Battling Dubs share spoils

WITHOUT question, Billy Morgan was the happier of the two managers coming off the field in Parnell Park at the end of yesterday's Allianz National Football League tie.

Dublin 0-9 Cork 0-9

While it was Dublin who snatched a draw, at the start of less than two minutes of injury time after having played the second half a man short, in essence Cork were lucky to hold out. The fact that they managed a share of the points was down to a disciplined performance against a very strong wind.

Morgan had every reason to be pleased, regarding the outcome as 'not bad,' and pointing out they were short eleven players. And, he accepted that a five points interval advantage wasn't sufficient.

"But I felt we could play against the wind and keep possession. I felt that the longer we frustrated them and they did not draw level early in the game, as happened in Tralee, we would have a chance," he stated.

Tommy Lyons, too, was philosophical, praising his players for a battling performance. "They gave of their all when we were down to 14 men," he said. "And that was all you could ask."

Both teams showed two late changes, including respective free-takers Tomas Quinn and Micheál Ó Croinín. Added to the fact that Conal Keaney was with the hurlers and replacement forward Kevin Golden had no luck from early efforts, it severely restricted Dublin in the opening quarter. Then, the only score turned out to be Colin Crowley's opener for Cork after a mere 40 seconds.

Even though they were playing into the wind, Dublin still managed to exert a lot of early pressure. They got a decent enough flow of ball going into the forward line, where Jason Sherlock was very quick to make an impact in the right corner and posed problems for Sean O'Brien until the pattern of play changed in the second quarter.

However, the finishing wasn't good partly due to the conditions but it was noteworthy that by the 14th minute, Golden had failed from two close-in frees on the right and failed to find the range from two consecutive fifties.

Once they tightened up at half back (where Anthony Lynch excelled), improved at midfield and the forwards threatened more with an increased share of possession, Cork played the better football. Philip Clifford, in particular, kicked two great scores from far out on the right wing, newcomer Kevin McMahon worked very hard on the left flank and the recalled Fionán Murray also got two important points.

Dublin meanwhile, were to be confined to just two points in the half, the impressive Connell getting the first in the 16th minute before Golden kicked over a close-in free in the 32nd minute. Sherlock, however, had been tamed by Sean O'Brien and he was dismissed after a second yellow card for a high tackle on the Nemo man. That was just before the half-time whistle sounded to see Cork turn over with a lead of 0-7 to 0-2.

With Connell pointing with 25 seconds of the resumption, Dublin gave promise of an early revival.

Under fairly constant pressure with Ciaran Whelan dominant at midfield Cork managed just a single score (from Colin Crowley) in the 57th minute. But, more pertinently, they still held the lead all through this time before going two points clear.

To give Cork credit, their defensive play was very reliable, with Graham Canty commanding at full-back, in front of a very dependable Kevin O'Dwyer, and Lynch contributing hugely. Conor McCarthy dropped back regularly from the attack to help.

Home supporters held high hopes of victory after Connell narrowed the margin to a single point in the 63rd minute, but after Clifford missed three chances, they had to settle for a draw. Substitute Darren Homan won a close-in free against Diarmuid Hurley in the last minute and Connell easily scored out of his hands.

Scorers: Dublin S. Connell 0-5 (0-2 frees); K. Golden (free), D. Lally, C. Moran and L. Og O hEineachain 0-1 each. Cork: P. Clifford 0-4 (0-1 free); C. Crowley 0-2; F. Murray 0-2 (0-1 free); K. McMahon 0-1.

DUBLIN: S. Cluxton; D. Henry, P. Christie, P. Griffin; P. Andrews, D. Magee, C. Moran; S. Ryan, C. Whelan (capt.); S. Connell, B. Cullen, D. Lally; J. Sherlock, K. Golden, R. Cosgrove. Subs: L. Og O hEineachain for Golden (second half); J. McNally for Cosgrove (56th minute); D. Homan for Magee (injured, 66th); C. Goggins for Griffin (71st).

CORK: K. O'Dwyer; G. Murphy, G. Canty, S. O'Brien; E. Sexton, A. Lynch, N. O'Donovan; M. O'Sullivan, D. Hurley; A. Cronin, C. McCarthy, K. McMahon; P. Clifford, F. Murray, C. Crowley. Subs: N. Murphy for Cronin (53rd minute); J. Miskella for Murray (56th); O'Donoghue for McMahon (63rd).

Referee: J. McKee (Armagh).