Dessie Farrell says Dubs can't wait to get on the road

In a subdued Croke Park, Dessie Farrell's Dublin side finally wore down Roscommon on Saturday.

A strong bench performance secured a first win in the defence of their All-Ireland SFC title, but it wasn't exactly rip-roaring championship fare.

There was less than 15,000 supporters in attendance, making for a decidely flat atmosphere.

Next up for the Dubs is a trip to Kingspan Breffni Park to face Cavan - and Farrell insisted his team are relishing the trip.

"As players the team love getting out of Dublin and getting on the road," he told RTÉ Sport.

"There is always a good atmosphere in the venues that we go to. The supporters do as well.

"We will learn a lot from that game today. Playing better opposition along the way tests you in different ways that you haven't been earlier in the championship campaign.

"That is to be welcomed because it's only through the learning and growth of those types of challenges that you can actually improve as a team."

Farrell insisted a slow start was to be expected against the Rossies.

"We had anticipated it would go that far into the game before an obvious winner became apparent," he said.

"Roscommon had five weeks to prepare for Dublin, that's a long time setting your sights on one opposition."

The Dubs manager praised the Rossies' approach in the first half.

"They had their game plan well refined. They made it very difficult to break down, their shooting efficiency, in the first half was off the charts.

"They made it very difficult to put any daylight between us."

After the third quarter, with only one point between the sides, Farrell breathed new life into his team by introducing Sean Bugler and Jack McCaffrey. He was more than pleased with their impact.

"We started to roll the bench then and gaps