Leitrim boss quits as shaky Dubs get lift

Dublin 1-13 Leitrim 0-4

Their display wouldn’t have induced too much confidence in the vociferous Dub support among the 8,000 in Carrick-On-Shannon on Saturday, however.When Barry Prior nailed a fine point in the 18th minute, it left the underdogs 0-3 to 0-2 up, and they looked the better team. Dublin were out-of-sorts and unsettled.

Alas, it was to be Leitrim’s last score for 45 minutes, something the manful efforts of their defence or Declan Rowley didn’t deserve. The Leitrim manager called it a day in the early evening in Carrick, and was swiftly followed into retirement by that servant of servants, Séamus Quinn.

“It’s the end of an era for me,” Rowley said. “I gave it my best shot, spent three years here and it is a hard job. Everyone has been training hard, we had some ups and downs. I think we have left behind a reasonable platform.”

Obviously, nobody should be happy with shipping 1-13, but Leitrim, as ever, were gritty and determined at the back with Dermot Reynolds and Micheal McGuinness again magnificent.

For the Dubs, this is another step on the gradual road back to respectability. But first a step back before going forward. It is 10 years since Ian Robertson made his name as a gifted minor for Dublin. On Saturday, he kicked his first ball under the gaze of Tommy Lyons. The cheer for his appearance illustrated that this was a move long-overdue in the big smoke. Dessie Farrell also marked his return with a point late in the second half. Early on, Leitrim had some of us thinking of the shock of this summer. Their defence, as ever, was water-tight and Micheal Foley and Jim Guickan were winning the hard ball in the slippery conditions. Dublin were poor, yet still managed to go in at the break two points to the good, 0-5 to 0-3.

Leitrim didn’t appear for the second half. Dublin met a defence whose grit and determination will be hard to replicate, and took 1-8 off them. There was still wayward kicking in that mix, but a few more championship points for the likes of Brian Cullen and Tomás Quinn will do their confidence no harm.

Alan Brogan was also superb, a shining light in a fairly pedestrian attack. While Brogan contributed only a few points from play, his ability to create space for team-mates was particularly eye-catching.

Even in the 65th minute, when Leitrim’s day was done, there was still fight in the tiny county with Gareth Phelan saving brilliantly from Brogan’s penalty. At the death, Senan Connell capped one of his better days in the Dublin attack, with a well-worked goal-involving five different players.

Still, there was little in Carrick to frighten the three Ulster teams, Kerry, Laois or Galway. Dublin aren’t even worth a each-way flutter at this stage.

Scorers: Dublin: S Connell, (1-2), A Brogan, (0-4), T Quinn, (0-3), J Sherlock, D Farrell, B Cullen, P Casey, (0-1 each). Leitrim: M Foley, (0-2, both frees), B Prior, F McBrien, (0-1 each)

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; B Cahill, P Christie, C Goggins, P Casey, J Magee, P Griffin; C Whelan, D Magee; B Cullen, D Lally, S Connell, A Brogan, J Sherlock, T Quinn Subs I Robertson for Lally, (15 mins), D Farrell for Quinn, (49 mins), R Cosgrove for Sherlock, (63 mins), D O’Mahoney for D Magee, (64 mins),S Ryan for J Magee, (69 mins)

LEITRIM: G Phelan; D Reynolds, S Quinn, M McGuinness, N Gilbane, P Flynn, C Reagan; N Doonan, C Carroll; J Clancy, J Guickan, B Prior, J McGuinness, P Farrell, M Foley Subs F McBrien for J McGuinness, (25 mins), S Canning for Farrell, (41 mins), P McGuinness for Clancy, (51 mins), D Guhooley for Gilbane, (59 mins)

Referee: B Crowe(Cavan).