Roscommon face Dublin in their first championship meeting since 2019.
A lot has changed and reappeared in that period where Dublin have seen massive retirements and then reappearances.
While the Dubs made it five, then six-in-a-row since last meeting Roscommon. The Dubs were relegated to Allianz league division two in 2022.
The Leinster champions, face their first division one side in Roscommon this year. Roscommon having finished third in the Allianz league and dumped Mayo out of Connacht.
“Dublin certainly can't slip up here” explained Diarmuid Connolly. “If they lose to Roscommon, we can all see them beating Sligo, but it’ll not be easy having to go to Nowlan Park to play a Kildare team who got change from Croke Park, with only two points between them in the Leinster semi-final.
“Not getting a win in your first day out, just like Kerry, can put you right on the back foot. So Dublin need to go out and make a big statement”.
“This is the first Division One side Dublin are going to play all year and I think people are sleeping in on Roscommon”.
“They had a great league, they beat a lot of top teams, they beat Mayo in the Championship and they only lost narrowly to Galway and we know how good Galway are going at the minute”.
Roscommon Sharp up-front
"Roscommon have sharp-shooters inside too, Conor Cox, the two Murtaghs and Enda Smith driving the forward” explained Connolly.
"Croke Park will suit Dublin, but I wouldn't be sleeping in on this Roscommon side at all!” declared Connolly. “It’s a huge game for Dublin, they'll have to start off really well and put their front foot forward and they'll have to get their matchups right at the back”.
“We all know they will score going forward, but it's how they solidify at the back and how they match up in midfield against Enda Smith”. “If you let him play football, he'll dictate play for Roscommon. I think it's going to be a very tight game.”
Diarmuid Connolly was speaking to BoyleSports.
