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McCaffrey returns as Dublin hold off fightback to win against Hurley-inspired Cork

10,232 watched on in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Dublin 0-18

Cork 2-10

IT FINISHED WITH an away day success for Dublin, yet the last play of  the game almost engineered a home triumph on Leeside in dramatic fashion.

ciaran-kilkenny-with-maurice-shanley Ciaran Kilkenny with Maurice Shanley. Evan Treacy / INPHO Evan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Brian Hurley, Cork’s best forward who had a terrific game, lashed in a left-foot thunderbolt in the 77th minute as they chased the goal they needed to salvage something from their afternoon’s work.

David O’Hanlon’s fingertips pushed it onto the crossbar, it rebounded to safety from a Dublin perspective and a third successive win in Division 2 was soon confirmed for Dessie Farrell’s side.

The league points on offer was a positive, the return of Jack McCaffrey to Dublin colours almost three years since his last appearance was even more so. McCaffrey popped over a point in the second half and was full of energy, James McCarthy was another member of the old guard to come off the bench to strike a score.

As a contest it was fiercely contested until the finish, both sides hit with red cards in the third quarter to Cork midfielder Ian Maguire and Dublin defender Lee Gannon, second yellows in both instances. The harsh call on Maguire by Laois referee Seamus Mulhare incensed the Cork camp, their Dublin opponents protested as well when Gannon saw red in the 47th minute.

cork-celebrate-their-first-goal Cork players celebrate Eoghan McSweeney's goal. Evan Treacy / INPHO Evan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

The first half contained plenty good stuff, there was enough vibrancy to command the attention of the 10,232 present. With Hurley on song as he whipped over points, Cork posed an attacking threat.

They hit the net in the 22nd minute, a sweet team move featuring a booming delivery by Matty Taylor, the creative work done by Chris Óg Jones and a tidy finish from Eoghan McSweeney. Cork consistently threatened to add to that goal tally, Jones denied from close-range by David O’Hanlon and Maurice Shanley palmed in another effort that was ruled out for a square ball.

Yet for all that trouble, Dublin were 0-10 to 1-6 to the good at the break. They rattled off six of the last eight points of the half. Dean Rock’s frees were on the money, Con O’Callaghan was typically threatening and they moved the ball smartly to find gaps for others to point.

james-mccarthy-and-colm-ocallaghan Dublin's James McCarthy and Cork's Colm O'Callaghan. Evan Treacy / INPHO Evan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

The Maguire dismissal was followed by Dublin posting the first four points of the second half. That stretched the gap out to five and looked to have taken the temperature out of the game. But Cork came roaring back into the hunt, Dublin were hit with the setback of losing Gannon and the second-half had no shortage of pulsating moments.

The card count finished at ten yellow and two red, decisions irritating the crowd present, yet the match was really ignited when Taylor got clear for a powerful finish that he rammed home for Cork’s second goal in the 54th minute, substitute Ruairi Deane doing well to outmuscle the defence and create the opening.

That drew Cork level, 0-14 to 2-8, but Dublin would never be in that position again, always capable of staying a point or two out of Cork’s reach. McCaffrey and McCarthy came on, busying themselves on the ball. Other big players popped up with points, O’Callaghan and Brian Fenton on target as well.

Hurley finished with eight points to his credit, the chief source of Cork’s scores, and cracked in that late attempt for a goal that O’Hanlon was equal to. Dublin push on in their promotion bid, Cork aim to take encouragement from this showing.

Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-6 (0-4f), Con O’Callaghan 0-4 (0-1 mark), Daire Newcombe 0-2, Cian Murphy 0-1, Brian Fenton 0-1, Cormac Costello 0-1, Ross McGarry 0-1, James McCarthy 0-1, Jack McCaffrey 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: Brian Hurley 0-8 (0-3f, 0-1 mark), Eoghan McSweeney 1-1, Mattie Taylor 1-0, Steven Sherlock 0-1 (0-1f).

Dublin

1. David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna)

23. Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields), 2. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis),  4. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)

6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams), 5. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille), 9. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s)

8. Brian Fenton (Raheny), 24. Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne (Cuala)

11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock), 12. Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St-Enda’s), 10. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge-Street), 

13. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille), 14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams), 15. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)

Subs

  • 21. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams) for Ó Cofaigh-Byrne (44)
  • 19. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf) for Scully (55)
  • 17. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St-Enda’s) for McGarry (55)
  • 7. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf) for Murphy (59)
  • 25. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge-Street) for Costello (68)

Cork

1. Mícheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers)

2. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), 3. Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), 4. Tommy Walsh (Kanturk)

5. Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), 6. Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), 7. Mattie Taylor (Mallow)

8. Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), 9. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)

10. Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), 11. Seán Powter (Douglas), 12. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh)

13. Brian Hurley (Castlehaven – captain), 14. Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary), 15. Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)

Subs

  • 23. Ruairi Deane (Bantry Blues) for Sherlock (43)
  • 24. Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers) for Jones (55)
  • 22. John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers) for McSweeney (61)
  • 21. Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig) for Powter (62)
  • 25. Fionn Herlihy (Dohenys) for O’Driscoll (72)

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)

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    Mute Dano Siorain
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    Feb 19th 2023, 7:59 PM

    That was as poor a refs performance that I’ve seen in a long time. Soft cards and sendings off on both sides. Cork had chances apart from that and didn’t take them. Kudos at the end to Hurley to go for goal and a fine save by the dubs keeper.

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    Mute Sean O Callaghan
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    Feb 20th 2023, 12:53 AM

    @Dano Siorain: Ref should be locked up. Brutal performance. Fellas got jail for less

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 20th 2023, 1:20 PM

    @Dano Siorain: surely Hurley had no other option than go for goal? 2 points adrift with time up? Either way, Dublin should have kicked on after HT being a few points up and a man advantage. Credit to Cork that Dublin couldn’t do that. McCaffrey made a difference immediately and McCarthy’s experience was valuable. Nothing much is won or lost in Feb though …

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    Mute Declan Murphy
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    Feb 19th 2023, 6:42 PM

    Why does John Cleary’s “sending offs” deserve a (sic) while Dessie Farrell’s doesn’t?

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    Feb 19th 2023, 7:28 PM

    @Declan Murphy: And, on top of that, the author writes: “Dublin boss Dessie Farrell also felt the red cards call (sic) were ‘soft’”. The “sic” in this case is mine. If you’re going to be a fussy author, at least get your own grammar correct!

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    Mute Vincent Kelly
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    Feb 19th 2023, 10:12 PM

    @Thomas O’ Donnell: excellent comment

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    Mute Sean O Callaghan
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    Feb 20th 2023, 12:50 AM

    @Declan Murphy: Pedant

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Feb 20th 2023, 12:53 AM

    In all my years I’ve never seen two worse red cards than today. God help us if this is where football is heading. The first one is shere comedy

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    Mute Michael Garvey
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    Feb 20th 2023, 12:36 PM

    @Tom Collins: they were both second yellows, not straight reds. Speaking here as a Corkman, but Maguire was an idiot. He was on a yellow and pulled the guys jersey straight in front of the ref. Not the hardest tug but still a jersey pull . Nothing unusual in giving a yellow card for a jersey tug. Gannon I thought was unlucky though he did turn the shoulder a little into the Cork player. I have also seen social media comments about the Cork disallowed goal but looking at that one it seemed the guys foot was just in the square. Marginal but not unfair.

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    Mute Paul Clavin
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    Feb 19th 2023, 11:18 PM

    Jack doesn’t seem to have lost any speed,bring it on

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Feb 19th 2023, 10:06 PM

    Meanwhile in Tuam, blatant cynical fouling went unpunished by the referee. No consistency in refereeing.

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Feb 19th 2023, 10:08 PM

    Meanwhile in Tuam, blatant cynical fouling by Tyrone went unpunished. No consistency in refereeing.

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    Mute IrishOwl
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    Feb 19th 2023, 10:38 PM

    @Peter Daly: could u repeat that again ?

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    Mute Sean O Callaghan
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    Feb 20th 2023, 12:53 AM

    @IrishOwl: Please?

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    Mute Tim Quigley
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    Feb 20th 2023, 8:42 PM

    @Peter Daly: You should see what the Armagh boys got away with again yesterday.

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    Mute Barrycelona
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    Feb 20th 2023, 1:02 PM

    If a lot of cards and sendings off improve the quality of the game overall, then referees should persist.It is a physical game but too often you see it being reduced to nasty cynical ‘tackles’ because winning at literally all costs has become far more important than the quality of the game. Besides, these are ‘amateur’ players who can’t afford to be off work for six weeks because they got an elbow in the face or a broken leg.

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 20th 2023, 1:24 PM

    @Barrycelona: agreed. I thought it was noticeable that the game flowed a bit better when both were reduced to 14. More space of course but nonetheless. The players are so fit now that sometimes it’s not noticeable at all

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