Bernard Brogan made a late cameo appearance as Dublin beat Roscommon by 4-24 to 2-16 in a Super 8s dead rubber at Croke Park.
The Dubs were already assured of a semi-final meeting with Galway next Saturday and left out a number of key men but still easily maintained their 100% record in this year's championship with goals from Paul Flynn (1-3), Michael Darragh MacAuley and Eoghan O'Gara (2-2).
The biggest roar of the day went up nine minutes from the end when former Footballer of the Year Brogan entered the fray as a blood substitute, replacing Mark Schutte a mere 23 weeks after undergoing cruciate ligament surgery. Brogan was on the pitch for six minutes and didn't get a touch - but it was a cameo that warmed the hearts of the home faithful!
The game itself was of little significance, as Dublin were already semi-final bound, while Roscommon's season was over regardless of what happened.
The Dubs led by eleven points at the break, 2-12 to 0-7, with Flynn and MacAuley netting in the 20th and 30th minutes respectively. The first four points were shared but the holders pulled away with points from John Small, Cormac Costello (3) and O'Gara.
When Conor Devaney and Diarmuid Murtagh (free) reduced the gap to three, Flynn's goal - which was either brilliant or fortunate - doubled the difference and set the favourites on their way.
Substitute Gary Patterson pulled back a consolation goal for the beaten Connacht finalists, his shot deflecting rather fortunately to the net off a defender when the action resumed, but Costello's eighth and ninth points -a free and a fisted effort - made it double scores after 39 minutes, 2-14 to 1-7.
Five minutes after the restart, O'Gara notched the third Dublin goal; Kevin McManamon and Flynn pointed in response to a Padraig Kelly point for the Rossies; McManamon's free twelve minutes into the second half had the lead out to a commanding 15 points.
The troublesome O'Gara bagged his second goal on 50 minutes but Donal Smith hit back 90 seconds later with a three-pointer for the losers - 4-18 to 2-8 going into the fourth quarter. Roscommon created another goal chance, but Diarmuid Murtagh pointed … substitutes Paddy Small and Schutte replied with the teams going through the motions in a completely meaningless contest.
Philly McMahon replied to a Kelly score and sub Conor McHugh delivered the winners' 22nd point. Smith (1-3) pulled back some great scores for the losers, but Dublin's minds were elsewhere at that stage.
Dublin - S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, C O'Sullivan, P McMahon (0-1); E Lowndes, J Small (0-1), D Daly; P Flynn (1-3), M D Macauley (1-1); J McCaffrey, E O'Gara (2-2), C Costello (0-7, 2f, 1'45); K McManamon (0-3, 2f), C Basquel, P Andrews (0-2). Subs: C Mullally for C O'Sullivan, J McCarthy for J McCaffrey, M Schutte (0-1) for J Small, P Small (0-1) for C Costello, C McHugh (0-2) for E O'Gara, A McGowan for D Daly, B Brogan for M Schutte, M Schutte for B Brogan.
Roscommon - J Featherstone; D Murray, P Domican, N McInerney; J McManus, D Petit, R Timothy; T O'Rourke, E Smith; N Kilroy (0-1), C Murtagh (0-1f), C Devaney (0-1); D Murtagh (0-6, 2f), B Stack, C Lennon (0-2). Subs: G Patterson (1-0) for R Timothy, P Kelly (0-2) for N Kilroy, D Smith (1-3, 0-1'45) for P Domican, I Kilbride for B Stack, C Cregg for C Murtagh, S McDermott for J McManus.
Referee - C Reilly.
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