Twelve minutes into yesterday’s Leinster final, Dublin had Kildare on the ropes. They led by nine points. By the 20th minute, Kildare were still staggering, having failed to score since the opening seconds, but when Dublin couldn’t land that big haymaker, Kildare finally rebounded off the ropes and came out swinging, landing nine points from nine shots in the space of just 15 minutes.
Kildare had been rocked by two Dublin goals within the space of a minute but they ended the half with just one fewer shot at the target (16-15). They had created huge openings down the central corridor of Dublin’s defence but the flipside was that Dublin still looked like they were playing within themselves.
Daniel Flynn’s missed goal chance in the 41st minute, which was well saved by Stephen Cluxton, was a momentum shifter but Dublin had still begun to press their foot on the gas by that stage. They nailed nine points from 11 shots in the third quarter. By the 52nd minute, they already had 2-17 on the scoreboard. Kildare had only scored twice in the second half by then. They kept going but it was always only going to get Kildare so far.
Kildare tried extremely hard. They played some good stuff but whatever teams throw at Dublin, they will still always find a way.
They just wear teams down with relentless workrate, pace and power but when they really press their foot down hard on the accelerator, Dublin just blow teams out of their way.
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Kildare opened up in a blitz. In the first two minutes, they made 26 plays to just four for Dublin. Flynn had a point on the board from their first attack. Kildare almost had a goal from their second attack but Tommy Moolick didn’t make a decent connection on his shot while Cathal McNally’s follow-up effort was blocked. Kildare really took the game to Dublin. They had the same number of attacks and shots as Dublin in the opening ten minutes but, in a flash, Dublin had two goals stuck in the Kildare net.
Kildare had their purple patch in the second quarter before Dublin regrouped and pushed on again. They ended the match with 2-17 from play. Their hunger and desire was reflected in them making seven more turnovers-in-possession than Kildare. And even more importantly, their young players did well, especially Con O’Callaghan who gave an exhibition, ending the match with 12 points, six from play.
To their credit, Kildare kept going, but then so did Dublin.
When Kildare got their goal in the 74th minute from Paddy Brophy, Dublin came straight up the field from the kickout and went looking to scold Kildare for their insolence. Paul Mannion had the ball in the net but it was called back for a free in.
Dublin made history by winning a seventh Leinster title in a row for the first time.
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Three teams before them had won six in a row but this team are unlike anything Leinster football have seen before. Who knows when this Leinster run will stop?
Weekend results
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifiers,
Round 3B
Tipperary 1-15 Armagh 1-17
Carlow 1-7 Monaghan 1-12
Leinster Senior Football Championship final
Dublin 2-23 Kildare 1-17
Ulster Senior Football Championship final
Tyrone 2-17 Down 0-15