McHugh epitomises gulf in class between Dublin and Rossies
FOR Roscommon manager Nigel Dineen, there was a political dimension to events at O’Connor Park in Tullamore yesterday.
Running as an independent candidate in the local elections, an All-Ireland Under-21 title would certainly do no harm as a vote-grabbing exercise.
Unfortunately, his candidacy would have to be based beyond his local footballing constituency after his team were demolished on the big stage.
‘Dublin just blew us away in the first 30 minutes,’ he admitted, his side registering only a single score as Dessie Farrell’s team racked up 14 points with man of the match Conor McHugh leading a phenomenal scoring burst of 13 points in succession.
‘We just had no answers to them. We said at the start that we’d push up on their men but we let men loose, let them have quick kick-outs. And they built from there.
‘Whatever it was, the guys couldn’t just stay with them. They were found wanting the whole time.’
A missed penalty by Donie Smith 14 minutes in didn’t help Roscommon’s cause, after the same player was brought down by Dublin fullback David Byrne, the incident earning the defender a black card.
And despite a three-goal burst early in the second half which gave the vocal Roscommon support, who made up the lion’s share of the 9,021 attendance, something to shout about, the gap was simply unbridgeable.
Dublin’s Blue Wave continues to roll over the rest of the country, a third AllIreland in five years coming on the back of serious dominance at senior level, with back-to-back National League titles secured only last weekend.
This will add further fuel to the debate over Dublin’s talent, organisation and financial muscle but manager Dessie Farrell played down the idea that the competition may forget about it.
‘I think it’s just a special era but I don’t think it’s going to last forever. The challenge for Dublin people is to sustain this period for as long as possible,’ said Farrell.
‘We’re really fortunate with the crop of players we have at senior and under-21 level. I wouldn’t be getting carried away with it, though.
‘I know people who understand the game and how it operates in Dublin won’t either. A lot of good work has gone in at county board level and we’re reaping the rewards of that.
‘It’s an era, that’s all it is, and it could come to a grinding halt very quickly.’
He said that Shane Carthy was uppermost in their thoughts, the talented midfielder currently receiving treatment for depression. ‘Shane is a great, great young man. He’s having a difficult time at the minute and we really look forward to getting him back in the blue jersey.’
Cormac Costello limping off with a hamstring injury was the only negative on a day when McHugh outshone some of his senior counterparts.
The Dublin full-forward line of Paul Mannion, Costello and McHugh accounted for all but a point of Dublin’s first half tally of 0-14 as Roscommon looked overawed by the occasion.
Too laboured in possession, they couldn’t find a way around Conor Mullally who dropped back from wingforward to sweep in front of the Dublin full-back line. All they had to show for their effort in the half was a solitary point from midfielder Ultan Hoey just two minutes in. Donie Smith’s missed penalty was a key moment, goalkeeper Lorcan Molloy anticipating right and easily blocking a tame shot.
By the time McHugh slotted a goal for Dublin six minutes after the restart, his team were 1-17 to 0-1 ahead.
Credit to Roscommon, a hattrick of goals between the 37th and 41st minute at least gave Dublin something to think about, manager Farrell admitting that the minor final of three years ago when Tipperary stole victory with a late surge went through his mind.
Corner forward Diarmuid Murtagh did most of the damage, improvising twice to punch to the net while Ciaran Kilcline thundered a shot home as well to add some measure of respectability.
But a couple of calming scores from McHugh and Jack McCaffrey helped Dublin steady the ship and they had nine to spare by the finish. Dublin: L Molloy; R McGowan, D Byrne, R McDaid; C Mullally, J Small, J McCaffrey (0-1); P O’Higgins, B Fenton; Shane Boland, E Lowndes, N Scully (0-1); P Mannion (0-8, 5fs, 1 45), C Costello (0-4, 2fs), C McHugh (1-6). SubS: E O Conghaile for D Byrne, 14 (black card); G Hannigan for S Boland, 44; G Ivory for P O’Higgins, 45; Shane Cunningham (0-1) for C Costello, 50; N Walsh for P Mannion, 61 RoScommon: C Lavin; C Kenny, S Mullooly, D Murray; R Daly, J McManus, C Daly; U Harney (0-2), T Corcoran; K Kilcline (1-0), M Healy, E Smith (0-1); D Murtagh (2-3, 2fs), M Nally, D Smith. SubS: M Gunning for M Nally, 22; T Featherston for C Kenny, 25; N McInerney for C Daly, 31; A Gleeson for M Gunning, h-t; S Flynn for R Daly, 51 Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)