Dublin 3-20 Roscommon 0-07

Roscommon's relegation from Allianz NFL Division 2 was confirmed as Dublin ran amok at Parnell Park.

Paul Earley's charges were totally overwhelmed by a Dublin side missing some their top names, including Stephen Cluxton and Mark Vaughan.

Ger Heneghan hit a first-minute point for the underdogs but the Dubs roared into a 2-08 to 0-04 half-time lead with goals from Conal Keaney (17 minutes) and Diarmuid Connolly (21).

Keaney finished with 1-05 and Mossie Quinn notched a 62nd-minute goal as Dublin moved top of the table.

Keaney finished with 1-05 and Mossie Quinn notched a 62nd-minute goal as Dublin moved top of the table.

Keaney and St Vincent's clubmen Quinn and Connolly were in flying form and as a full-forward unit they tallied up a very impressive 3-11.

The Metropolitans did make a sluggish start and they fell behind when Heneghan, who did his best in the Rossies' attack, pointed a free after a foul on Jonathan Dunning.

Heneghan failed to make the required connection with a '45' some minutes later and Dublin gradually took control.

Ciaran Whelan, who enjoyed lock horns with Roscommon's returning midfielder Seamus O'Neill, opened his side's account in the tenth-minute.

The Dubs soon hit top gear with an avalanche of points topped off by Keaney's well-taken goal.

Brendan McMenamon, Keaney, Quinn and Bernard Brogan all raided forward for points Keaney volleyed to the net on the rebound after a Paddy Andrews point attempt had come back off the post.

Midway through the half, Dublin were 1-07 to 0-01 ahead and a sense of helplessness must have overcome Roscommon's interim manager Paul Earley when he watched his side go further behind.

Connolly and Bernard Brogan both raised white flags before Alan Brogan picked out Connolly, who, whether he meant it or not, managed to chip Roscommon goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey and nestle the ball in the net.

Two Heneghan points, ending a 27-minute scoreless spell for the visitors, and another effort from Senan Kilbridge, who was given a sight of goal by Karol Mannion, stemmed the tide for Roscommon.

But a late Quinn free from the sideline registered Dublin's eighth point with the promise of more to come in the second half.

That certainly was the case as Paul Caffrey's men claimed four points in the opening three-and-a-half minutes of the second half.

Keaney, Alan Brogan, Connolly and McMenamon all found the target, with substitute David Keenan responding for the men from the west.

Roscommon's hopes of adding some respectability to the score-line vanished when Heneghan had to be taken off after colliding with Whelan.

Kilbride and substitutes Frankie Dolan and Eoin O'Gara did land second half points for the Rossies but Dublin showed no mercy.

They could have had more goals but Caffley brought off two good saves at the feet of Bernard Brogan and Barry Cahill.

A third goal did come from Quinn, bolstering Dublin's scoring average as they hit the summit ahead of next weekend's clash with neighbours Meath.

Dublin: M Savage; D Murray, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; B Cahill, G Brennan, P Andrews; C Whelan (0-01), S Ryan; B Brogan (0-03), A Brogan (0-01), B McManamon (0-03); D Connolly (1-03), C Keaney (1-05, 0-03f), T Quinn (1-03, 0-01f).

Subs used: P Flynn for Ryan (30 mins), D Magee for Whelan (50), T Diamond for A Brogan (56), K Nolan for McConnell (60), E O'Gara (0-01) for B Brogan (63).

Roscommon: G Claffey; A Murtagh, A McDermott, S McDermott; D Hoey, E Kenny, J Tiernan; K Mannion, S O’Neill; M Finneran, G Cox, M O'Carroll; G Heneghan (0-03, 0-02f), J Dunning, S Kilbride (0-02).

Subs used: D Keenan (0-01) for Hoey (28 mins), F Dolan (0-01 for O'Neill (half-time), P O'Connor for Kenny (46), J McKeague for Heneghan (47), S O'Neill for O'Connor (58).

Referee: John Bannon (Longford).