Dublin 0-22; Derry 0-20
Another rousing contest which went all the way down to the wire before Dublin secured a home tie in Croke Park on Sunday against up and down Cork following their two-point win over a very unlucky Derry side at Páirc Esler in Newry on Saturday evening.
Many people felt they could predict the outcome of this match on one factor - would Dublin skipper Con O’Callaghan be fit to play, or not.
As it turned out he was - and he was needed against a Derry team which has played well in so many games this season, yet the Galway draw aside, always came out on the wrong side of the scoreline.
They were in this game right to the very end but once again they saw the victory light shine on Dublin while they were left to ponder what might have been for the long summer and longer winter nights ahead.
This was another occasion where you could say the old hands showed up for Dublin as Ciaran Kilkenny prompted well and Con helped himself and his team to five points from play – scores that only he can deliver in a forward line.
It would be unfair not to mention the strides being taken by the relative newcomers into the Dubs squad as Peader Ó Cofaigh Byrne’s towering presence at midfield saw him win the man of the match award for his ability to catch and break ball to his team’s advantage.
If only Shane McGuigan, who finished the 70 minutes with 0-10 to his credit, had a little more support, Derry would’ve been capable of causing an upset. Yes, Conor Glass was his usual hard-working and high-achieving self, but Brendan Rogers was brought back into a marking role in defense for the first half and it was only when he pushed on up the field that Derry looked a more rounded outfit.
The same man was almost a matchwinner for his county as his great run ended with a short that flew across the face of the goal rather than bothering the far post. Big Lachlan Murray also wondered if the gods had looked the other way as his effort flashes inches wide.
With Galway just edging past Armagh in another thriller, Dublin got home advantage and can now use Croke Park as a launching pad should they go the rest of the way in the finals rounds.
Dublin started like they meant business and were four points up before Derry, and McGuigan in particular, came into their own, swapping some fine scores to be level at the break.
O'Callaghan and Niall Loughlin immediately traded scores as the game was level for a fourth time. Dublin made their famous “third quarter” move by shooting over seven points while Derry two point retort saw them treading water five points in arrears.
The Oak Leafers didn’t give up and McGuigan was unlucky to see a two-pointer return to play off an upright. He shot over a free to start the scores ticking and Rogers goal effort notwithstanding, they kept going and a late Rogers point meant we had the tantalizing scenario of a two-pointer leveling the outcome.
It didn’t happen much to Dublin’s relief and Derry’s dismay, but the neutral observer drank from this fountain of football to intoxicating levels. Another win for the game that was the orphan child of Irish sport only a year ago.
Dublin: S Cluxton (0-2 1 t-p); S McMahon, T Clancy, D Byrne; B Howard, J Small (0-1), L Gannon (0-2); P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, K McGinnis (0-3); C Kilkenny (0-1) , S Bugler (0-2), N Scully; P Small (0-2), C O'Callaghan (0-5), C Costello (0-4,1tpf, 0-1f) Subs: C Murphy for Clancy (48), E Murchan for McGinnis (48), R McGarry for Scully (53),T Lahiff for Gannon (59), N Dornan for P Small (67).
Derry: B McKinless; D Baker, E McEvoy, P McGurk; C Doherty, B Rogers (0-1), P McGrogan; C Glass (0-2), D Higgins; E Doherty (0-3), P Cassidy (0-1), C McFaul; S McGuigan (0-9,3tpf, 3f), N Loughlin (0-2, 0-1m), N Toner (0-1m) Subs: L Murray for N Toner (44), C McCluskey for McGurk (50), R Mulholland for McFaul (58), R Forbes for Cassidy (62), C McMonagle for Loughlin (67).
Ref: B Cawley (Kildare).
