All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final – Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19

Cork defeated Dublin by 1-24 to 1-19 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Sunday August 11th at Croke Park.

Horgan’s peach poach bears final fruit

Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

A breathtaking, exhilarating All-Ireland SHC semi-final in Croke Park yesterday. A fast-paced scorefest between two superbly conditioned, evenly-matched hurling heavyweights. The sides were level 15 times over the 70 minutes, ten times in the first half, and there was never more than a single score between them until Patrick Horgan’s game-deciding poacher’s goal in the 66th minute. A pity then that as for Cork’s last game against Kilkenny in the quarter-final, as for their previous match in the Munster final loss against Limerick, one of the major talking-points afterwards would be a sending off.

On this occasion Dublin’s Ryan O’Dwyer was the focus and Wexford whistler James Owens the man in the middle. In the second minute the ultra-competitive Ryan got his first yellow. His crime? He missed going shoulder to shoulder with Cork’s Luke O’Farrell by a few inches. In the 51st minute, again Ryan was in trouble and again it was marginal when he met Lorcán McLoughlin shoulder to chest. He didn’t drive through but it could be argued it was enough to merit yellow. What can hardly be argued, however, it that the two incidents together did not merit a red card. With the game still finely balanced, Dublin a point ahead but Cork having problems dealing with the extra defender pulled back, there’s no doubt it had a major impact on the game. To rub salt in Dublin wounds, from almost 100 yards Cork keeper Anthony Nash boomed over the resultant free to tie up the game, 1-16 to 0-19.

That wasn’t the end of Dublin, not by any means, and not until Horgan’s goal could the massed Cork supporters in the fine crowd of 62,092 breathe easy. But oh, such a pity that a fantastic game should once again be marred by such controversy. Did the sending-off turn the game? Perhaps. It’s quite likely that just seven minutes after the O’Dwyer incident outstanding Dublin centre-back Liam Rushe would have seen straight red for a reckless swing-back on Patrick Horgan, but for the fact Dublin were already down to 14.

Either way, no one can argue with the quality of the Cork display, no one can argue with the fact this is a side in an All-Ireland final on merit, and on merit alone. Cork weren’t good yesterday… they were magnificent. From one to 15. From first ball to last. Dublin were the ones with the perfect start, a point inside 20 seconds by razor-sharp wing-forward Danny Sutcliffe on a day he finished with four points from four shots. A long-range pointed free by Patrick Horgan, however, then snappy efforts from Conor Lehane and Luke O’Farrell and the Rebels were making it clear — they were ready.

Through their free-taker Paul Ryan and the elusive David ‘Dotsy’ O’Callaghan Dublin soon levelled it 0-3 apiece. Six scores in just nine minutes, the tone set and from there to the break it was blow-for-blow. Every skill in the game on display, every player on both sides getting in on the act. One goal in that half, the 30th minute, and it was kicked to the net from close range with the outside of the boot by Dublin corner-forward David Treacy after a Paul Ryan pass to put the Blues ahead by a point, 1-9 to 0-11.

Significantly, and as they had done so many times earlier every time Dublin scored, Cork came straight downfield and pointed. Horgan with a free after Seamus Harnedy was fouled. Twice more before the break they were tied and only Daniel Kearney’s late point separated the sides at the break, Cork leading 0-15 to 1-11. On this day, however, well as he played again, Daniel was totally outshone by midfield partner Lorcán McLoughlin, an outstanding 70 minutes garnished by three points.

Into the second half and the action continued at breakneck pace. Initially it looked like Dublin in the driving-seat, outscoring Cork early 0-4 to 0-1. O’Dwyer, Ryan,Sutcliffe and sub Shane Durkin were the ones on target for Dublin, keeper Nash with Cork’s reply, the first of his three huge second-half pointed frees. In that period Anthony also made a good reaction save from an O’Dwyer shot and it looked as though the momentum was beginning to shift Dublin’s way.

Then came that sending-off. No-one knows now what might have been but we do know what was and what is. Cork surged yet again. The effort from front to back remained at the same high level and when Horgan pounced to capitalise on what was actually a poor option from captain Pa Cronin, a lobbed ball when Cathal Naughton was free and clear in acres of space on the right wing, it was game up for Dublin. And Cork were in the All-Ireland final. Overall a magnificent sporting contest. Worthy winner, gallant loser. What more can we ask?

Scorers for Cork: P Horgan (1-7, five frees), C Lehane, L McLoughlin, A Nash (3fs) (0-3 each), S Harnedy, L O’Farrell (0-2 each), D Kearney, J Coughlan, P Cronin, S Moylan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dublin: P Ryan (0-6, five frees, one 65), D Treacy (1-1), D Sutcliffe (0-4), C Keaney, D O’Callaghan (0-2 each); J McCaffrey, J Boland, R O’Dwyer, S Durkin (0-1 each).

CORK: A Nash; S McDonnell, S O’Neill, C O’Sullivan; T Kenny, C Joyce, W Egan; L McLoughlin, D Kearney; S Harnedy, J Coughlan, P Cronin (c); L O’Farrell, P Horgan, C Lehane.

Subs for Cork: S White for Kenny (45), C Naughton for Coughlan (64), S Moylan for Lehane (69), R O’Shea for McLoughlin (blood, 51/52).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, P Schutte; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; J McCaffrey (c), J Boland; C Keaney, R O’Dwyer, D Sutcliffe; D O’Callaghan, P Ryan, D Treacy.

Subs for Dublin: S Durkin for Hiney (23), S Lambert for Carton (50), M Schutte for Treacy (51), R Traynor for P Schutte (inj. 70+2).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).

Cork march on after Game for the Ages

Report from the GAA.ie web site

GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19

The 2013 Hurling Championship was always going to be remembered as one of the greatest seasons ever, but it finally delivered the one thing it was missing: a classic. Cork qualified for an All-Ireland final for the first time since 2006 with a five-point win at Croke Park thanks largely to Pa Horgan’s late goal, their first in the entire championship, which came after Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire’s mistake. The Rebels will face Clare or Limerick in the final on September 8, the first all-Munster final since 1997.

In a gripping, blockbuster of a game, the sides were level 15 times. However, the advantage swung in Cork’s favour when Dublin were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 14 men after Ryan O’Dwyer was sent off for a second yellow card offence. Dublin drew level with 15 minutes to go through Danny Sutcliffe, who hit five points from play in the game, but Cork had the better of the final quarter hour, with Anthony Nash hitting his third long-range free to move the Rebels clear.

It was Horgan’s goal in the closing stages that proved the difference in the end. The Glen Rovers man picked Maguire’s pocket in the 66th minute, stealing in after the Dublin keeper failed to deal with a relatively straightforward dropping ball, to hit Cork’s very first goal of the 2013 championship. Cork led 0-15 to 1-11 at the break thanks to a Daniel Kearney effort having recovered well from the concession of a goal to Dublin forward David Treacy on the half hour mark. Lorcán McLoughlin scored 0-3 from play for the Rebels in that first half, a tit-for-tat classic of superb point-taking played at a ferocious pace.

Cork Scorers: P Horgan 1-5 (0-4f), L McLoughlin 0-3, C Lehane 0-3, S Harnedy 0-3, L O’Farrell 0-1, P Cronin 0-1, D Kearney 0-1, L O’Farrell 0-2, C Naughton 0-1, P Cronin 0-1, J Coughlan 0-1, A Nash 0-3 (0-3f).

Dublin Scorers: D Sutcliffe 0-5, P Ryan 0-5 (0-5f), D Treacy 1-1, D O’Callaghan 0-2, J Boland 0-1, J McCaffrey 0-1, C Keaney 0-2, R O’Dwyer 0-1.

Cork: A Nash, S McDonnell, S O’Neill, C O’Sullivan, T Kenny, C Joyce, W Egan, L Mc Loughlin, D Kearney, S Harnedy, J Coughlan, P Cronin, L O’Farrell, P Horgan, C Lehane. Subs: S White for Kenny (45), R O’Shea for L McLoughlin (51-52), C Naughton for Coughlan (64), S Moylan for Lehane (69).

Dublin: G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, P Schutte; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton, J McCaffrey, J Boland, C Keaney, R O’Dwyer, D Sutcliffe, D O’Callaghan, P Ryan, D Treacy. Subs: S Durkin for Hiney (23), M Schutte for Treacy (51), E Dillon for O’Callaghan (61), R Trainor for P Schutte (67).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

Team News

Cork: A Nash, S McDonnell, S O’Neill, C O’Sullivan, T Kenny, C Joyce, W Egan, L Mc Loughlin, D Kearney, S Harnedy, J Coughlan, P Cronin, L O’Farrell, P Horgan, C Lehane.

Subs: D McCarthy, K Murphy, B Murphy, M Ellis, S White, R O’Shea, C McCarthy, S Moylan, C Naughton, M Cussen, M O’Sullivan.

Dublin – G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, P Schutte; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; J McCaffrey, J Boland; C Keaney, R O’Dwyer, D Sutcliffe; D O’Callaghan, P Ryan, DTreacy.

Ticket Details

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final

Sunday, August 11th

Cork v Dublin, Croke Park, 3.30pm

Tickets now on sale online at gaa.tickets.ie and at selected Centra/SuperValu stores, and will also be available through clubs.

Stand: €40 (usual concessions), juveniles €5, terrace €25

Croke Park for just €10!!!

The GAA Group Pass

Available to all GAA clubs for all Croke Park fixtures (bar the All-Ireland Finals) and selected GAA Championship fixtures.

• €3 per juvenile (16 or under),

• 1 adult free for every 10 juveniles,

• Additional adults at stand face value,

• Seats in Davin Stand in Croke Park,

• Applications must be made by the Club Secretary and emailed to tickets@gaa.ie from the Club Secretary’s GAA email account (secretary.clubname.county@gaa.ie)

• Payment in advance is required.

• Strictly limited to 1 application per Club.

The GAA Club Pass

Available to all GAA clubs for GAA Senior Championship All-Ireland Quarter Finals and Semi Finals in Croke Park.

• €10 per Adult

• All Ireland Quarter Finals/Semi Finals only

• Minimum 15, Maximum 50 adults

• Seats in Davin Stand in Croke Park

• Applications must be made by the Club Secretary and emailed to tickets@gaa.ie from the Club Secretary’s GAA email account (secretary.clubname.county@gaa.ie)

• Payment in advance is required.

• Strictly limited to 1 application per Club.