Senior footballers up gears to outrun Rossies

FL DIVISION 1

DUBLIN 2-14 ROSCOMMON 1-12

A strong second half saw Dublin come from behind to defeat Roscommon in this well-contested FL Division 1 clash at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday.

At one stage of the opening half Dublin led by five points following Con O'Callaghan's goal but the sides were level at the break before the home side moved into a two-point lead early in the second period.

However, Dublin then took control of the game and but for some wayward shooting would have prevailed by more in front of a crowd of about 6,500.

The sides were deadlocked 1-9 each at the break but Ros' hadfinished the half on an upward curve and they maintained that into the second half with points from David Murray and Conor Cox to ease clear.

But Roscommon did not score again for 30 minutes as Dublin gained a stranglehold of the game in the middle third to run out deserving five-point victors.

For the Dubs the key score came in the 51st minute when ace poacher Dean Rock swept the ball to the net left-footed in a crowded square as Jim Gavin's men hit 1-5 without reply to set themselves up for victory.

Four points followed - two Rock frees and fine points from play from Niall Scully and Darren Gavin as Dublin cruised to victory with Ros' having Conor Devaney sent off (two yellows) in the 66th minute.

Dublin's opening goal came in the 18th minute when Dean Rock was held up in possession in the Ros' square but managed to offload it into space from where Con O'Callaghan arrived at pace to half-volley the ball to the net.

Dublin led 1-5 to 0-3 at this stage but they failed to kick on and Roscommon came back strong and goaled themselves in the 29th minute when a high delivery from Donie Smith broke for CathalCregg who made no mistake.

Paddy Andrews replied for Dublin but it was the home side who finished the half on top with scores from Conor Cox (free), wing-back Ronan Daly and Enda Smith to bring the sides level just before half-time.

“They went ahead by two points in the second half and it was a great test of our character, and the desire of the Dublin players, and I thought they responded to that really well and we finished strongly,” said Dublin manager Jim Gavin.

“We just reset the guys at half-time and not much was said to them. I thought they were trying really hard and I thought collectively there were some great attacks, some great defending and that was consistent throughout the game - no matter who we had on the pitch.”

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 1-5 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘45’), C O’Callaghan 1-1, P Andrews 0-3 (0-1m), N Scully 0-2, C O’Connor, C Basquel, D Gavin 0-1 each. Roscommon: C Cox 0-4 (0-1f), C Cregg 1-0, C Lavin (0-1 ‘45’), R Daly, N Kilroy, D Smith, E Smith, C Lennon (0-1m), D Murray, A Lyons 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; A McGowan, J Cooper, D Byrne; J McCaffrey, C O’Sullivan, C O’Connor; B Fenton, D Gavin; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, C Basquel; C Costello, D Rock, P Andrews. Subs: R McDaid for McCaffrey (inj, 10), P Mannion for Costello (45), B Howard for McGowan (51), P Flynn for Basquel (51), MD Macauley for Fenton (72).

ROSCOMMON: C Lavin; G Patterson, C Daly, D Murray; C Devaney, N Daly, R Daly; T O’Rourke, S Killoran; E Smith, D Smith, N Kilroy; C Lennon, C Cox, C Cregg. Subs: S Mullooly for Kilroy (52), C Compton for E Smith (52), A Lyons for Cregg (57), C Hussey for Killoran (59), H Darcy for D Smith (64).

REF: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).