Sherlock sparkles for the Blues: Match report
Dublin 1-14 Roscommon 0-13
Jason Sherlock sparkled as Dublin booked their place in the All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals.
The veteran attacker hit a goal and four points to bring Roscommon's season to an end at Croke Park.
The Dubs often looked uncomfortable against the direct style of their opponents, but succeeded in getting it right in the second half, when they peformed with confidence and style, picking off some excellent scores.
Roscommon's lively start had Dublin on the back foot, scores from Gary Cox, Nigel Dineen and Ger Heneghan edging the Connacht side ahead.
But Jason Sherlock and Alan Brogan were combining sweetly in the Dubs' attack, and they had the sides level by the ninth minute, before Bryan Cullen hoisted a '45' between the posts to ease Tommy Lyons' side into the lead.
Ros had a glorious goal chance midway through the half when Heneghan sent Seamus O'Neill clear, but his shot was superbly saved by Stephen Cluxton. The ball broke to Jonathan Dunning, who also had a go, but Paul Casey cleared off the goal line.
It was an encouraging spell for Roscommon, but although Stephen Lohan regained the lead for them, they failed to tag on the scores their workrate warranted, and they paid the price in the 29th minute when Brogan sent Sherlock in for a brilliantly finished goal.
Heneghan and Dineen responded with points, but Brogan was on target again, before a Conal Keaney free gave Dublin a 1-9 to 0-9 interval lead.
And they forged onward with further scores from Brogan, Sherlock and a wonderful effortr from Ciaran Whelan.The Dubs, however, looked shaky at the back, but John Hanly, John Tiernan and Lohan wasted goal chances, although the latter did manage a point from his driven effort.
Heneghan's accuracy was keeping Roscommon in the game, but there was no holding Sherlock, who fired over another sublime effort to restore the Leinster side's four points cushion with five minutes to play.
And a late Senan Connell point sealed victory for Dublin and a place in the quarter-finals.
