Dublin 2-17
Tyrone 0-11
Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
OVER 80,000 SOULS packed into Croke Park this afternoon but for long spells you could hear a pin drop, such was the paucity of the spectacle on show.
First things first. Dublin are into the All-Ireland final, with Mayo the only obstacle between them and a third title in succession.
Mickey Harte watched his defensive structure picked apart by Dublin, who strangled the life out of this game with a cold, clinical display.
Dublin happily cut their cloth to suit the opposition. Go defensive and they’ll play keep-ball, grind you down and carefully work scores. Leave yourself open at the back and they’ll rip you to threads.
Tyrone opted for the former, but there’s no keeping out this formidable forward unit, no matter how many bodies you have back. Dublin made over 300 hand-passes and held onto possession for lengthy spells. It almost seemed like a different sport to the Kerry-Mayo game 24 hours earlier.
The decibel levels peaked late on when Diarmuid Connolly was summed from the bench for a run out in the 69th minute, but the game was long over by that stage. Con O’Callaghan’s star continued to rise and he bagged 1-2 as well as giving the final pass for Eoghan O’Gara’s goal four minutes from time.
In the end, the only surprising thing was that Bernard Brogan and Michael Darragh Macauley failed to make an appearance off the bench. They didn’t need them with O’Gara, Kevin McManamon and Paul Flynn (0-3) in devastating form.
Peter Harte’s penalty, which was saved by Stephen Cluxton, in stoppage-time summed up Tyrone’s day. In what could be his final game in a Tyrone jersey, Sean Cavanagh was substituted after an ineffectual 55 minutes. It was nothing close to the the farewell he’d have dreamed of.
Dublin had Cian O’Sullivan and Jonny Cooper as spare defenders protecting the full-back line, although they were never really tested.
In terms of match-ups, James McCarthy picked up Sean Cavanagh, Philly McMahon tracked Mattie Donnelly, John Small followed Peter Harte and Michael Fitzsimons shadowed Mark Bradley.
Tyrone posted Cathal McCarron on Paul Mannion, Ronan McNamee on Paddy Andrews and Aidan McCrory on Dean Rock.
Tyrone needed a lead early on to put doubt in the minds of their opponents, but the Dubs were far too streetwise for that to happen. They patiently worked the ball from side to side, probing for an opening which inevitably arrived.
The game was barely three minutes old when O’Callaghan knifed past three Tyrone defenders and smashed the ball past Niall Morgan. It gave Dublin confidence and was precisely what Mickey Harte would have wanted to avoid early on.
Paddy Andrews and Kilkenny picked off good scores from distance, while O’Callaghan highlighted his class with two fine points. Tyrone had just 0-3 from play in the board by the half.
The numbers made for good reading for Jim Gavin’s side at half-time, where they led by 1-9 to 0-5. They did an excellent job of not bringing the ball into contact and were turned over just seven times, while Stephen Cluxton found the target with every single one of his kick-outs in the opening 35 minutes.
Of the four occasions they forced Morgan into a long kick-out, Dublin came away with possession three times.
The second-half was merely a formality as Jack McCaffrey bombed forward time after time.
Flynn slotted over three excellent scores, Rock clipped over a trio of placed balls, while O’Gara dispatched a goal after a great move involving Lowndes and O’Callaghan.
Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 1-2, Dean Rock 0-5 (0-4f), Paul Flynn 0-3, Eoghan O’Gara 1-1, Paddy Andrews 0-2, Jack McCaffrey, Brian Fenton, Paul Mannion and Ciaran Kilkenny 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tyrone: Peter Harte 0-4 (0-3f), Niall Sludden and Colm Cavanagh 0-2 each, Sean Cavanagh (0-1f), Tiernan McCann and Declan McClure 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
4. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
5. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
3. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
7. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
21. Niall Scully (Templeogue)
11. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
10. Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock)
13. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)
15. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
Subs
22. Paul Flynn (Fingallians) for Scully (44)
24. Kevin McManamon (St Jude’s) for Andrews (45)
24. Padraid McNulty for McNamee (60)
25. Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue Sygne Street) for Rock (62)
12. Eirc Lowndes (St Peregrines) for Mannion (66)
20. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s) for O’Callaghan (69)
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Éadan na dTorc)
2. Aidan McCrory (Aireagal Chiaráin)
3. Ronan McNamee (Achadh Uí Aráin)
4. Cathal McCarron (An Droim Mór)
8. Colm Cavanagh (An Mhaigh)
5. Tiernan McCann (Coill an Chlochair)
6. Pádraig Hampsey (Oileán a’Ghuail)
12. Kieran McGeary (Cabhán a’Chaortainn)
15. Matthew Donnelly (Trí Leac)
14. Sean Cavanagh (An Mhaigh, capt)
9. Conall McCann (Coill an Chlochair)
10. David Mulgrew (Ard Bó)
7. Peter Harte (Aireagal Chiaráin)
11. Niall Sludden (An Droim Mór)
13. Mark Bradley (Coill an Chlochair)
Subs
21. Declan McClure (Cluain Eo) for Conall McCann (29)
18. Rory Brennan (Tri Leac) for McGeary (ht)
22. Darren McCurry (Eadan na dTorc) for Mulgrew (41)
26. Ronan O’Neill (Omagh) for Bradley (49)
25. Conor Meyler (Omagh) for Sean Cavanagh (55)
Referee: David Goldrick (Meath)
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Great dublin team that will dominate for another few years! But its the most boring championship I can remember! How many games have been won by 10/15 points. It’s painful to watch
Well that match wasn’t much good
@Jamie: I know thank God I support Liverpool!
@Yorkie1892: The Dubs have adapted and learned to beat the ultra defensive system. In fact they’ve almost mastered it at this stage. Back to the drawing board for everyone else.
@Jamie: Up the Dubs….Horrible vexatious and prejudiced article appeared in the Irish Times the other day. Will be joining in on the newspaper ban. Won’t be taking my news from the Irish Times any time soon.
@George Hogan: I won’t be renewing my online subscription with the Irish Times either after that disgusting article.
@Niall Quinlan: Which article was this?
@Talleyrand Frye:
It’s a badly written tirade against Dubliners by someone who clearly has a number of chips on both her shoulders. Everyone enjoys a bit of inter-regional banter, but this piece is just mean-spirited. Many Dubs and many non-Dubs who love Dublin are just irritated that this piece of garbage journalism is presented by the IT which invariably speaks to those who would like to see the urban – rural divide increase. The writer must know, there are many in Dublin who are ecstatic that she ‘can’t afford to live in Dublin’. We want harmony not division.
:::
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/why-i-m-glad-i-can-t-afford-to-live-in-dublin-1.3193536
@Yorkie1892: except for all the draws!
@George Hogan: Ya fair enough – as a Corkman, that article is shite. I mean, there are a few West Brits as described in the article knocking about Dublin, but most Dubs I know are nothing like that.
@Talleyrand Frye: West Brits everywhere. Are you new to the Journal? Love Cork, btw!
@Yorkie1892: small ball next weekend cheer up should be cracker
@George Hogan: True that – every county has them unfortunately! Have been knocking around the Journal for a while, but only surface to make a comment every now and again! Lived in Dublin for a while, liked it a lot and have good time for most people I met in Dublin. As you said, some inter-county banter is a bit of fun, but stupid stereotypes like in that article are only written to annoy people and don’t offer any real insight to their chosen topic at all.
Tyrone could never win with all there players in there own half. What’s the point in turning up with those tactics?
@Martin Sinnott: Daft rehashing of lazy arguments. The few times that Tyrone got the ball into scoring zones, Dublin too brought 15 men behind the ball.
@Martin Sinnott: Dubs win at a canter game over after 20 mins, Tyrone want to develop attacking game to have any chance in years to come, Dublin the one team that would blow ultra defensive teams out of the water with their forward play, this could only be good for football.. Mayo will put it up to the Dubs, think. 2 best teams by a country mile in the final and both teams will go on the attack. Shows Ulster football have fallen so far…Derry minors play a lovely brand of football though
@Gerry Murphy:”Two best teams by a country mile” you say!! don’t think so Ted,Dubin are way ahead of the rest at the moment but Mayo are an average side at a time of very poor quality inter county football teams.
Stroll in the park in the end for the Dubs.
@j4VEpUO8: Mayo for Jam!!
@Brian Shaw: Mayo for sandwiches.
what a reception for eric lowndes
Tyrone are horrible to watch . Time for micky to step down hes done a great job but time for a change. Are bench is good enough to start for most county teams, brogan didnt even get on today. Good to see dermo back but i wouldn be starting him in the final. Con is some baller , so much talent in this squad i cant see mayo beating us. But if they do fair play to them .
Tactically Dublin got it spot on. Avoided bringing the ball into contact and being bottled up by that Tyrone defence and switching the play from side to side to stretch them and work the openings. Resulted in a less exciting game but yielded the desired the result so fair play to Jim Gavin and co
Well done Dublin! But what a boring game to watch ! So one sided ! Hopefully the end of blanket defence
That’s the 3 in a row then.
@JJ O Riordan: never count your chickens before they’ve hatched!….
@Kate Flaherty: we’re from Dublin City. We don’t own chickens
@Michael Horgan: I know lots of Dubs with chicks!…..
Scratching, pecking and laying all before them.
@JJ O Riordan: I’m a Dub and Mayo will be a very different animal to anything we’ve faced this year. Mayo will bring an athleticism, battle hardened edge and intensity that Dublin will not have faced this season. There was only a kick of the ball between them last year and Mayo are hungrier and better than they were last year.
@Thomas McGilly: Heard all of the above before the Tyrone game today zzzzzzz
@Kate Flaherty: all depends on how many chickens you have
@Barry O’Carroll: You must not have watched the match yesterday and last week. Tyrone didn’t lay a meaningful hand on Dublin all game. Most unlike them but that’s what happened. Mayo hit Kerry all over the place and will do the same to Dublin.
@Thomas McGilly: Spot on analysis Thomas. Tyrone simply lay down when the only plan they had didn’t work. Pundits heaping acclaim on Dubs are idiots, Dublin have had no test whatever this year. Mayo are battle hardened and the only team in the country as Dublin’s equal. The Dubs could well be caught cold in the final, playing pretty footie today against zone marking statues will count for little in 3 weeks against physical power of Mayo.
No chickens, but plenty of turkeys.
@Turk Oneeighttwo: I agree that Dublin have not had a serious test this year but exactly who are Mayo battle hardened from playing? The poorest Kerry team I’ve seen in years? One thing is for sure. Mayo have not played a team of Dublin calibre this year either. I think Mayo are a fantastic team with huge grit as well as skill but they haven’t pulled up any trees this year either. Gavin referenced last year’s final after today’s match saying that Dublin didn’t turn up for either game. I don’t think that will happen this year. I think it will be a cracking game but games against poor opposition doesn’t battle harden you. They were well beaten by Roscommon this year (albeit early in the year). This Dublin team is now starting to show a streak of ruthlessness for 70 minutes. The 3 week rest might actually go against Mayo as they have been used to quick turnarounds all season. But the biggest factor could be the managers. Rochford is capable of some very strange tactical decisions. Should be very interesting! One things for sure. If Mayo beat Dublin they will have earned Sam and I don’t think anyone (even in Dublin) would begrudge them that. But it’s still a very big if.
Easily the worst game in years, no fault of Dublin, they are just to good. Mayo have a chance however.
@Jim Brennan: reckon it’ll be a lot more entertaining and free flowing than what was shown today. Just hoping that Gough isn’t ref…..
Mayo will be beaten by more than 15 points in the final. They may as well give Dublin the trophy now.
@Ballybunion:
Dublin are some outfit and hard to look past but everyone was saying that last year and 1 pt separated them after 2 games. They were going to get hammered by kerry the last two weeks as well sure.
@Ballybunion: Eh I doubt that very much
@Spodo Comodo: dublin looked a tired outfit last year by September. They seem a very different animal this year with fresh forwards and extra fresh subs
@Ballybunion: good man!!! Maybe we should just do away with the competition and give it to the Dubs every year!!
The final will be a very different game for obvious reasons. Mayo playing good attacking football , if they can handle the Dublin forwards and don’t sh17e themselves it’s there for them.
@John Dixon: that’s a big IF
@John Dixon: there for them…. They’ll have to take it and take it hard. Theres nothing there for them
I love this team
Expected Dublin to win by 5+ and that materialised in the end. Looking forward to the final with two traditional teams. Cant see the Dubs being beaten.
Game of Tyrones finale…..
That was a disgraceful performance by Tyrone. Utterly inept. Their tactics must surely now be consigned to history. Two proper football teams in the final. Bring it on!
@Ray Hyland: Tyrone not a proper team because they didnt play well today? Cop yourself on.
@Ray Hyland: Hopefully be the end of watching Tyrones defensive tactics, horrible team to watch, end of Mickey Harte? -today was a bore fest, 2 good attacking teams will serve up a great final.
Awful indictment of Mickeys Hartes tactics or lack of, terrible contest, Dubs are outstanding and have huge depth. Still reckon ”tis Mayos Year, Rockford and Buckley have the Dubs sussed.
@DJ Cronin: Hahahaha, good man. Jebus loves a believer
@DJ Cronin: ah yeah they clearly have the dubs Sussed since they’ve (rochford and Buckley) never beaten them. Awful logic.
i watched the first 30 minutes and had enough ..i took my dog for a walk..more fun..
words like Dublin is the best team ever bla bla ..
its easy to be a great team when the ball is passed from one UNMARKED PLAYER to another..
Where is our game of football where the full back marked the full fowward .the corner back marked the corner forward ..the centre back ..the mid field etc marked their
oppossite number..you had to be better than your opponent (marker )
to win the ball
Gaelic football has become a joke .
its like the Mayweather and Mcgregor fight ..its all about money..
Our great game has been ruined ..
The great Micko connell must be a very sad man today…
Thank God the GREAT game of hurling is still intact ..I wonder for how long
..
@Larry Whelan: summers were nicer and the guards were taller too…
@Larry Whelan: bitter old fool.
@Larry Whelan: not a very fair comment on Dublin there Larry, the Dubs are providing a master class in football every time they take the field. It is up to other teams to match the intensity, skill and passion which Dublin bring to the table. It is over 30 years since this country has had the chance to celebrate a treble winning side, so let’s put all this city v country rivalry aside and get behind the greatest team of the modern era making history for all of us to enjoy. Let me hear you say it from Kenmare to Killybegs and everywhere in between “UP THE DUBS”!!!
@larry whelan:Don’t be talking a load of ould shite teams of mick o connells era or more recent indeed would not keep it kicked out to the likes of this modern day Dublin team.Christ back in them days players could hardly solo the ball move on or go to the bingo!!!
2 rubbish semi finals but yet the pundits tell us football is in a great place. Non stop hand-passing, unnecessary frees, unnecessary yellow & black cards,constant stoppages & the game is just a complete borefest to watch.
@Willie the kid: then why bother watching?
@j4VEpUO8: because you can’t form an opinion if you don’t watch it
@j4VEpUO8: Because I live in hope..
Has to be the worse championship in years, and next year we will have to endure even more one sided games when the super 8s come in.
Back up to Tyrone with their soccer haircuts…
How can u have super 8 when u don’t even have super 4
Up the dubs.where are all the kingdom mouths today????chasing fairies with Danny PMSL.always next year.
Tyrone played same way since 08 and haven’t changed, result no all ireland finals since. They need fresh vision and better tactician. They never chased the game and basically had no plan b.
Lucky enough I doubled them up with Arsenal…..takes the sting out of it …
Good Dublin team. I would not pay 2 euro to see that type of game every time. Same game start to finish
Dublin easily the better team today. Can’t see Mayo stopping them either.
‘Ridonculous’ is the word to describe how good Con O’Callaghan is.
Well done to Dublin but the worst championship of all time. The gap in class now between top 4 or 5 and the rest is becoming irreversible. This is the first time I watched the premiership over a all ireland semi final.
Darren Daly made the last pass for Eoghan O Gara’s goal, not Con O Callaghan, credit where it is due
Qualifying for semi final via the Provincial routes does not guarantee that the top teams will meet.
In fact the semis are an anti climax
A load of rubbish
The GAA are killing our native sports
@trebloc01: in other words. The dubs are the best and I want change since our own bum teams can’t beat them.
@fella la fella: he’s right. You have to look at the environments of the other counties in terms of funding, liaisons officers, players, facilities. Regardless of it being Dublin, Kerry, Mayo etc something needs to be done. If at the start of the years you were asked what the semi final line up was you’d of guessed that 4 am I right ?
Boring game, threw in the towel after ten minutes of the second half and headed for home, absolutely no competition. Mayo can beat the Dubs by man to man marking.