NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO/Dublin 3-20 Roscommon 0-7:YET ANOTHER woeful day at the office for troubled Roscommon, who will be competing in Division Three next season.
To be fair to them the chances of the Connacht team causing a major shock on Dublin's patch in Division Two of the National Football League at Parnell Park on Saturday were slim and none.
The superior and well-drilled Dublin outfit climbed with consummate ease to the top of the division, where they share the lead on nine points with Monaghan but have a game in hand and are better off on scoring averages.
The Roscommon contingent were reduced to a state of crushed silence as they experienced the jaw-dropping, one-way traffic match.
It could have been even worse for the Westerners, for their goalkeeper Geoff Claffey was called upon to make two stunning saves, from wing-back Barry Cahill and corner-forward Mossie Quinn.
In addition the scoreline looked even worse for Roscommon as Dublin's team manager Paul Caffrey decided to give established players like Jason Sherlock, Mark Vaughan, Collie Moran, David Henry and Paul Casey a day on the bench.
Dublin were depleted further when their key midfielder, the industrious Shane Ryan, had to retire injured before the interval.
Dublin selector Brian Talty was of the opinion that before a ball was kicked it was going to be quite a difficult match for Dublin and indeed both teams. "Given all the hassle of the previous week in the Roscommon camp we did not know how the Roscommon team would react. They have a proud tradition in the game and quite frankly we did not know what to expect," said Talty.
"We decided, however, to put other factors to the backs of our minds and go out and play our own game. I feel it was our attitude that was the big factor in our victory."
Ironically, Roscommon opened the scoring when their adroit full-forward, Ger Heneghan, pointed in the opening minutes.
But another 26 minutes would elapse before they got another score, and that again came from Heneghan.
In the meantime, Dublin had put on two goals and six points and went on to lead at half-time by 2-8 to 0-4.
The first-half Dublin goals, scored by Ger Connolly and Conal Keaney, had a visibly demoralising effect on the youngish Roscommon team.
Dublin had played with the wind in the first half and Roscommon players as they made their way to the interval dressing-rooms could only hope that the wind advantage was the primary reason for the half-time score.
The visitors were totally disillusioned within three-and-a-half minutes of the resumption as Dublin put on four rapid points, from Connolly, Alan Brogan, Keaney and Brendan McManamon.
This left Dublin leading by 2-12 to 0-4 and Roscommon heads dropped even lower.
Paul Early, the caretaker manager for Roscommon, suggested the Roscommon county board may have no trouble in appointing a high-profile manager, the type who would welcome a challenge to develop the young talents of the team.
Eamonn McManus, a former Roscommon selector, also has full faith in the team progressing.
"There are 11 under-21 players in the squad and more to come in," said McManus.
He also emphasised the recently resigned backroom team, including himself, had the full backing of the county board, and he regretted the way John Maughan was verbally abused and insulted by a minority among the Roscommon supporters.
The Dublin manager, Paul Caffrey, was understandably satisfied with his team's performance considering he had brought in some fresh blood and rested so many established players.
Selector Talty was not prepared to talk of semi-finals and instead commented: "We have two very tough matches ahead, against Armagh in Crossmaglen and Meath here in Parnell Park.
"We welcome these challenges for what better preparation could you get ahead of the championship?
"The match against Meath will doubtless attract a bumper crowd here in Parnell Park as it usually does, and these are two games we look forward to," added Talty.
DUBLIN:M Savage, D Murray, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy, B Cahill, G Brennan, P Andrews, K Whelan, S Ryan, B Brogan (0-3), A Brogan (0-2), B McManamon (0-3), D Connolly (1-3), C Keaney (1-5, three frees), M Quinn (1-3, one free). Subs: P Flynn for Ryan; T Diamond for A Brogan; A Nolan for McConnell; O O'Gara (0-1) for B Brogan.
ROSCOMMON:G Claffey, A Murtagh, A McDermott, S McDermott, D Hoey, E Kenny, J Tiernan, K Mannion, S O'Neill, M Finneran, G Cox, M O'Carroll, G Heneghan (0-3, one free), S Kilbride (0-2), J Dunning. Subs: D Keenan (0-1) for Hoey; F Dolan (0-1) for O'Neill; T O'Connor for Kenny; J McKeague for Heneghan.
Referee:J Bannon (Longford).
