Dubs discover killer instinct

QUELLE surprise.

Dublin were winners in Croke Park yesterday for the unusual reason that they killed off the opposition. And, they did so impressively — when it really mattered, in the closing five minutes. At the second attempt they qualified for a Leinster SFC semi-final meeting with Offaly next Sunday, inspired by the contribution of eight points from promoted free-taker Mark Vaughan and helped ultimately by weak Meath finishing when it seemed they might force extra time.

Meath fought with typical guts and determination but didn’t enjoy the best of luck and their challenge was undermined when Graham Geraghty’s early threat fizzled out because of a lack of possession. Unlike the drawn game, when they put over five unanswered points in 18 minutes, Dublin never really reproduced the same quality over a lengthy period. On the other hand, they played throughout with the self-assurance of a team which expected to finish in front.

The holders could have had the ball in the net three times in the opening eight minutes. Wing-back Barry Cahill lost control after making a powerful run down the centre, Colin Moran blew the ball over the bar after it was gifted to him following a mix-up between goalkeeper Brendan Murphy and centre-back Anthony Moyles, and Alan Brogan hit a low shot just outside the left-hand upright when he should have goaled.

In general, however, there was very little between the teams over the opening 25 minutes, when scores were level three times. On the Meath side the crafty Geraghty chipped in with two terrific scores from difficult angles and Joe Sheridan was showing up quite well at full-forward. However, his threat dissipated once Ross McConnell got on top, while Cian Ward — the star of the drawn game — was largely anonymous.

At the other end, Alan Brogan started very promisingly at full-forward but wasn’t able to finish and other than Vaughan, (who started in the left corner before switching to the centre), Dublin found it hard to get scores.

Most encouragingly, perhaps, was the good form of Ciaran Whelan, who had been relatively quiet a fortnight ago, but contributed significantly over the duration of the game and got good assistance at stages from Shane Ryan. However, it was Meath who were playing the more effective football and Dublin started to struggle in attack once the Royal’s full-back trio got on top (with Darren Fay again to the forefront in the left corner). Additionally, the quality of ball going into the Dublin attack was quite poor at times.

The net effect meant that Meath were forcing the pace much more, leading by two points by the 19th minute and looking the better side. In particular, their forwards showed a greater facility to win ball, with Stephen Bray also showing up well in the half-forward line. But, they started to lose ground after Dublin rose their game a notch. Vaughan kicked a levelling score six minutes later and he had them back in front with a marvellous point from the sideline in the 28th minute. By now, he had taken over at centre-forward from Quinn — who on this occasion was not given any responsibility for free-taking.

A few minutes earlier, Dublin were grateful to goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton for making a point-blank save from centre-forward Kevin Reilly — the benefit of which was to see them stay in front all the way to the break (0-9 to 0-7).

They remained marginally the better side on the resumption, helped for a while by the ability of substitute Ray Cosgrove to win possession on the right flank — and boosted by two early scores from Vaughan, one from a confidently-kicked ‘45, the other from a free.

As the game developed, they were to succeed in limiting the Meath attack (which now had Brian Farrell at left corner-forward) through some impressive defensive play. However, before an overall improvement was given impetus by more consistent play outfield, Geraghty almost poached a goal for Meath in the 43rd minute, when after being found by Farrell he saw his shot come back off the butt of the near upright.

Farrell managed to salvage a point from the move, but Dublin looked in a more comfortable position when another Vaughan free had them four points clear with just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining.

To give Meath full credit, they came storming back, helped by some excellent defending, a bigger involvement from Nigel Crawford at midfield and the twin threat of Bray and Farrell up front.

Farrell’s opportunism saw him score in the 54th minute and when Bray followed with a great point off his left foot four minutes later, Meath hopes were raised. Dublin brought in Jason Sherlock (who hardly saw the ball) and the management breathed a sigh of relief when Whelan escaped with a yellow card after a minor scuffle with Geraghty, who ended up on the ground.

They were also grateful to see Cluxton make a great goal-line catch under pressure at a stage when scores were almost impossible to come by at the other end. However, the game was back in the balance again when the skilful Farrell put over a close-in free he had won himself. The margin was down to a single score and Dublin had their backs to the wall for the first time in the game.

How they responded was testament more to their character than their scoring ability, which produced three points between the 69th and 72nd minutes.

Helped by some sterling defending, a pressure kick from a Keaney free (after he had scored but was whistled back) and another from play, Dublin were on the way to the semi-final by the time Brogan produced his only score (from a Sherlock assist).

Not a vintage display by any means, but a win that was more important for the specific reason that it was against the old enemy.

Pat McEnaney’s remarkable facility to referee consistently at the highest level was once more in evidence.

Scorers for Dublin — M. Vaughan 0-8 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45, 0-1 sideline); C. Keaney 0-4 (0-2 frees); C. Moran, C. Whelan, D. Henry and A. Brogan 0-1 each.

Meath: S. Bray 0-4; B. Farrell 0-3 (0-1 free); G. Geraghty 0-2; C. Ward (free), A. Moyles and N. Crawford 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S. Cluxton; D. Henry, R. McConnell, P. Griffin; P. Casey, B. Cullen, B. Cahill; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; D. Connolly, T. Quinn, C. Moran (capt.); C. Keaney, A. Brogan, M. Vaughan.

Subs: R. Cosgrove for Connolly (second half); J. Sherlock for Quinn (54); D. Magee for Ryan (64); B. Brogan for Moran (72).

MEATH: B. Murphy; E. Harrington, N. McKeigue, D. Fay; S. McGabhann, A. Moyles (capt.), C. King; M. Ward, N. Crawford; C. Ward, K. Reilly, P. Byrne; G. Geraghty, J. Sheridan, S. Bray.

Subs: B. Farrell for Sheridan (35); P. Curran for Ward (47); C. McGuinness for King (68); J. Donegan for Reilly (71st).

Referee: P. McEnaney (Monaghan).

*Attendance: 82,206.