Tyrone 0-23; Dublin 0-16
Saturday’s top of the bill witnessed by 61,000 at Croke Park was better than the seven-point difference suggests but overall it was a disappointing game where Dublin, minus Con O’Callaghan for most of the game, showed why they were not genuine contenders while conversely, a rapidly improving Tyrone showed just why they are.
After the game Dessie Farrell ended his six-year reign as Dublin manager, with two All Irelands to his name. Not bad when judged by every other Dub boss with the exception of Jim Gavin, whose five in a row immediately before dwarfs every other achievement by comparison.
Tyrone, with two recent All Ireland U-20 titles and a possible minor title this weekend when they play Kerry, showed why they could be the coming force in the GAA as when the game was in the melting pot, it was their bench of young lads who came on and swung the game in their favor.
Ruairí Canavan with two points almost immediately after being introduced, and further points from Ben McDonnell and Under-20 megastar Eoin McElholm, gave them a late impetus to push the game out to a seven-point win when it looked like the encounter might go down to the wire.
With Cuala star O’Callaghan brought on but clearly hampered by a hamstring tear, the Dublin fans in the crowd hoped his very presence might be enough to see the side advance to the semi-final. However, despite scoring a trademark point, he got little opportunity to influence the game as Tyrone suffocated play in that area while their own forwards found the space to run the Blues defense ragged in the last 10 minutes.
Afterwards Farrell said: “I informed the county board at the start of the season that this would be my last. I let the players know, we huddled up in the dressing room afterwards. It has been a true honor with a lot of great memories, a lot of special relationships that I will cherish for a long, long time. Now is a good time to move on,” he stated.
Tyrone: N Morgan (0-3, 1tpf, 1 '45); C Quinn (0-1), P Hampsey, N Devlin; P Teague (0-2, 1tp), R Brennan, K McGeary (0-2, 1tp); B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; S O'Donnell, M Donnelly, C Daly (0-2); D McCurry (0-2, 0-1f), P Harte (0-4, 2tp), D Canavan (0-3) Subs: M O'Neill for O'Donnell (9, temp), B McDonnell (0-1) for Brennan (43), E McElholm (0-1) for McCurry (50), A Clarke for Quinn (55), C Meyler for Teague (58, temp), R Canavan (0-2) for Harte (62), M O'Neill for McGeary (67).
Dublin: S Cluxton (0-1, '45); E Murchan, D Byrne, S MacMahon; B Howard, J Small, L Gannon; P Ó Cofaigh-Byrne, K McGinnis (0-1); S Bugler, C Kilkenny (0-1), N Scully (0-1); P Small (0-2), C Costello (0-6, 0-2f), B O'Leary (0-2) Subs: C Murphy for McGinnis (43), C O'Callaghan (0-1) for O'Leary (49), L Breathnach (0-1) for Scully (56), T Lahiff for O'Cofaigh-Byrne (59), R McGarry for Bugler (65) TClancy for Murchan (68).
Ref: D Coldrick (Meath).
