Gritty Dubs up ante to send Armagh packing

SUDDENLY the complexion of this Dublin football team has a much brighter hue.

It has been a summer pockmarked with criticisms, but many of those anxieties evaporated in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon as the host’s gritty display shunted Armagh out of this year’s Sam Maguire race.

There were only 25,947 souls present to witness this All-Ireland SFC Qualifier clash, a salient reminder that this duo are no longer the blockbuster attractions of old. But those home fans that made the journey were rewarded with a display which proved Pat Gilroy and company had the requisite stomach for a championship battle.

After stumbling to victories over Wexford and Tipperary, and being submerged by a Royal goal deluge in the provincial semi-final, this was easily the best Dublin championship display since last year’s Leinster final.

It was not a performance without faults, but eking out the right result in a tight encounter should pump confidence through the ranks. Matters were delicately poised when the teams were locked at 0-10 apiece with 12 minutes left, but Dublin’s closing kick was more powerful as they outscored Armagh by 0-4 to 0-1.

“I’m just relieved,” exhaled Dublin boss Gilroy afterwards.

“It might not have been that pleasing on the eye from the spectators points of view, but it was fierce competitive. When its knockout, there’s a different intensity to those games. We had to dig deep. It wasn’t a classic, but it’s great to come out on the right side of a game like that.

“The lads probably feel that their character has been questioned over the last six weeks and nobody liked that.

“But they have shown phenomenal attitude and you don’t get that kind of performance unless you put in the work off the field.”

Mental fortitude was at the core of Dublin’s win but they needed some football class as well. In that respect, they were fortunate to have Bernard Brogan in their ranks.

Brogan has elevated his performance levels this year, supplementing his natural forward play with a ferocious work ethic. But it was in his primary scoring role where he excelled, claiming nine points over the hour with five of those splendid efforts from play.

The Armagh defence found his mixture of ball-winning, assured kicking off both feet and a willingness to bear offensive responsibilities, impossible to handle.

“Everyone knows how good he is,” remarked Dublin captain David Henry afterwards.

“You often hear people say that there’s an over-reliance on Bernard. But if you have a player that good, you might as well give the ball to him.”

Brogan’s star is well-flagged and while Michael Darragh MacAuley is more of an emerging talent, his input on Saturday was no less significant.

MacAuley is a great robust presence at midfield, who covers the park well and thunders forward at speed when in possession. It was no coincidence that Armagh boss Paddy O’Rourke whipped both of his starting midfielders off before the finish.

Elsewhere Stephen Cluxton’s precise kickouts were again key in enabling Dublin retain possession, Rory O’Carroll did a terrific job in placing the shackles in Steven McDonnell, while Michael Fitzsimons and Kevin Nolan gave solid defensive showings. Yet it would not have taken much for Armagh to triumph here. O’Rourke lamented the absence of the injured Ronan Clarke afterwards and he certainly would have been a massive addition.

However a bigger regret occurred in the 62nd minute when Brian Mallon’s measured shot for goal beat Cluxton but not the outstretched leg of the covering Philly McMahon. With McDonnell missing the resultant 45 and Dublin tapping over two quick points in succession, that goal chance was a defining moment.

“It’s very disappointing,” admitted O’Rourke.

“I believe we could have won the game and if Brian’s goal had gone in I think we could have moved on. But you have to give the corner back great credit for his endeavour to get back and clear the ball. It didn’t happen for us and we’re out of the championship.”

Armagh controlled the early stages and they moved 0-6 to 0-2 ahead by the 27th minute after an outrageous long-range score by Malachy Mackin. But crucially they ceded that advantage before the break when Dublin rattled off four points to draw level and the Orchard men could never scale those early heights again.

Their ploy of clogging their defence with bodies paid a dividend in the form of the authority Ciaran McKeever and Aaron Kernan were able to exert on proceedings. But they struggled at midfield and their inside marksmen of McDonnell and Jamie Clarke suffered from their isolation. Both players fought to secure possession yet they lacked support at vital junctures during the second half to notch the scores they needed.

In contrast Dublin produced a rounded team display which featured a judicious use of their substitutes. Kevin McManamon, Paul Flynn and Eamonn Fennell all registered a point upon their introduction, while Paddy Andrews produced a marvellous defensive steal near the end. Those were all positive signs for Pat Gilroy to observe and he will bring his team forward next weekend in an upbeat mood.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; K Nolan, G Brennan, B Cahill; MD Mcauley, R McConnell; D Henry (capt), A Brogan, B Cullen; N Corkery, B Brogan, E O'Gara.

Subs used: K McManamon for O'Gara (half-time), E Fennell for Corkery (46 mins), P Flynn for Henry (55), D Magee for McConnell (59), P Andrews for Cullen (64).

Dublin Scorers: Dublin: B Brogan 0-9 (0-4f), S Cluxton (0-1 '45'), K McManamon, P McMahon, P Flynn, E Fennell 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, B Donaghy, V Martin; P Duffy, C McKeever, F Moriarty; C Vernon, K Toner; M Mackin, A Kernan, G Swift; B Mallon, S McDonnell (capt), J Clarke.

Subs used: J Feeney for Toner (35+3 mins), J Lavery for Mackin (52), C Vernon for B Mallon (68).

Armagh Scorers: S McDonnell 0-5 (0-3f), C McKeever, A Kernan (0-1f), J Clarke, B Mallon, M Mackin, J Feeney 0-1 each

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).