Dublin must get season going NOW
FORMER HERO WARNS BLUES THAT TIME HAS COME TO SHOW THEIR TRUE COLOURS
DUBLIN legend Diarmuid Connolly says it’s back to the drawing board for his former teammates after a surprise stalemate with Roscommon at Croke Park.
Dessie Farrell’s side managed just 1-11 and struggled as Roscommon held the ball for lengthy spells, using goalkeeper Conor Carroll as an extra man.
The capital side have just three days now to get it right for their All-ireland Round 2 encounter with Kildare at Nowlan Park – a re-match of their Leinster semi-final, which Dublin won narrowly at Croke Park a few weeks ago.
“Dublin never showed up in the first half,” said Connolly (right). “Roscommon had a tactic of bringing the keeper out towards the top of the D and playing piggy-in-the-middle for a long time.
“There was a stretch just before half-time where Roscommon kept the ball for six to seven minutes and Michael Fitzsimons got so fed up with it.
“He started at full-back for Dublin, but he was the one tackling the goalkeeper on their 21-yard line – because he was so frustrated at the forwards not pressing that short kick out.
“In the second half, to be fair to Dublin, they did press the short kick out and they got a bit of joy out of it.
“My big worry though is, other than
John Small’s goal, they only had three scorers and that’s with five lads coming off the bench and most of them in the forward line.
“It’s back to the drawing board for Dublin. Kildare at Nowlan Park next is not going to be an easy trip to make. They need a big performance to get their All-ireland series going.”
It’s a long time since Dublin were held to 12 scores at Croke Park and had just four different scorers, probably their four top performers: Cormac Costello 2fs, 2 45s), John Small (1-0), Con O’callaghan (0-2) and Sean Bugler (0-2).
It was unusual to see Dublin struggle to apply any level of pressure high up the field, or turn over the ball inside their own 65 so rarely, when they would have known that one more big turnover – like the one for John Small’s goal – could have led to the goal which would have blown the game wide open.
Davy Burke’s side were ultra patient and well set up. They’re at home to Sligo this weekend gunning for top spot now and an automatic All-ireland quarterfinal place.
“Roscommon were the first Division 1 side Dublin met all year and they were full value for the result,” continued Connolly.
“I actually thought at half(0-7, time they were going to run away with it because Dublin were playing so bad.
“The two Murtaghs (Ciaran and Diarmuid) were very good and while John Small did a good job on Enda Smith in the first half, he started to get a lease of life in the second half.
“Roscommon will be the happier leaving Croke Park despite being four points up at half-time.
“They had seven scorers on the board compared to Dublin’s three, so that’s telling.”
On Dublin’s Championship form to date, Kildare are in for a thumping on Saturday evening in Kilkenny City as Dublin have hit 4-30 (Laois), followed by 0-14 (Kildare), 5-21 (Louth) and 1-11 (Roscommon). They’re due a big haul again.
However, James Mccarthy, Ciaran Kilkenny and Davy Byrne all went off injured against Kildare and Jack Mccaffrey and Eoin Murchan played no part in the game.