Senior footballers cruise to victory over Roscommon

Sun, 5th August 2018

DUBLIN 4-24 ROSCOMMON 2-16

Dublin warmed up for next Saturday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Galway (5.0) with a comfortable 14-point quarter-final Group 2 Phase 3 over Roscommon in Croke Park on Sunday.

A crowd of 33,240 attended the double-header which included Kildare being crowned inaugural All-Ireland U20FC champions following their victory over Mayo.

Manager Jim Gavin altered his line-up from the starting 15 that faced Tyrone last time out and the likes of Cormac Costello, Paul Flynn and Eoghan O'Gara grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Bernard Brogan also made his competitive return from his cruciate knee injury, coming on as a blood sub for Mark Schutte for six minutes late in the second half.

Costello was direct and skilful in attack and finished with nine points to his name which included what looked certain to be a goal in first-half added time but withthe goal at his mercy the Whitehall Colmcille man blazed over.

O'Gara was a powerful ball-winning presence close to the Roscommon goal and hit two second half goals in this free-scoring tussle.

Dublin led 2-12 to 0-7 at the break and it could have been more.

Paul Flynn finished brilliantly to the Roscommon net in the 21st minute from 20 metres and ten minutes later Michael Darragh Macauley powered past two defenders before picking his spot low to the corner.

Roscommon restarted with greater intent and were rewarded with a Gary Patterson goal, that deflected to the net off Conor Mullally, but Dublin quickly regained control with O'Gara's first goal in the 41st minute.

His second in the 51st minute was also a brilliantly struck shot to see Dublin move 4-18 to 1-8 clear.

Roscommon finished the game the stronger with Dublin minds already moving to next weekend.

SCORERS - Dublin: C Costello 0-9 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘45’), E O’Gara 2-2, P Flynn 1-3, K McManamon 0-3 (0-2f), MD Macauley 1-0, C McHugh 0-2, P McMahon, P Small, J Small, M Schutte, P Andrews 0-1 each. Roscommon: D Murtagh 0-6 (0-2f), D Smith 1-3 (0-1 ‘45’), G Patterson 1-0, C Lennon, P Kelly 0-2 each, C Murtagh (0-1f), C Devaney, N Kilroy 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, D Daly, M Fitzsimons; E Lowndes, J Small, J McCaffrey; MD Macauley, C O’Sullivan; P Flynn, K McManamon, C Basquel; C Costello, E O’Gara, P Andrews. Subs: J McCarthy for O’Sullivan (ht), C Mullally for McCaffrey (ht), P Small for Costello (44), M Schutte for J Small (44), C McHugh for O’Gara (53), A McGowan for Daly (60), B Brogan for Schutte (blood sub 61-67).

ROSCOMMON: J Fetherston; D Murray, P Domican, N McInerney; J McManus, D Pettit, R Timothy; T O’Rourke, E Smith; N Kilroy, C Murtagh, C Deavney; D Murtagh, B Stack, C Lennon. Subs: G Patterson for Timothy (ht), P Kelly for Kilroy (ht), I Kilbride for Domican (49), D Smith for Stack (49), C Cregg for C Murtagh (56), S McDermott for McManus (66).

REF: C Reilly (Meath).