Cork fightback denies Dublin

Dublin 2-14 Cork 0-21

Cork retained their NFL Division One title in a dramatic finish at Croke Park, where they came from eight points behind to deny the Dubs.

Pat Gilroy’s side appeared to be on their way to a first league crown since 1993 when they led comfortably with 15 minutes to play, but their challenge fell apart as the resurgent Rebels took control and shot a string of glorious points in the closing stages to win by one.

The Dubs got off to a wonderful start with a goal after just six minutes. Bernard Brogan got the better of marker Michael Shields to pick out Tomas Quinn at the far post, and the St Vincent’s man made no mistake from close range.

The pair combined again moments later to set up another goal chance, but this time ‘keeper Ken O’Halloran was quickly off his line to deny Quinn.

Dublin stretched the advantage with points from Brogan, Kevin McManamon and Diarmuid Connolly, but Cork finally settled to get some attacking momentum going, with Alan O’Connor and Pearse O’Neill beginning to get on top of the midfield battle.

Points from Daniel Goulding, Fintan Goold and corner back Jamie O’Sullivan had them level by the 19th minute, and they took the lead through Paddy Kelly in the 24th minute.

They suffered a double blow with the loss of Fintan Goold and John Miskella through injury, and two McManamon scores and a Barry Cahill effort helped Dublin to a 1-10 to 0-10 lead at the break.

The Dubs turned the screw when the deadly duo combined again, this time Quinn providing the delivery which Brogan collected to rifle home a brilliant goal.

Connolly stretched the advantage to eight, and the Dubs fans in the 36,438-strong crowd were in fine voice.

Ciaran Sheehan led Cork’s anticipated fightback with a couple of long range points, but with Barry Cahill and Paul Brogan defending superbly, they struggled to claw back the deficit.

All that changed, however, in the final 12 minutes, when Noel O’Leary, Donncha O’Connor and Kelly all drilled over points to narrow the gap, before substitute Fiachra Lynch shot a 62nd minute leveller.

Quinn missed a couple of straightforward frees as Dublin’s challenge imploded, not helped by the loss of Bernard Brogan through injury.

Cork: K O’Halloran, R Carey, M Shields, J O’Sullivan (0-1), N O’Leary (0-1), J Miskella, P Kissane, A O’Connor, P O’Neill (0-3), P Kerrigan, P Kelly (0-3), F Goold (0-1), D Goulding (0-4, 2f), D O’Connor (0-3, 1f), C Sheehan (0-4).

Subs: F Lynch (0-1) for Goold, D O’Sullivan for Miskella, D Goold for Kerrigan, N Murphy for A O’Connor

Dublin: S Cluxton, M Fitzsimons, P Brogan, P McMahon, B Cahill (0-1), G Brennan, K Nolan (0-1), D Bastick, MD Macauley, B Cullen, K McManamon (0-5), P Flynn, B Brogan (1-3, 0-1f), D Connolly (0-2), T Quinn (1-2).

Subs: D Daly for Cullen, P Burke for B Brogan, D Kelly for Connolly, P Andrews for Daly, D Lally for Cahill.

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)