Welcome to Croker for tonight’s Allianz Football League showdown.
Here’s how the sides will line-out. A couple of changes to tell you about: Darren Daly replaces James McCarthy for Dublin, while Ultan Harney is in for Sean Mullolly on the Roscommon team.
Dublin 0-1 Roscommon 0-0
3 mins – Niall Scully swings over the opening score for Dublin.
Dublin 0-2 Roscommon 0-1
6 mins – Enda Smith and Andrews trade scores. Good start from Roscommon here.
Dublin 0-2 Roscommon 0-2
7 mins – Enda Smith curls over his second effort of the night.
Dublin 1-5 Roscommon 0-3
GOAL! Paul Flynn buries the ball into the back of the net! Dublin are in control now. Great take that time from Bernard Brogan.
Dublin 1-6 Roscommon 0-3
17 mins – Scully doubles his tally, this time with a score off the left.
Dublin 1-8 Roscommon 0-3
24 mins – Flynn sends over a fine score from the right flank.
Dublin 1-9 Roscommon 0-4
27 mins – Diarmuid Murtagh and Brogan kick a point apiece.
Dublin 1-12 Roscommon 0-5
32 mins – Hint of a goal chance for Roscommon, but Ciaran Reddin curls over a Dublin point at the far end.
Dublin 1-13 Roscommon 0-6
33 mins – Good score from Donie Smith, the Smith brothers are causing the Dubs problems. Flynn lands over an excellent point in response.
Dublin 1-14 Roscommon 0-6
35+1 mins – Lovely score by Brogan after a nice Dublin move.
Half-time: Dublin 1-14 Roscommon 0-6
Dublin in complete control at the break.
Half-time scores
Laois 0-6 Longford 0-8
Armagh 1-3 Antrim 0-6
Dublin 1-15 Roscommon 0-6
37 mins – Lowndes makes a good break forward and Rock fists over the bar for Dublin.
Dublin 1-18 Roscommon 0-8
43 mins – Flynn tags on another score and there’s a big cheer for Diarmuid Connolly as he makes his season debut for the Dubs. Ciarain Murtagh scores one for the Rossies.
Michael Darragh MacAuley is in, that’s two former Footballer of the Years they’ve brought in now.
Dublin 1-19 Roscommon 0-8
47 mins – Flynn with another score. He’s been excellent.
Dublin 1-20 Roscommon 0-8
49 mins – Paul Mannion replaces O’Sullivan. McHugh converts a close-range free.
Dublin 1-21 Roscommon 0-8
52 mins – Flynn handpasses over the bar after a Brogan shot for a point hit the post. There was a goal on there but Flynn was happy to take his point.
Dublin 1-22 Roscommon 0-10
54 mins – Another good Dublin move results in McHugh curling over off the left.
GOAL! Kevin McManamon is the last starting Dublin forward to score here. He drove through and finished with aplomb. Dublin lead 2-22 to 0-10.
Dublin 2-23 Roscommon 0-11
59 mins – Ciaran Murtagh (free) and McManamon trade scores.
Dublin 2-25 Roscommon 0-11
63 mins – Diarmuid Connolly, wearing number 5, opens his account for the year with a score from the right.
Dublin 2-27 Roscommon 0-11
65 mins – Paul Flynn can do no wrong. He picks off another score from distance.
Dublin 2-28 Roscommon 0-12
67 mins – Carthy from close range. Incredible scoring. Niall Kilroy strokes one over from the far end.
Dublin 2-29 Roscommon 0-12
70 mins – Gary Patterson with a good score from the right flank.
Dublin 2-29 Roscommon 0-14
72 mins – Cian Connolly converts a free for Roscommon.
Full-time scores
Dublin 2-29 Roscommon 0-14
Armagh 1-12 Antrim 0-13
Laois 1-13 Longford 0-13
Limerick 0-14 Waterford 0-8
Tough one to call!!!
@Soccer T’s: Yes that was sarcasm with a capital S. Dublin -9 is the handicap. That must be a record for a division one match.
@Soccer T’s: if only the GAA would implement a structured league where there’s actual competition in the leagues and the counties care about it and it’s not seen as a training session for the all Ireland.
@Alan b..: Yeah that Munster v. Zebre/Treviso/Benetton match today was super-competitive. Will set them up nicely for whatever crowd of mercenaries they’re playing next week in that competition that some billionaires in France and England dreamt up a few years back.
Good times.
@Camroc: in every league you have weak teams.but let’s be honest no one cares about the GAA football league it’s a training game program for the all Ireland (I love how you have to bring rugby into your arguments all the time it really shows up your insecurities and how threaded you are by the game)
@Alan b..: the tens of thousands of supporters who turn up every week seem to care? The TV companies who pay for rights also seem to have a substantial interest? The players also look like they give a f*ck.
Again, you should really familiarise yourself with the facts.
@Camroc: lol tens of thousands did you see the highlights of the Dublin game were you drunk with double vision lol lol
@Alan b..: You were talking about the league in general. Not just who cares about the Dublin game. So I’m sure he was talking about the 10s of thousands around the country that go to games every week. As you like to say ‘lol’.
Flynn looks like he is coming back to his best, great display from him so far
All Dublin. The Roscommon lads are trying, but Dublin are just different class. Fair play to Kerry and Tyrone for giving them a game in this League. We’re not able to compete with Dublin right now. The gulf in class is too vast.
@Paul Scanlon: In fairness, ye would do well to stay in division 3 the way ye are playing this year in the league. Never mind competing against Dublin. Pity. Ye had a promising team for a couple of seasons.
@Desheen: Nothing better than quiet Rossies. It’s very rare but very pleasing. A little more improvement and they should be capable of competing with Leitrim/London in the championship
@Paul Scanlon: if every other county had the money Dublin A)had the facilities “the national(Dublin) training centre” (based in Dublin for some strange reason)B) received in funding from the GAA C) received the money from sponsorship that Dublin do D) pay their manager as much as JIM then maybe it would be a level playing field
@Paul Scanlon: Many of the counties are not actually that far behind in spending actually. This was covered by Off The Ball a few weeks ago. Roscommon Senior team are spending well over 1 million euro, as are many other counties .The Roscommon set up is not too shabby in their ability to raise funds. In Fairness, Dublin has a huge population and there would be something wrong if they were unable to get big groups (back years ago, it was Arnotts and later Vodafone who also once sponsored Clare) to back them. Roscommon had some big money groups with their names on their jerseys too over the years Ballymore Properties and 747 Travel. Jim Gavin come from a similar background as Kevin McStay did, club coach.
@Christy Dolan: Exactly. The lovely Alan no matter how many times he’s told seems to conveniently forget Mayo spent more last year than Dublin.
@Christy Dolan: if that’s the case why did Dublin receive the most money from the GAA last year?regardlesshow much each county spends on its team the GAA should maybe give more funding towards the weaker counties
Roscommon have a couple of good forwards aleast there trying to play football unlike others we know
@The metropolitans: Wow. Low blow, taking a pop at your own team like that as they make history tonight.
Up the Dubs
If we were pick the top 20 players in connaught right now we still won’t beat the dubs.
@Sam: Top 20 in the country would struggle
As strong as Dublin’s squad are they are one injury away (Fenton) from having a very very average midfield. Big reliance on Fenton at the moment. Top player in fairness.
Are u for real Connolly , McCauley and Kilkenny to name a few
@Desheen: It’s like looking for flaws in a diamond
@Soccer T’s: connolly and kilkenny are starting in the forward line already so they could hardly replace fenton. Id argue that macauley isnt up to dublins standards anymore too
McCauley is effective but far from the finished article. Connolly and Kilkenny not natural midfielders. Fenton is head and shoulders above the other midfield options and all I’m saying is if he were injured he’d be a huge loss. Completely change the dynamic of their set up. In saying that they would probably cope!
@Jack: pity there are no red thumbs anymore. Mdma would be a welcome addition to any county team. Strength and forward thinking. Dublin are to be admired for bringing their standards up. Now other counties need to up their game. Kinda like kilkenny have set standards in hurling.
@Fiona Larkin Ryan: it’s not a dig at Dublin Fiona. It’s just an observation. Most people will acknowledge MDMA is limited in some areas. He’s been dropped by Gavin a number of times over the past couple of seasons. Without Fenton he would be first choice midfield option. Who then partners him?
It’s just interesting giving the embarrassment of talent Dublin have in all other outfield positions.
Clutching straws though as Dublin are not far off looking unbeatable.
@Fiona Larkin Ryan: mdma has very limited natural footballing ability. Would make 70% of teams in the country but i dont think dublins midfield improves when he comes on.
It’s easy for Dublin keep winning biggest population in Ireland and all the jobs in Dublin . It’s hard for Roscommon and Cavans to keep players in their county’s
@Aidan O connor: How was employment and population in Kerry and Donegal when they won recently?
@Aidan O connor: By that logic how come the US and China are not winning World Cups?
@Aidan O connor: Because everyone living in Dublin is a Dub and plays Gaa? You’ve just said it yourself, people move here. A huge % of people living in Dublin are not even Dubs.
Sap
@Gavin Byrne: New York should walk the Connacht championship this year
@Soccer T’s: Or London. How many million there?
enda Smith a serious operator in fairness. the dubs are different gravy though
Roscommon had 3 decent goal opportunities..Gavin looked furious with the defending at times took byrne off
@Stevo02 Scofield: definitely 5 good goal chances missed
GAA has become an absolute farce. What hope does any small county have this year in provincial or all Ireland. People are leaving GAA at youth level in huge numbers to rugby, soccer etc.
@Donnacha Bhoicaire: Monaghan have proven that any county, no matter the size can compete with anyone when the right structures are put in place and players get the supports they need. Like any top level sports it takes serious money and commitment. The top teams (not the biggest counties) are raising €1 million+ annually in order to compete for Championship success. If it was just about population then wouldn’t it be Dublin, Cork, Galway, Antrim, Kildare, Meath, Derry every year?
We gave it a go. Could have done better missing some scorable chances for points and could possibly have had a couple of goals too. To say Roscommon were punching above their weight tonight is a understament. This is a team missing 9 key players form last years league squad. A major loss for any country, but particularly for one as small as Roscommon. There are clubs teams in Dublin will a bigger pick.
A county with population 34 times the size.
The selection, the finance, the coaching, the facilities, Dublin have it all in their favour. It’s not surprising to see The dominance of Dublin football
On the bright side every year Dublin will the All Ireland is another year Mayo don’t. And honestly I can’t see Sam McGuire leaving Dublin for years to come.
@Paul Scanlon: Haha Kerry dominated for years without the huge population. Look at Kilkenny in the hurling. Stop using our population as an excuse. It’s not all Dubs living here as you well know.
Can’t wait for London to win Connaught this year with their huge population!
@Ciara Baines: Different excuses every week but this is the same man who publicly said he would prefer to see Mayo fail than Roscommon succeed. That’s a messed up view from a supposed “fan”. Any wonder Ross football is f**ked?!
@Ciara Baines: kerry have over twice the population of roscommon and probably werent missing 3 of their top 5 players among others when they were winning. Huge difference between the likes of dublin and roscommon no matter who roscommon have playing but a full roscommon team are well able to hold their own in division one.