Senior footballers book All-Ireland semi-final spot

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUATER-FINAL GROUP 2 PHASE 2

DUBLIN 2-26 ROSCOMMON 0-14

Dublin booked their berth in another All-Ireland semi-final when cruising to a 18-point victory over Roscommon in Saturday night's quarter-final Group 2 Phase 2 clash at Croke Park in front of an attendance of 36,530.

The Dubs face Tyrone in Omagh, victors over Cork in the curtain-raiser, in their concluding group game in two weekends' time to decide who finishes top of the group.

The early exchanges were balanced with Roscommon running hard to make inroads in the Dublin defence and the sides were level 0-3 in the tenth minute following a Conor Cox point for Roscommon but once Jim Gavin's men clicked into gear they proved too hot to handle.

Dublin executed the skills well with great variety in their play while the game also served to give valuable game-time to Jonny Cooper and James McCarthy who were making their full starting comebacks following injury.

Gavin's men used the long ball to telling effect on several occasions with Con O'Callaghan a major ball winner on the inside forward line.

The Cuala man kicked two first half points, one following a superb fetch, but was also fouled for three frees for Dean Rock to convert.

The Ballymun Kickhams man's place-kicking was brilliant and he finished with a personal tally of 1-11, including ten frees.

Dublin's first goal came in the 14th minute when Niall Scully unselfishly squared the ball to Rock who palmed to the Rossies net.

The Dubs had opened up a 1-15 to 0-7 lead but the Connacht champions had now been reduced to 14 men following the black card to Conor Daly, who had earlier been shown a yellow card.

Dublin extended their lead on the restart with Michael Darragh Macauley hitting his third goal of the summer following good work by Brian Howard and Con O'Callaghan.

Points in this period from Jack McCaffrey and two Rock frees had Dublin 2-18 to 0-7 clear.

However, they managed just a sole point between the 39th and 62nd minute as Roscommon too control. 

The reigning All-Ireland champions had moved 17 points clear but then suffered this long barren spell as Dublin took off several players who had enjoyed stellar performances.

One of those introduced off the bench, Paddy Small, kicked three excellent points as Dublin regained their supremacy late in the second half.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Rock 1-11 (0-10f), P Mannion, P Small 0-3 each, MD Macauley 1-0, C Kilkenny, C O’Callaghan, B Fenton 0-2 each, J McCaffrey, N Scully, K McManamon, 0-1 each. Roscommon: C Cox 0-7 (0-4f), C Hussey 0-3, S Mullooly, N Daly, C Compton, D Murtagh 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; J Cooper, P McMahon, M Fitzsimons; J McCaffrey, J McCarthy, J Small; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; C O’Callaghan, P Mannion, D Rock. Subs: K McManamon for Kilkenny (38), P Small for Mannion (38), R O’Carroll for Fitzsimons (47), E Lowndes for McCaffrey (47), P Andrews for O’Callaghan (52), D Byrne for Macauley (bc, 63).

ROSCOMMON: D O’Malley; S Mulloly, D Murray, C Daly; R Daly, C Hussey, N Daly; E Smith, S Killoran; B Stack, C Cregg, N Kilroy; D Murtagh, C Cox, C Compton. Subs: F Cregg for Killoran (36), A Lyons for Compton (45), J McManus for C Cregg (47), A Glennon for Murtagh (52), G Patterson for Murray (60), C McKeon for Kilroy (66).

REF: B Cassidy (Derry).