GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship S-Final – Cork 1-15 Dublin 1-14

Cork defeated Dublin by 1-15 to 1-14 in the GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Championship Semi-Final on Sunday in Croke Park.

Rebels come good at the death

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final
Cork 1-15 Dublin 1-14

Sunday, August 22, 2010

From the GAA.ie web site

It was a game Cork should never have won. For 55 minutes Pat Gilroy’s young Dublin side controlled a fascinating semi-final at Croke Park. They played with a rabid intensity that never dropped, not for one moment, and stifled and frustrated Cork to the point where Conor Counihan’s men looked a pale shadow of the team that has become one of the dominant forces of the modern game. Dublin, as expected, didn’t contest Cork’s kickouts, allowed them to have the ball in defence and then set up an impregnable blue wall just inside their own half. Cork attacked and attacked and kept coming up empty, as Dublin showed an unrestrained zeal and desire to go about their defensive duties. They stripped Cork of the ball time after time and closed down the space so that the Rebels looked like they were entangled in poison ivy every time they crossed into the Dublin half.

However, Dublin’s plan had a flaw and it was exposed as the game entered the final quarter. The intensity remained constant but the concentration levels dropped in the closing stages and their discipline suffered as a result. Cork never gained as much as a toehold – they did have a fleeting period of dominance in the first half – in the game until the 53rd minute, when they were awarded a penalty after substitute Colm O’Neill was fouled by Ross McConnell and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Dublin had maintained a constant lead of around four points to that point, but when Donncha O’Connor stepped up and drilled a low shot from 11 metres off the post and to the back of the net, Cork were suddenly back in the game.

McConnell had been immense to that point, but the intensity levels he and Michael Dara Macauley had shown in dominating the midfield battle meant that he was weary – both mentally and physically – as the game entered its most critical juncture, when tired minds can be as dangerous as battered limbs. Bernard Brogan, who finished the game with another incredible tally of 1-7, and Bryan Cullen responded with points for the Dubs and nudged them back into a three-point lead.

But, with the clock ticking down, Cork came into their own, as Colm O’Neill and Paddy Kelly put them into a perfect position to mount a late assault with a pair of well-taken scores. It was then that Dublin’s inexperience betrayed them and they began to concede frees within O’Connor’s range. In a three-minute spell, O’Connor punished the Dubs with three brilliantly-taken frees, the second of which leveled the game in the 69th minute, before he nudged Cork ahead for the first time in the first minute of stoppage time. The prelude to the third of those scores saw McConnell sent off on a second yellow card for a late foul on Cork wing-back Noel O’Leary. Dublin were creaking and Cork had, without warning, taken control of the game. The Rebels attacked again and Derek Kavanagh, now free of his marker, slotted over the insurance point. Although Bernard Brogan did land a latepoint for the Dubs, it was too late; they had blow their chance of making it to the All-Ireland final.

Cork are now in an All-Ireland final, which they will be strong favourites to win, after a season that has been pockmarked by poor performances and erratic form. This showing will have done little to convince their detractors that they are ready to end a 20-year stretch on Leeside without and All-Ireland title. Cork’s flaws were routinely exposed by Dublin, especially in the first half of an exciting game, when they were caught cold by a sucker punch of an early goal. Just two minutes in, Cork were punished for poor organisation at the back as Ray Carey was left one-on-one with Bernard Brogan and the Dublin danger man collected a Niall Corkery pass to hit the net. Dublin were humming after their electric start and Philly McMahon and Alan Brogan had them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead after 10 minutes.

Cork were being overrun in midfield and struggled to cope with Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton’s clever kickouts. However, Cork might have been on level had Cluxton not spread himself brilliantly to deny Pearse O’Neill after Alan O’Connor had punched a massive hole in the Dublin defence. Bernard Brogan and Eoghan O’Gara were causing panic in the Cork defence in those opening stages and it wasn’t long before Graham Canty, who had passed a late fitness test to take his place at centre-back, and Michael Shields were brought back to shepherd the pair. Cork were drowning in midfield and Macauley and McConnell were winning an abundance of possession which the Brogan brothers were thriving on.

Eventually, Cork began to settle and Aidan Walsh’s point 19 minutes in, having kicked two bad wides earlier, was the point they needed to ease their way back into the battle. Paul Kerrigan reduced the gap to just three when he kicked his sole score of the afternoon just before the break, and, amazingly, he might have then leveled the game had his attempted point from an angled not cannoned off a post. Bernard Brogan did hit a late score for the Dubs to give the score line – 1-8 to 0-7 – a more accurate reflection at half-time. Cork lost Canty to injury at the break, with dual star Eoin Cadogan coming into the full-back line to replace the Rebels’ leader. They got to know each other in the 42nd minute, when O’Gara was lucky to escape with a yellow card after clashing with the Douglas man.

Dublin dominated the third quarter, but a couple of points from McConnell and Bernard Brogan was their only return. Cork were completely frustrated and they were unable to implement their strong-running game, as every time they made it into the opposition territory they seemed to turn over possession or shoot aimlessly and make questionable decisions. However, for all their dominance, Dublin were completely reliant on Bernard Brogan for scores and they never managed to build up anything more than a five-point lead. Those failings would haunt them when Donncha O’Connor clinically punished them in the closing quarter.

Dublin: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O’Carroll, P McMahon (0-1); K Nolan, G Brennan, C O’Sullivan; R McConnell (0-1), MD Macauley (0-1); N Corkery, A Brogan (0-2), B Cullen (0-1); D Henry, E O’Gara, B Brogan (1-7, 0-1f).

Dublin Subs: B Cahill for O’Sullivan ’33, P Flynn for Henry ’46, E Fennell for Corkery ’57, C Keaney (0-1, 0-1f) for O’Gara ’63, D Bastick for O’Carroll ’68.

Cork : A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, J Miskella; N O’Leary, G Canty (captain), P Kissane; A O’Connor, A Walsh (0-1); P Kerrigan (0-1), P O’Neill, P Kelly (0-2); D Goulding (0-4, 0-3f), C Sheehan, D O’Connor (1-5, 0-4f, 1-0 pen).

Cork Subs: E Cadogan for Canty HT, N Murphy for O’Connor ’43, C O’Neill (0-1) for Sheehan ’52, D Kavanagh (0-1) for Miskella ’61, F Goold for O’Leary ’71.

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

Attendance: 82, 225

Odds and Ends

Cork and Dublin last clashed in the championship in the 1995 All-Ireland semifinal when Dublin won by 1-12 to 0-12 en route to winning the title. The sides clashed in Round V of the Allianz GAA Football National League campaign last spring with Cork winning by 2-13 to 2-6 in Páirc Uí Rinn. Cork last won the All-Ireland in 1990. This is the first year since 1999 that Kerry won’t be in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In fact, none of the counties who won All-Irelands since 1996 will be in the semi-finals. Meath (1996-99), Kerry (1997-2000-2004-2006-2007-2009), Galway (1998-2001), Tyrone (2003-2005-2008), Armagh (2002), won all the titles since 1996 but haven’t made the last four this time.

CORK & DUBLIN IN SEMI-FINAL SPECTACULAR

The pairing is set for the GAA All-Ireland senior hurling final and now it’s the turn of the footballers to embark on the semi-final trail, starting this Sunday when Cork play Dublin in Croke Park (3.30pm).

Cork will be appearing in the senior semi-final for the sixth successive year (they won two, lost three and drew one of six appearances since 2005) while Dublin’s last semifinal outing was in 2007 when they lost to Kerry. Dublin’s last semi-final win was in

1995 when they beat Cork by a goal and went on to win the All-Ireland title.

Cork have had only one championship win over Dublin, which came in 1989 when they finished four points ahead in the semi-final, en route to winning the title. Cork’s last All-Ireland win was in 1990, while Dublin last claimed ‘Sam Maguire’ in 1995.

Paths to the semi-final

Dublin

Dublin 2-16 Wexford 0-15 (After extra-time) Leinster quarter-final Meath 5-9 Dublin 0-13 (Leinster semi-final) Dublin 1-21 Tipperary 1-13 (Qualifier – Round 2) Dublin 0-14 Armagh 0-11 (Qualifier – Round 3) Dublin 2-14 Louth 0-13 (Qualifier – Round 4) Dublin 1-15 Tyrone 0-13 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Average For: 1-16; Average Against: 1-13

Cork

Cork 0-15 Kerry 0-15 (Munster semi-final) Kerry 1-15 Cork 1-14 (After extra-time) Replay Cork 1-19 Cavan 0-4 (Qualifier – Round 2) Cork 0-12 Wexford 0-5 (Qualifier – Round 3) Cork 0-16 Limerick 1-11 (Qualifier – Round 4) After extra-time Cork 1-16 Roscommon 0-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Average For: 1-14 Average Against: 0-11

Dublin Scorers

Bernard Brogan…………..2-35 (0-16 frees) ‘Mossy’ Quinn…………….0-12 (0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘45’) Eoghan O’Gara……………3-2 Conal Keaney……………..0-8 (0-6 frees) Alan Brogan……………….0-8 Bryan Cullen……………..0-6 Michael Macauley……..1-2 Stephen Cluxton……….0-5 (0-5 ‘45s’) Paul Flynn…………………0-3 Ross McConnell…………0-3 Kevin McManamon…….0-3 Eamonn Fennell………….0-2 Philip McMahon………..0-2 Kevin Nolan………………0-1 Ger Brennan……………..0-1

Cork Scorers

Daniel Goulding……………..1-30 (0-21 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’) Donncha O’Connor………… 0-11 (0-5 frees, 0-1 penalty) Paddy Kelly…………………….0-10 (0-6 frees) Ciaran Sheehan………………..0-9 Pearse O’Neill………………….2-3 Colm O’Neill…………………..0-7 (0-1 free) Paul Kerrigan…………………..0-5

Paudie Kissane…………………0-3

Aidan Walsh……………………0-2

Derek Kavanagh……………..0-2

Graham Canty…………………0-2

Alan O’Connor………………..0-2

Fintan Goold………………….0-2

Michael Shields………………0-1

Noel O’Leary………………….0-1

John Hayes……………………0-1 (free) John Miskella…………………0-1

Previous Championship Clashes

All but five of the previous Cork-Dublin games took place more than one hundred years ago with club clubs sides representing the counties in some cases.

They have clashed five times since 1974 with Dublin wining in 1974-83 (replay) and 1995 while Cork won in 1989 while there was one draw (1983)

1995: Dublin 1-12 Cork 0-12 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1989: Cork 2-10 Dublin 1-9 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1983: Dublin 4-15 Cork 2-10 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay

1983: Dublin 2-11 Cork 2-11 (All-Ireland semi-final) Draw

1974: Dublin 2-11 Cork 1-8 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1908: Dublin 0-6 Cork 0-2 (All-Ireland final)

1907: Dublin 0-5 Cork 0-4 (All-Ireland final)

1902: Dublin 1-2 Cork 0-4 (All-Ireland ‘Home’ final

1899: Dublin 1-10 Cork 0-6 (All-Ireland final))

1897: Dublin 2-6 Cork 0-2 (All-Ireland final)

1894: Cork 1-2 Dublin 0-5 (All-Ireland final replay) Unfinished

1894: Dublin 0-6 Cork 1-1 (All-Ireland final) Draw – A goal equalled five points

1891: Dublin 2-1 Cork 1-9 (All-Ireland final) A goal outweighed any number of points

Last Five Semi-finals

Cork

2009: Cork 1-13 Tyrone 0-11

2008: Kerry 3-14 Cork 2-13 (Replay)

2008: Kerry 1-13 Cork 3-7 (Draw)

2007: Cork 1-16 Meath 0-9

2006: Kerry 0-16 Cork 0-9

Dublin

2007: Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16

2002: Armagh 1-14 Dublin 1-13

1995: Dublin 1-12 Cork 0-12

1994: Dublin 3-15 Leitrim 1-9

1993: Derry 0-15 Dublin 0-14

Last Championship Clash

Dublin 1-12 Cork 0-12 (1995 All-Ireland semi-final) A goal by Jason Sherlock proved the difference between the sides. Dublin led by 1-5 to

0-6 at half-time and were five points clear after 39 minutes. Cork battled back but Dublin held solid to qualify for the final where they beat Tyrone.

Dublin: John O’Leary; Keith Galvin, Dermot Deasy, Paddy Moran; Paul Curran, Keith Barr, Mick Deegan; Paul Bealin, Brian Stynes; Jin Gavin, Paul Clarke (0-1), Dessie Farrell; Charlie Redmond (0-7), Jason Sherlock (1-0), Mick Galvin (0-4).

Subs: Pat Gilroy for Bealin, Ciaran Walsh for Keith Galvin, Vinny Murphy for Clarke.

Cork: Kevin O’Dwyer; Mark Farr, Mark O’Connor, Niall Cahalane; Ciaran O’Sullivan, Stephen O’Brien, Brian Corcoran; Liam Honohan, Danny Culloty; Don Davis, Larry Tompkins (0-2), Padraig O’Mahony; Mark O’Sullivan (0-2), Joe Kavanagh (0-1), Colin Corkery (0-7)

Subs: Stephen Calnan for O’Mahony, Shea Fahy for Davis, Padraig O Regan for Calnan

Last Competitive Clash

Cork 2-13 Dublin 2-6 (NFL: 20 March 2010, Pairc Ui Rinn)

Scorers: Cork: D Goulding 1-4 (0-2 frees), P Kerrigan 1-2, D Kavanagh, P Kelly 0-2 each, P O’Flynn, C Sheehan, A O’Connor 0-1 each. Dublin: B Brogan 1-2 (0-1 free), K McManamon 1-1, E Fennell, C Keaney (free), A Hubbard 0-1 each.

Cork: P O’Shea; R Carey, M Shields, E Cotter; N O’Leary, P Kissane, E Cadogan; A O’Connor, D Kavanagh; F Gould, N Murphy, P Kelly; D Goulding, P Kerrigan, J Hayes. Subs: C Sheehan for Murphy (9), S Kiely for O’Leary (63), F Lynch for Gould (68), B O’Regan for E Cotter (68).

Dublin: M Savage; P Conlon, M Fitzsimons, P McMahon; H Gill, C O’Sullivan, G Brennan; E Fennell, R McConnell; A Hubbard, M Macauley, P Flynn; D Henry, B Brogan, K McManamon. Subs: K Nolan for Brennan (30), D Kelly for McAuley (h-t), D Magee for McConnell (43), C Keaney for Flynn (48), M McAuley for Fennell (63).