Dublin on the board after win over wasteful Roscommon

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne of Dublin in action against Roscommon players Dylan Ruane, left, and Caelim Keogh. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Division 1: Roscommon: 2-7 (2-1-5) Dublin: 1-21 (1-5-11) 

This was a strong response. Dublin bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Kerry with a strong showing against a wasteful Roscommon.

Even by the supercharged standards that currently apply to post-enhancements Gaelic football, the start in Dr Hyde Park was still absolutely ludicrous. 

Before the throw-in, a healthy crowd of 7,819 fizzed with the news that Roscommon were making four changes to their starting team and a further three on the bench. 

The St Brigid’s contingent made their return in a wave with Conor Carroll, Ruaidhrí Fallon and Conor Hand all coming straight in.

Ger Brennan, meanwhile, kept his cards close to his chest. Con O’Callaghan did not emerge for the warm-up but they did not announce any changes, with it eventually becoming clear they made four of their own alterations. 

Hugh O’Sullivan would start in goals, Eoin Kennedy, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and Killian McGinnis all dropped in as well.

Playing against the breeze, Roscommon proceeded to miss 10 shots in a row. It took over 25 minutes for them to register a score. Enda Smith had a goal chance well saved, Diarmuid Murtagh missed the rebound and Carroll hooked the resulting 45. 

They dropped four shots short and from one of those counter-attacks, Dublin struck their goal.

It was a start instilled with fury and brainpower. Dublin clearly learned from their mistakes.

They loaded up the 21-metre line to create space for two-point shooters and kicked five of them. Sean Bugler was immense early on, kicking 0-4 and creating another two-pointer for Niall Scully.

The harder they worked, the luckier they got. A swift breakaway saw Killian McGinnis go for goal and scuff it. 

Luke Breathnach was at the back post to tap in. The sensational speed of Conor Hand and a shot that bounced back off the post opened the door for Daire Cregg to lift a green flag at the other end. It was 1-1 to 1-14 at the turnaround.

Cheap errors continued to haunt the home side. Smith smashed a goal shot across the goal from the throw-in. 

A breach gifted Dublin their opening point of the second half. They scored one two-pointer from five attempts. Dylan Ruane eventually palmed in a goal to put an end to a string of missed opportunities.

With relegated-threatened Armagh and Galway to come, Dublin’s position suddenly doesn’t look so bad.

Scorers for Roscommon: D. Cregg 1-1; D. Ruane 1-0; D. Murtagh 0-2 (tp); R. Heneghan, E. Colleran, C. Keogh, S. Lambe 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: L. Breathnach 1-1; S. Bugler 0-4 ( 1 tp); N. Scully 0-4 (1 tp, 2f); P. Small 0-3 (tp): H. O’Sullivan 0-2 (tpf); E. Kennedy 0-2 (tp), K. McGinnis 0-2; A. Gavin, R. McGarry, C. McMarrow 0-1 each.

ROSCOMMON: C. Carroll; P. Gavin, C. Keogh, C. Neary; E. Ward, R. Daly, S. Lambe; K. Doyle, R. Fallon; D. Ruane, E. Smith, C. Hand; D. Murtagh, D. Cregg, R. Heneghan.

Subs: J. Duggan for Fallon (half-time); C. Lennon for Hand (43); E. Colleran for Heneghan (46); N. Higgins for Daly (58); P. Carey for Ruane (62);

DUBLIN: H. O’Sullivan; E. Murchan, N. Doran, D. Byrne; E. Kennedy, B. Howard, A. Gavin; C. McMarrow, P. Ó Cofaigh Byrne; C. Kilkenny, S. Bugler, P. Small; L. Breathnach, K. McGinnis, N. Scully.

Subs: L. Smith for Murchan (2-3, Temp); G. McEneaney for Kennedy (52); N. O’Callaghan for Small (58); J. Lundy for Breathnach (63); R. McGarry for Kilkenny (68), L. Smith for Murchan (69).

Referee: C. Lane (Cork).