Dubs deliver despite late scare

JOHN MINNOCK is one of the few that truly knows how Michael Murphy feels right now.

Former Athlone Town playmaker Minnock never quite lived down his UEFA Cup penalty miss in a scoreless draw with the mighty AC Milan in 1975.

Murphy, at least, has the rest of his senior career to make amends for Saturday night’s spot kick disaster which, hopefully, won’t still be recalled in another 35 years.

Trailing by two points at Kingspan Breffni Park, Donegal were awarded an injury-time penalty to win the Cadbury All-Ireland U21 final after lively sub Cillian Morrison had been shoulder charged to the ground.

Captain, inspirational full-forward and Young Footballer of the Year Murphy was the perfect man to take the crucial kick – but slammed it off the cross bar.

It capped a bad night at the office for the powerful full-forward who was well held over the hour by Dublin’s full-back Rory O’Carroll, who was subsequently named man of the match.

Murphy also missed an equally important goal chance late in the first-half when he outfielded O’Carroll, cut inside and blazed a shot a foot wide of the post.

Dublin just about deserved victory. In line with the general theme of their campaign they were dominated at times but always retained enough quality and character to grind out the result.

In the Leinster final they were 0-9 to 0-3 up against Westmeath at half-time but led by just one with time almost up before an injury-time scoring burst.

Similarly, they led 0-6 to 0-2 here after 19 minutes with Dean Rock shooting three of their points but didn’t score again until early in the second-half.

In the meantime, Murphy came into the game after a torrid 25 minutes and picked out Dermot Molloy for his fourth point of the game.

Donegal were on top in this period late in the half and weaved together a brilliant hand passing movement in injury time that tore Dublin’s defence asunder, allowing Leo McLoone to hit the net.

McLoone and Murphy are already senior panellists and will presumably rejoin the Championship panel.

Others would have hoped to impress on this national stage but, according to manager Jim McGuinness, were robbed of the chance by a debilitating viral infection.

Wing-forwards Antoin McFadden and Thomas McKinley both had to come off at half-time, when they led 1-4 to 0-6, as a result of the illness.

Whether a fully fit Donegal would have went on to win is debatable. They certainly lacked the sort of energy and drive required to repel Dublin’s attacks and come bursting out of defence.

They still held a two point, 1-6 to 0-7 lead after 44 minutes but Gary Sweeney’s terrific solo goal, after David Quinn’s timely lay off, put Dublin back in the driving seat.

From there, Jim Gavin’s team summoned up the sort of character that saw them earn extra-time victories over Louth and Carlow in the Leinster Championship.

They moved two clear by injury time with scores from Ciaran Dorney, Rock and sub Barry O’Rorke and held out, even if Murphy let them off the hook with his penalty miss. Nobody was blaming the big man though.

“He’s a credit to his club, family and county and he’s done nothing but good for his county,” said manager McGuinness. Gavin echoed the sentiments. “Penalties are unpredictable and I do feel disappointed for Murphy.”

The Glenswilly man is still only 20 and has a long career ahead to redeem himself. Lots of Dubs will surely get Pat Gilroy’s nod too. O’Carroll is well placed to sort out Dublin’s full-back problems while Gary Sweeney’s pace and invention would lend precious craft to the senior half-forward line.

Dublin’s last winning U21 team in 2003 spawned Alan Brogan, Paul Griffin, Conal Keaney and Bryan Cullen. Others from the current crop who can potentially make it are Darragh Nelson, James McCarthy, Nicky Devereux, Ciaran Dorney and Rock. “We played a very controlled game,” said Gavin. “Sticking to a gameplan has been one of their hall marks. I suppose they’ve got ice in their veins.”

Just what’s needed for the white heat of senior battle at Croke Park.

DUBLIN: V Whelan; E Culligan, R O’Carroll, D Nelson; J Cooper, S Murray, N Devereux (0-1); J McCarthy, C Mullins; C Dorney (0-1), M Coughlan (0-1), G Sweeney (1-1); R McCarthy (0-1), T Furman, D Rock (0-4; 3f).

Subs: D Quinn, Lucan Sarsfields for McCarthy ht, C Reddin for McCarthy 38, B O’Rorke (0-1) for Furman 44, S McGuinness for Nelson 49, N Brogan for Dorney 64.

DONEGAL: P Boyle; P McGrath, D Walsh, C Boyle; K Mulhern, D Curran, E Doherty; C Classon, L McLoone (1-0); A McFadden, D Molloy (0-5; 4f), T McKinley; D Curran, M Murphy (0-2; 1f), M McHugh.

Subs: C Morrisson (0-1) for McFadden & D Murphy for McKinley 29, C McGinley for Carroll 54, S O’Kennedy for Curran 58.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).