Dublin 2-10
Down 0-13
As the lights illuminated the pitch black sky and the locals warmed themselves up for the arrival of their footballers, it seemed Dublin were about to wrap their spring series up into a nice, tidy package. The hurlers had delivered a performance of substance against Kilkenny, Jedward made the kids squeal and the footballers set off against Down, seeking the point to ease themselves into the league final and tie up a fine league campaign with a weekend to spare. An unfortunate error from Down’s Kalum King in the last seconds of the game handed Alan Brogan the chance to hit the goal required to sneak the required win for Dublin.
A shower of hailstones with a ferocity that suggested Moses had kept a handy card back when torturing the Egyptians soaked the pitch during the hurling game and ensured much of the play was ragged at times, but Dublin will still reflect on the quality of their passing and option-taking. Their calm in a tight spot was impressive, but three decent goal opportunities and a handful of scoring chances slipped through their fingers and could have made life tougher. Down visited Croke Park for the first time since last year’s All-Ireland final and showed the grit that suggests they have learned enough in the meantime to make a serious tilt for an Ulster title. In some ways they’ll take more than Dublin from last night, but not quite enough.
Having conceded 3-13 against Mayo, the bulk of Dublin’s work in the past fortnight was well-signposted and clearly visible last night. Of the five alterations made to the team, four came in defence. The yawning spaces that appeared against Mayo were dutifully replaced by massed ranks of defenders as Down built their attacks and Down’s shooting opportunities were largely confined to long distance and the fringes of Dublin’s defensive cordon, but Dublin’s frustrating tendency to foul continued to bother them.
Advertisement
A typically needless shunt after 16 minutes handed Martin Clarke the chance to boom over a free from 45 metres and brought Down level. He was also represented Down’s fourth different scorer, continuing the pleasing variety Down have maintained in their attack this spring.
Down’s own defensive problems early on balanced out that promising work in attack. One of their biggest problems against Cork last September was their struggle under the high ball. Dublin remembered that, too. Two long kicks inside the first 10 minutes accrued 1-1, but the nature of Dublin’s goal had a touch of craft about it, too.
Alan Brogan was tight on the touchline when he spotted Paul Flynn drifting into space near the square behind the Down defence. He bent a long ball beautifully towards him, allowing Flynn the time to launch himself into the air, patting the ball neatly to the net. It was careless defending by Down, but a sweet piece of playingmaking from Alan Brogan.
Instead of providing Dublin with a springboard, Down pinned them back. They held Dublin scoreless for 13 minutes but the greasy conditions fractured the play badly, and Down never looked like rewarding their dominance with a decent lead.
Instead Down got themselves level and settled for trading scores, errors and miskicks. Down hit their seventh wide after 25 minutes. Denis Bastick’s footing betrayed him with the keeper to beat and his shot dragged wide. Diarmuid Connolly did raise the tone with a marvellous score after 27 minutes to edge Dublin ahead again, 1-4 to 0-6, before Peter Fitzpatrick matched it minutes later. It was a rare, precious diversion.
Advertisement
Paul Flynn hopped a shot off the post and Connolly curled a simple free wide from 13 metres leaving Dublin feeling they could have made their second half work a lot easier. Instead they went for their tea level, 1-5 to 0-8, and firmly stuck in a dogfight.
It didn’t loosen out much as the second half took shape. Dublin gained a slightly better foothold around the middle. Down found a few more gaps in Dublin’s defence when they got forward.
Brendan McVeigh’s bravery at the feet of Barry Cahill denied Dublin another goal after 40 minutes, and eventually saw him leave with a knee injury. Dublin pulled Bernard Brogan and Michael Dara McAuley from the bench with a half hour left, but even though they had started to fray at centrefield, Down were well dug in.
Every time they tried to kick away, Down responded. A free from Mossy Quinn put Dublin two ahead, 1-9 to 0-10, with 15 minutes left, and gave Dublin their healthiest lead since the first 10 minutes. Clarke pointed a free for Down, Conor Maginn clipped a nice point, and Dublin were reeled in again.
The game headed for the final five minutes, still blighted by poor wides and bad football, still hanging in the air waiting to be grasped. Having screwed one free badly wide Martin Clarke put Down ahead with two minutes left, and Dublin looked rattled.
Advertisement
They responded well. Bernard Brogan ended 25 minutes of scoreless football from Dublin to bring them level, before King fumbled a crossfield ball in front of the Down square, allowing Alan Brogan hammer the ball to the net. The crowd lifted the roof, and Dublin finally flopped over the line.
Star man: Alan Brogan (Dublin) Referee: S Doyle (Wexford) Attendance: 35,264
Dublin: S Cluxton; P McMahon, P Brogan, N Devereux; K Nolan, G Brennan, D Nelson; D Bastick, B Cahill (0-1) (MD McAuley 42mins); P Flynn (1-1) (D Kelly 70mins), K McManamon (B Brogan (0-1) 42mins), B Cullen (0-1); A Brogan (1-1), D Connolly (0-1), T Quinn (0-4, 3f).
Down: B McVeigh (D Alder 46mins); G McCartan, D Gordon, B McArdle (D McCartan 44mins); C Garvey, K McKernan (0-1), D Rooney; P Fitzpatrick (0-1) (J Colgan 51mins), K King; D Hughes (0-2), M Poland (0-1) (E McCartan 59mins), C Maginn (0-1); P McComiskey (0-2) (R Murtagh 51mins), B Coulter (0-2), M Clarke (0-3f)
Advertisement
Cavan see off Louth to cement division four spot
Cavan beat Louth 0-11 to 1-5 to take a mighty step towards retaining their place in division four of the NFL for at least another year.
Louth were all vim and vigour in the opening quarter but needed a classy point from playmaker-in-chief Paddy Keenan to level matters at 0-2 apiece after 16 minutes. Shorn of the attacking flair of Mark Brennan, Shane Lennon and JP Rooney, the visitors struggled moving forward.
Louth should have netted in the 16th and 19th minutes but Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly nicked the ball off Paraic Smith’s toes in the first instance and then Smith opted to take his point from 12 metres second time around.
At the other end Cavan weren't much better in converting possession into scores but they did edge ahead 0-6 to 0-3 by half-time. The dismissal of corner-back Declan Byrne for a second yellow card offence in the 40th minute gave Cavan further impetus and they stretched their lead to six points. Brennan scored a 59th-minute goal for Louth but despite the introduction of their star players it wasn't enough to prevent the Blues from bagging the spoils.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Galway lifted the Connacht U21 football title for the 17th time in their history with a a 1-10 to 0-4 victory over Roscommon. An excellent opening half saw Galway led by 0-6 to 0-2 at the interval and they never looked back in the second half at Pearse Stadium. Champions Roscommon never looked like recovering and at one stage went 27 minutes without scoring.
Galway could have been further ahead at the break but Naos Connaughton superbly saved Eric Monaghan’s 18th-minute penalty.
The sides twice exchanged points in the third quarter but Galway wrapped up the win with a late goal from substitute Adrian Murphy.