Dublin beat Roscommon by nine points in their Allianz League opener at Dr Hyde Park.

Amidst all the chaos - three penalties in total (two awarded for fouls outside the large square), a suspended manager, and the minor matter of it being five months since their last competitive game - Dublin picked up right where they left off this afternoon.

While Kerry's incredible attacking brilliance will be the lead story of the weekend in Division 1 of the Allianz Football League, Dublin’s ruthless efficiency was once again their trump card in this contest, in which Mick Galvin took over from the suspended Dessie Farrell.

Roscommon did a lot of good things at their home venue, competing well at midfield and largely marshalling the threat of the Dublin attack, with the notable exception of Cormac Costello.

Donie Smith and Ciaráin Murtagh kicked six points each to keep the scoreboard moving, but Dublin simply didn’t leave even a chink of light in.

The All-Ireland champions had 1-12 on the board before they kicked their first wide, they used the mark and the new rule very well to create scores, and even with their own kickout misfiring, they still gave their forwards enough ball to rack up a winning total.

The hosts were very competitive in the early stages, albeit with the assistance of a deceptively strong breeze, with Smith and Murtagh kicking them into an early 0-03 to 0-02 lead, but one or two errors proved costly.

Missed passes from Nolan and Feargal Lennon led to Dublin scores, and 0-04 each suddenly turned into 0-07 to 0-04 in Dublin's favour.

Just before the water break, referee Derek O’Mahoney then gave a first-hand demonstration of the new black card rule when he penalised Brian Stack for pulling back Paddy Small as the Ballymun man looked to drive in on goal, meaning that a sin bin and a penalty was awarded.

Costello sent Colm Lavin the wrong way from the spot-kick, and suddenly Dublin were ahead by more than double scores, without ever having produced a memorable moment of brilliance to do so.

The All-Ireland champions led by 1-12 to 0-09 at half-time but they offered a rare reprieve to Roscommon after half time when a second 'new rule’ penalty that led to Feargal Lennon going to the sin bin was fired into the foot of the post by Cormac Costello and cleared off the rebound.

As happened the first time, Roscommon made their way through the ten minutes of being outnumbered without sustaining any meaningful damage. Ciaráin Murtagh kicked some great scored, assisted in a couple of instances by Enda Smith who was coming into the game, while all around the middle third, Roscommon matched their opponents for work rate and intensity, particularly when contested possessions were there to be won.

With 15 minutes to play Murtagh pointed a free to make it 1-14 to 0-12, and they were back up to their full complement.

Yet the exertions of the game up to that point started to take a toll.

They chased goals but ran into brick walls, and breakaway scores started to follow at the other end.

Costello, Kilkenny and Brian Fenton all posted scores to widen the gap, and the margin extended to a level that Costello could afford to chip a late penalty over the bar, knowing full well that their win was secured.

Roscommon: Colm Lavin; David Murray, Gary Patterson, Feargal Lennon; Conor Hussey, Niall Daly (0-01), Brian Stack; Eddie Nolan (0-01), Shane Killoran; Niall Kilroy, Cathal Cregg, Enda Smith (0-01); Donie Smith (0-06, 0-05 frees), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-01), Ciaráin Murtagh (0-06, 0-02 frees).

Subs: Conor Devaney for Kilroy (half-time), Cian McKeon for Cregg (41), Conor Daly for Stack (45), Conor Cox for Diarmuid Murtagh (50), David Neary for Feargal Lennon (50), Hubert Darcy for Killoran (57), Richard Hughes for Conor Daly (63).

Dublin: Michael Shiel; Seán McMahon, David Byrne, Eoin Murchan; James McCarthy, John Small, Robert McDaid; Brian Fenton (0-01), Tom Lahiff (0-01); Niall Scully, Con O’Callaghan, Dara Mullin (0-01); Paddy Small (0-02), Cormac Costello (1-13, 0-08 frees, 1-01 penalties, 0-01 mark), Ciarán Kilkenny (0-04, 0-01 mark).

Subs: Mick Fitzsimons for McMahon (50), Colm Basquel for Mullin (50), Conor McHugh for Small (57), Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne for Lahiff (57), Eric Lowdnes for McCarthy (65), Ryan Basquel for O’Callaghan (65), Philip McMahon for Murchan (69).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)