Dubs prove extra special again
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 was a very hard-fought game, a great game to win but there were two winners out there, and the big prize is still there for the both of us (as Kildare remain in the championship).
“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.
The Metropolitans were much more economical up front. With Eoghan Keogh and Gerry Seaver prominent in setting up attacks, they led by 0-5 to 0-1 by the end of the opening quarter and might have been even more comfortable had Feargal Duffy not opted to fist over from a great goaling position.
AFL-bound Paul Cribbin got the Lilies off the mark with a wonderful 11th minute score with the outside of his left boot but Dublin continued to break at pace. Gary Sweeney slotted two points before Paul Hudson won the race with Kildare custodian Mark Donnellan to goal and they led by 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval.
It was Dublin who were more wasteful after the resumption though. Their failure to kill off the Lilywhites looked like being costly.
With Páraic Cullen and John Comerford driving them on, Bryan Murphy’s charges scored 1-3 in three minutes. Points from Sean Hurley and a Cribbin brace were followed by a 54th minute Darroch Mulhall goal.
Suddenly Kildare were in front but a Hudson free restored parity and brought us to extra time.
Downey pulled off a magnificent save from Mulhall almost from the throw-in, but thereafter, it was all Dublin as Kildare ran out of steam. The classy Sweeney, Duffy, Feargal Breathnach, Gerry Seaver and Hudson were the scorers as the Blues eventually pulled clear.
Scorers for Dublin: P Hudson 1-4(0-2fs); G Sweeney 0-5; F Duffy 0-2; D Stapleton, F Breathnach, C Carr, G Seaver 0-1 each
Scorers for Kildare: P Cribbin 0-4; D Mulhall 1-1; C Reynolds 0-3; S Hurley 0-2
DUBLIN: D Downey; G Seaver, F Carney, K O’Brien; E Keogh, A Carr, J Kelly; D O Murchú, C Reddin; F Breathnach, G Sweeney, D Stapleton; F Duffy, C Carr, P Hudson.
Subs: M Schutte for Stapleton (50); D Byrne for O Murchú (60); S Swords for A Carr (60).
KILDARE: M Donnellan; D McDonnell, T Barron, P Cullen; C O’Shea, K Corrigan, E Doyle; T Moolick, J Comerford; P Cocoman, C Reynolds, S Hurley; D Mulhall, P Fogarty, P Cribbin.
Subs: K Fitzpatrick for Cocoman (28); C Bolton for Fogarty (36); B Deay for Reynolds (55); D Holton for Barron (55); J Byrne for O’Shea (67); Barron for McDonnell (70); W Burke for Corrigan (76).
Referee: P Kneel (Louth).
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