Afternoon all and welcome along to Croke Park as a new era in the All-Ireland senior football championship finally begins.

There’s been plenty heated debate about the merits and flaws of the Super 8s system, now we get to see it in action with this weekend’s first round of games.

It’s Roscommon against Tyrone in the first encounter, throw-in here at Croke Park is 5pm.

Let’s get stuck into some team news. Two changes for Roscommon from last week’s win over Armagh. Fintan Cregg and Cathal Compton are named to start, Peter Domican and Sean McDermott are selected on the bench.

Roscommon

1. Colm Lavin (Éire Óg)

2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
3. John McManus (Roscommon Gaels)
4. Niall McInerney (St Brigid’s)

5. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
6. Fintan Cregg (Elphin)
7. Conor Devaney (Kilbride – captain)

8. Tadgh O’Rourke (Tulsk Lord Edwards)
9. Enda Smith (Boyle)

10. Ciaráin Murtagh (St. Faithleach’s)
11. Niall Kilroy (Fuerty)
12. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)

13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St. Faithleach’s)
14. Cathal Compton (Strokestown)
15. Donie Smith (Boyle)

Same again for Tyrone, the starting side that dismantled Cork last Saturday are given the vote of confidence by Mickey Harte.

Tyrone

1. Niall Morgan (Clonoe)

2. Padraig Hampsey (Coalisland)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Michael McKernan (Coalisland)

5. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)
6. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)
7. Peter Harte (Errigal Chiaran)

8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
21. Cathal McCarron (Athy)

10. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick)
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12. Conor Meyler (Omagh)

13. Cathal McShane (Eoghan Ruadh)
14. Richard Donnelly (Trillick)
15. Connor McAliskey (Clonoe)

Roscommon are the only beaten provincial finalist to have made it to this stage, succeeding last weekend as Laois, Fermanagh and Cork faltered in Round 4. That second-half slump cost Roscommon in the Connacht final but in a sparkling and open game last Saturday in Portlaoise, they defeated Armagh 2-22 to 1-19.

Liam McHale and Enda Smith celebrating last Saturday's win. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

For Tyrone, it’s been a circuitous route to this juncture after that Ulster setback against Monaghan. They have seen off Meath, Carlow, Cavan and Cork to book a spot in the Super 8s. The biggest scare was against Meath when they needed extra-time but there’s been some emphatic wins since then, particularly when cruising past Cork last Saturday.

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte with Cork manager Ronan McCarthy after last Saturday's game. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Referee for this one is David Gough of Meath.

So this is Phase 1 of Group 2 with the other clash after this seeing the provincial champions Dublin and Donegal meeting at 7pm. Next week’s Tyrone entertain Dublin in Omagh while Roscommon host Donegal in Dr Hyde Park. A positive start is vital here for these two with some big challenges ahead.

Right we’re about to go here in Croke Park, hopefully this will be a cracking encounter.

Roscommon 0-1 Tyrone 0-1
Roscommon draw first blood with new man in today Fintan Cregg swinging over a point. Swift reply from Tyrone with Niall Sludden cutting past a few players and popping over a score.

Roscommon 0-3 Tyrone 0-1
Really good stuff from the Murtagh brothers against a packed Tyrone rearguard. Captain Ciaráin makes ground and then pops a handpass out to Diarmuid who curls over a lovely point. Then they win the kickout through Enda Smith, he is fouled later in the move and Ciaráin converts the free.

Again Roscommon win a kickout, again they win a free – this time through Donie Smith – but Diarmuid Murtagh can’t curl his shot in enough and they register their second wide of the game. Positive start by the Rossies though.

Roscommon 0-3 Tyrone 0-3
Tyrone wipe out that advantage quickly through inside men Richard Donnelly from play and Connor McAliskey from a free.

Roscommon 0-4 Tyrone 0-3
Diarmuid Murtagh does brilliantly to fetch a delivery, he’s hauled down by the Tyrone defence and swings over the free. Yellow card in the next passage of play for John McManus.

Goal for Tyrone from Niall Sludden!

Tyrone 1-3 Roscommon 0-4
A bad error by Roscommon and Tyrone make them pay. Roscommon in possession around the middle when Enda Smith attempts a crossfield pass that is intercepted. Tyrone counter quickly, Roscommon can’t get the ball back and the move culminates in Sludden drilling home the first goal of the game.

Tyrone 1-4 Roscommon 0-4
Again Tyrone turn over the ball, this time it’s Tadgh O’Rourke who is robbed in the middle, and their counter-attack is excellent with Tiernan McCann galloping forward to point.

Tyrone’s defensive shape looks very solid over the last few minutes and Roscommon cannot prise them apart like they did in the early stages.

Tyrone forced into an early change as Cathal McCarron is limped off after suffering an early challenge. Hugh Pat McGeary is pushed into their defence as his replacement.

Tyrone 1-4 Roscommon 0-5
Diarmuid Murtagh clips over a short-range free and they are now only two adrift.

Niall Sludden notched the opening goal of the game. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Tyrone 1-4 Roscommon 0-6
Diarmuid Murtagh taps a short free to his brother and Ciaráin slots his shot between the posts. A chance for a levelling score then but Cathal Cregg shoots wildly and the ball tails wide.

Tyrone 1-5 Roscommon 0-6
Two point game once more as McAliskey knocks over a free for Tyrone. Evenly contested affair here, not much between them.

Bad miss by Diarmuid Murtagh after Roscommon had sliced Tyrone apart when they claimed a turnover around the middle. Those are the sort of chances the underdogs need to capitalise on.

Tyrone 1-7 Roscommon 0-6
And Tyrone are being clinical at the other end. A first score of the day for Omagh’s Conor Meyler. Then a shot from Donie Smith for a point drops dangerously underneath the crossbar but Niall Morgan does superbly to punch clear under pressure. Tyrone move forward once more and Cathal McShane points. Suddenly it’s a four-point game, a nice lead for Tyrone before half-time.

Tyrone's Peter Harte and Roscommon's Enda Smith. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Tyrone 1-8 Roscommon 0-6
Five points now the difference, Michael McKernan supplying the latest Tyrone score.

Tyrone 1-9 Roscommon 0-6
Tyrone starting to turn the screw. They’re so patient in recycling the ball, probing for the gaps and find one here with Ronan McNamee kicking a point.

Half-Time: Tyrone 1-10 Roscommon 0-6

And Tyrone go in at the break clear by seven. That last point captured the difference between the teams, Richard Donnelly clipping over a point after Roscommon gave away the ball cheaply at the other end. That’s six points without reply now for Tyrone, no Roscommon score since the 24th minute. They’ve plenty to sort at half-time. We’ll have a breather and be back for the second-half action.

Enda Smith grabs possession for Roscommon over Tyrone's Padraig Hampsey. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Second-half action under way here in Croke Park.

Two changes at the break for Roscommon with Finbar Cregg and Brian Stack coming in for Cathal Cregg and Donal Smith.

Tyrone 1-11 Roscommon 0-6
Peter Harte clips over a free early in the second half for Tyrone.

Goal for Roscommon from Enda Smith!

Tyrone 1-11 Roscommon 1-6
A boost Roscommon badly needed! Enda Smith cuts through and blasts home a great goal.

Tyrone 1-12 Roscommon 1-7
Niall Sludden with a wonderful point for Tyrone after great work from Richard Donnelly. Ciaráin Murtagh had tapped over a free for Roscommon seconds previously.

Tyrone 1-12 Roscommon 1-8
Another pointed free for Roscommon, Diarmuid Murtagh on target.

Tyrone's Peter Harte and Roscommon's Niall Kilroy. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Tyrone 1-14 Roscommon 1-8
Tyrone kick on once more. Scores arrive from a Connor McAliskey pointed free and a Richard Donnelly effort from play.

Sub: Gary Patterson into the Roscommon team for Niall Daly.

Tyrone 1-14 Roscommon 1-9
Diarmuid Murtagh fists over a neat point for Roscommon, the gap is back to five.

Goal for Tyrone from Conor Meyler!

Tyrone 2-14 Roscommon 1-9
And that looks like it’ll be a huge score! Tyrone quell that period of Roscommon resistance by pouncing for a goal. Fintan Cregg had a shot from distance at one end that looped short into the arms of Niall Morgan. It’s another swift counter-attack from Tyrone and when Cathal McShane popped a pass inside, Meyler was all alone to roll a shot home for their second goal.

Sub: And not much time for Meyler to celebrate that goal on the pitch, he’s replaced by Kieran McGeary for Tyrone. Another change sees Colm Cavanagh, who limps off through injury, and Declan McClure comes on.

Tyrone 2-15 Roscommon 1-9
McAliskey knocks over another point and Tyrone are moving out of sight on the scoreboard. Roscommon need to hang on in here, a bad beating would be a tough start to their Super 8s campaign.

Matthew Donnelly moves clear of the Roscommon rearguard. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Sub: Mark Bradley in for Tyrone for McAliskey while Roscommon replace Fintan Cregg with Conor Daly.

Tyrone 2-17 Roscommon 1-9
Peter Harte from a free and Declan McClure from play provide the latest Tyrone points. The gap is out to 11 now and it’s all Tyrone at present.

Tyrone 2-19 Roscommon 1-9
Mark Bradley grabs a point for Tyrone, Brian Stack drills a shot wide for Roscommon at the other end. More Tyrone changes with Rory Brennan and Ronan O’Neill in for Michael McKernan and Niall Sludden. Another Tyrone point arrives courtesy of Cathal McShane.

Goal for Roscommon from Ciaráin Murtagh!

Goal for Tyrone from Peter Harte!

Tyrone 3-20 Roscommon 2-9
Plenty action there. First Roscommon gain some respite when Ciaráin Murtagh produces a lovely finish past Niall Morgan for their second goal. But the joy is short lived as Tyrone go down the other end and Hugh Pat McGeary is grounded by Enda Smith. David Gough judges it to be illegal, awards the penalty and Peter Harte slams a shot into the bottom corner. Richard Donnelly tacks on a point and it’s a 14-point game here.

Mickey Harte will be a happy man with this game. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Tyrone 3-22 Roscommon 2-10
The life is long gone out of this contest. Mattie Donnelly and Mark Bradley with Tyrone’s latest scores to confirm their supremacy. Roscommon have whipped off Ciaráin Murtagh and Enda Smith, possibly mindful of the contest coming ahead. Conor Devaney has just notched a score for Roscommon.

Tyrone 3-23 Roscommon 2-11
Points swapped, Peter Harte from a free for Tyrone and substitute Padraig Kelly for Roscommon.

Goal for Tyrone from Richard Donnelly!

Full-Time: Tyrone 4-24 Roscommon 2-12

A late Richard Donnelly goal wrapped things up for Tyrone as he palmed the ball to the net for their fourth goal. 18 points the difference in the end as Tyrone cruised to victory.

So Tyrone off to a flying start in the Super 8s, that’s a hugely impressive total they put up on the board. Dublin a clear step up in class next Saturday but they’ll look forward to welcoming them to Omagh.

For Roscommon, well that was a tough introduction to Group 1. The match ran away from them in the second half and the challenges only increase from here.

That’s all from us for the first game, thanks for joining in. You can keep track of the action between Dublin and Donegal here, Kevin O’Brien is keeping tabs on that one.