Dublin triumph in epic duel

Dublin 2-13 Kildare 2-11

Underdogs Kildare hinted at different stages that they had the ability to triumph, but lacked consistency. Ultimately, what proved decisive was a goal double that Dublin manufactured in one minute at a crucial stage of the game.

It was reminiscent of the double whammy that Dublin themselves suffered in a two-minute period after half time in the replayed 2000 final, which inspired a famous Kildare victory.

And, yet Mick O'Dwyer's team could have saved the game at the death, when Tadhg Fennin, scorer of both of their goals, had a low shot deflected by the boot of goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton.

After the final whistle, Dublin manager Tommy Lyons was seen dashing to the middle of the field to celebrate with his players, when he turned back to embrace O'Dwyer on the sideline.

It was a sporting gesture befitting a marvellous contest, played at a furious pace and which, because of the heat and the expanded playing area, took a punishing physical toll on the players.

Dublin began the game in style, picking off some great scores to lead 0-5 to 0-1 after 11 minutes. They settled more quickly, won plenty of possession and in their forward movements were superior.

Still, in breakaways, Fennin might have stolen a goal as early as the fourth minute, only for the alertness of Cluxton in anticipating the shot. Likewise, Dermot Earley, their outstanding performer through the half, might have put the ball in the net after a powerful run down the centre until he was fouled outside the small square.

Apart from these chances, the Kildare forwards posed little threat. Paddy Christie was well in control against Martin Lynch and there was not much penetration from their half forwards. At the other end it was a different story. While Ray Cosgrove started in the corner with Alan Brogan at full forward, they interchanged and looked strong on the ball, and very sharp. Outside, Colin Moran was the best of the half forwards, but found it hard to get away from Kildare captain Anthony Rainbow. To add to Kildare woes, Karl O'Dwyer and Lynch failed from fifties.

Midway through the half, the game began to move in Kildare's direction, with John Doyle hitting over two great points from the right wing and converting a free. O'Dwyer, after a switch to full forward, was more involved and with Doyle, Eddie McCormack and Ronan Sweeney were to do much better on the wings. However, the main thrust came from Earley (faced by Darren Homan) and, in time, Killian Brennan, after Ciaran Whelan tired following an impressive opening burst.

The net result was that, after Brogan was denied a goal by the Kildare 'keeper in the 24th minute, Kildare jumped into the lead three minutes later, through Fennin. It came after a big gap appeared at the heart of the defence and Brennan made a strong run through before releasing the ball.

A few minutes later, Kildare full back Padraig Mullarkey made a vital tackle on John McNally. However, after losing their lead to a Senan Connell point in the 33rd minute, Kildare fell behind in injury time. With the buzz having gone out of the Dublin inside line, the scorer was full back Christie, who happened to be well up the field shadowing his opponent. It saw them turn over 0-9 to 1-5 in front.

Kildare resumed confidently, forcing the pace. Earley came close to goaling again in the 39th minute, and while Brogan kicked a good point to restore his confidence, Dublin were not troubling the Kildare backs. In the meantime, Darren Magee had been brought into the Dublin defence for Paul Curran (who had done well at centre back), and he had the misfortune to give Fennin a present of a goal in the 45th minute. Dublin quickly levelled, but by the 55th minute, Kildare were two points clear.

Dublin management reacted by bringing in Jason Sherlock and Dessie Farrell, but it was the class of Brogan which helped them regain the psychological advantage, and the opportunism of Cosgrove which helped power their victory. In the space of a minute, Brogan created a goal out of a half chance, and the Kildare backs were caught napping when Cosgrove converted a right-wing cross from Moran.

With more than 15 minutes to go, the game had been as good as decided with a four-point gap on the board.

To Kildare's credit, they never wilted, and after Dublin had a goal disallowed for a square infringement, they almost equalised through Fennin. But again, Cluxton's positional sense enabled him to divert the ball away. Substitute Patrick Murray powered a low shot over the bar when Dublin were again stretched, but there was to be no trophy for Mick O'Dwyer to end a remarkable odyssey with Kildare and Leinster football.

One had to be impressed by the refereeing of Michael Collins. He was firm and authoritative in his application of the roles and took action when it was required.

Scorers: Dublin R. Cosgrove 1-4 (0-2 frees); A. Brogan 1-2; J. McNally 0-3 (0-1 fifty); S. Connell 0-2; P. Christie and C. Whelan 0-1 each.

Kildare T. Fennin 2-2; J. Doyle 0-7 (0-5 frees); K. O´Dwyer and P. Murray 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S. Cluxton; B. Cahill, P. Christie, C. Goggins (capt.); P. Casey, P. Curran, P. Andrews; D. Homan, C. Whelan; C. Moran, S. Ryan, S. Connell; R. Cosgrove, A. Brogan, J. McNally. Subs: D. Magee for Curran (41st minute); J. Sherlock for Connell (55th); D. Farrell for McNally 60th).

KILDARE: E. Murphy; B. Lacey, P. Mullarkey, K. Doyle; K. Duane, D. Hendy, A. Rainbow (capt.), K. Brennan, D. Earley; E. McCormack, K. O´Dwyer, R. Sweeney; T. Fennin, M. Lynch, J. Doyle. Subs: G. Ryan for Hendy (injured, 48th minute); S. McKenzie-Smith for Lynch and P. Murray for O´Dwyer (65th); T. Harris for Duane (67th).

Referee: M. Collins (Cork).

*Attendance: 78,033 (new record).