Dubs go the extra

EXTRA-TIME kings Dublin did it again on Saturday when needing another added 20 minutes before accounting for a resilient Kildare on a 1-15 to 1-10 scoreline in the ESB Leinster MFC final replay at Dr Cullen Park.

Cyril Kevlihan’s crew have ended normal time level in every game of the campaign to date. Extra time was also required against Laois and Offaly, meaning that it took Dublin 300 minutes to win three games.

Win them they did though, claiming the county’s 27th title at this level in the process.

We definitely did it the hard way again” said Kevlihan. “I’ve huge respect for Kildare. It took two games plus extra time and we just got out.

“It shows the character in the team (to keep winning in extra time). Football is a physical game so you have to have the mental toughness to hang in when the going gets rough.”

Kildare will rue their failure to make anything of their opening half dominance.

They kicked seven wides in that period, while also dropping a couple of efforts into the hands of Dublin netminder David Downey while the Metropolitans were much more economical up front.

Meanwhile Armagh were crowned Ulster MFC champions for the 12th time, their first title since 2005, when they held out for a three-point win over Down – 1-8 to 1-5 in yesterday’s decider at Clones.

Rory Grugan emerged as the game’s key figure, hitting an early goal, and popping up to shoot two crucial scores late in the game after the Mourne lads had narrowed the gap to a point.

And Aidan Walsh was the Mayo hero as converted an injury-time free to salvage a draw – 0-8 to 1-5 – at the end of a poor Connacht final at Pearse Stadium.

Both sides went into the final with big reputations but failed to deliver in the Salthill sunshine and the replay will give both the opportunity to produce better fare.

Roscommon kicked 15 wides to Mayo’s three and should have wrapped up the issue long before Walsh had the opportunity to force a replay.