Another routine win for Dublin, but can you say they’ll be battle-hardened going into an All-Ireland semi-final?
The Cork game was a serious contest for 60 minutes.
But otherwise Dublin haven’t been road tested at all.
This 18-point victory over Roscommon was the latest in a series of big wins that are of no benefit in terms of what’s coming.
Has the myth that Dublin have an unequalled depth of talent off the bench been blown apart this year?
Three new guys featured during this year’s League – Darren Gavin, Sean Bugler and Paddy Small.
Gavin picked up an injury and neither he nor Bugler have made any imprint on the Championship. Small is someone Jim Gavin obviously believes in, coming in during all five games. He chipped in with three points on Saturday.
But Dublin’s bench has become a slight concern.
Eoghan O’Gara has had no game time and didn’t make the bench on Saturday, Bernard Brogan did for the first time but saw no action and Paul Flynn has retired.
Kevin McManamon isn’t making the same impact as in previous years. Paddy Andrews’ jaw was broken earlier in the year and he’s not getting much exposure.
Other than Dean Rock and Cormac Costello swapping roles – and Cormac wasn’t involved against Roscommon – it’s a bit of a worry that six or seven forwards are being heavily relied upon.
Rock apart, it’s a very young forward line.
When it comes down to the hard minutes in a semi-final, who is Jim going to trust? Maybe there is logic in having Diarmuid Connolly involved.
On a positive note, Dublin have attained a level of performance that they feel is consistent and acceptable.
They were very clinical in scoring 1-15 in the first half.
Con O’Callaghan is growing into the player we all believe he is. That half was his best in a Dublin jersey.
Rock, who contributed 1-11, was back on song and back to 90 per cent with his free-taking, which is important after Costello’s struggles last week.
Johnny Cooper stepped back into the defence and, with James McCarthy, added to the performance. Dublin still have Eoin Murchin to step back in from last year’s All-Ireland final defence.
There was that lull in the second half but it came during a period when so many substitutions were made. I haven’t seen it before where the pacy players – Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey and Ciaran Kilkenny – were whipped off so early.
Dublin lost their way a bit. They became very ragged and, suddenly, the full-forward line lacked pace. It gave Roscommon a foothold but it felt like a bad challenge game for 15 minutes.
There’s only a week between the last Super 8 game and the All-Ireland semi-final and it will be interesting to see how both Tyrone and Dublin approach this week, with both guaranteed to progress.
I’d expect Kerry and Donegal to come out of the other group but Dublin won’t be bothered by who they have to face.
Gavin has the luxury of resting some of his marquee players. The main thing is for the panel to be right for August 10/11.
But I suspect Dublin will field a strong team and keep their momentum going.
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