‘Back To The Drawing Board For Dublin’ – Diarmuid Connolly

After a draw in the opening round All-Ireland group game against Roscommon on Sunday Dublin need to go back to the drawing board.

That is according to Dublin legend and six-time All-Ireland champion Diarmuid Connolly who gave us his reaction to the disappointing nature of Dublin’s performance in their opening round game.

Dublin went into that game as heavy favourites but failed to perform in the first half which saw them go into the dressing room at half-time four points down and staring down the barrel of a rare home defeat.

You can read all about Diarmuid Connolly’s thoughts on the game below.

Dublin v Roscommon Analysis & Reaction

Three points scorers not enough for Dublin

Dublin never showed up in the first half. 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 and 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 little bit of joy out of it. My big worry though is, other than John Small’s goal, they only had three scorers on the scoreboard 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 Dublin, they’ve got Kildare at Nowlan Park next and that is not going to be an easy trip to make. They need a big performance to get their All-Ireland series going.

Roscommon ‘full value for’ result

Roscommon were the first division one side Dublin met all year and they were full value for the result. I actually thought at half-time they were going to run away with it because Dublin were playing so bad.

The two Murtaghs 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.

Despite the poor performance from Dublin on Sunday they still remain All-Ireland favourites and you can check out all the odds and chances of each contender on our 2023 All-Ireland Odds post.

Next Up For Dublin & Roscommon

Dublin

For Dublin their next game comes against Kildare and they will have to travel down to Kilkenny for the unusual spectacle of a big Championship football match in Kilkenny in June.

Kildare and Dublin have already matched up once in this year’s Championship with Dublin just about getting the upper hand on that occasion in a Leinster semi-final on a scoreline of 0-14 to 0-12.

Click Below To Bet On Kildare v Dublin

Roscommon

For Roscommon their next fixtures comes against neighbours Sligo who they will host at Dr Hyde Park.

Roscommon go into the game as massive favourites against a Sligo team that were playing their football in Division 4 this season (and won that division too).

Click Below To Bet On Roscommon v Sligo

*Prices subject to fluctuation

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