy (inj 63).

ROSCOMMON: C. Carroll; D. Murray, B. Stack (c), N. Higgins; N. Daly, R. Dolan, E. McCormack; E. Smith, T. O’Rourke; C. Lennon, D. Smith, D. Ruane; D. Murtagh, C. Cox, D. Cregg.

Subs for Roscommon: S. Cunnane for D. Smith, U. Harney for T. O’Rourke (both 43); R. Fallon for N. Daly (50); B. O’Carroll for D. Ruane (55); K. Doyle for C. Cox (70).

Black card: E. McCormack (31-41).

Referee: D. O’Mahoney (Tipperary)