Dubs face the Kingdom in first final for 16 years

Dublin 0-08 Donegal 0-06

The relief was palpable for Dublin at the end of this poor quality All-Ireland SFC semi-final, as they made it through to their first All-Ireland SFC final since 1995.

The Dubs produced their worst display of the year, scoring their first point from play in the 60th minute and struggling to cope with Donegal’s hard-hitting defence.

Trailing 0-6 to 0-5, the Leinster champions had Diarmuid Connolly sent-off for a striking offence in the 58th minute and were in danger of slipping to their fifth defeat in as many All-Ireland semi-finals.

However, a tiring Donegal side lost the initiative in the closing stages. Ultimately, it was a run of late points from influential substitute Kevin McManamon, Bryan Cullen and Bernard Brogan that booked Dublin’s place in the September 18 decider against Kerry.

Any casual observers would have been forgiven for wondering how each of these teams made it this far in the Championship, such was the turgid fare served up in the opening half.

Given the sides’ dependency on packing the defences and almost mechanical tactical approach, it was no surprise that it quickly developed into such a low-scoring, unimaginative game.

Donegal showed slightly more composure, amid a flurry of hand passes, and deserved their 0-4 to 0-2 lead at the break. Ryan Bradley and Kevin Cassidy scored the only two points from play.

Dublin hit a number of wides in the opening 35 minutes, with Alan Brogan responsible for four of them. His brother Bernard converted two frees as Donegal simply strangled the life out of the Dubs’ attack.

Eamonn McGee, Christy Toye and David Walsh were all added to the Donegal team before the throw-in, before which a heavy rain shower eased off.

Stephen Cluxton and Michael Murphy both missed long range frees in a cagey opening, and Alan Brogan also hurried a shot from the right.

Colm McFadden, who was operating further out the pitch, opened the scoring from a ninth minute free. Dublin looked nervous and Bernard Brogan was called back for an earlier foul after he drew a goal chance wide.

A loose challenge by Neil McGee allowed Bernard Brogan draw the Dubs level from a free, and the scrappy nature of the game continued.

Both sides were guilty of coughing up possession through poor passing and pressure from the opposition. Donegal won another placed ball for their captain Murphy but he was well off target.

Scoring chances were few and far between in a dour, tactical tussle, McFadden pulling a ‘45’ to the left and wide and Bernard Brogan dropping an opportunist effort short.

Toye lacked support as he raided forward on the right and Alan Brogan sent another shot wide from the right, having raced onto a breaking ball.

Ger Brennan and Bernard Brogan both dropped shots short of the posts, before Bradley brilliantly curled over the first point from play in the 24th minute.

Bernard Brogan won and pointed a free to make it 0-2 apiece, but Donegal were winning more possession, particularly in midfield. Cassidy, their late scoring hero against Kildare, sliced over his side’s second point from play.

In between two more wayward attempts from Alan Brogan, the Ulster champions broke downfield for McFadden to flick over for a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

The poor decision making and shooting continued in the lead up to half-time, as Murphy struck Donegal’s fifth wide and Diarmuid Connolly and free-taking goalkeeper Cluxton missed the target at the other end.

After the worst half of senior football in recent memory, things simply had to improve in the second period. Thankfully, they did.

Some superb approach work by Murphy created an immediate scoring opportunity for McFadden, who blazed over Cluxton’s crossbar when a goal was there for the taking.

Playing in towards the Hill 16 end, Dublin pushed on and Paul Flynn kicked their ninth wide before Cluxton converted a much-needed free.

McFadden sent over a peach of a free in response, making it 0-6 to 0-3. Dublin were still scoreless from play, but Brogan tagged on his third point free to squeeze the deficit back to two points.

Donegal were growing more cynical in their attempts to slow down the play and break up Dublin’s momentum. However, they could only watch as Cluxton slotted a ‘45’ in the 54th minute to bring the margin down to the minimum.

Influential substitute Kevin McManamon then had a goal ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Paul Durcan as he challenged for a high ball.

Dublin were building for a big finish, but they suffered a serious setback when Connolly received a straight red card for shoving Marty Boyle in the face, having only just won a free.

Nonetheless, there was a growing sense amongst the 81,436 spectators that this was now Dublin’s game to win. McManamon launched over their first point from play to provide further inspiration.

With David Walsh and Michael Hegarty kicking wides, Donegal had clearly lost their way. They were held scoreless over the closing 30 minutes, as Dublin gradually seized control.

Pat Gilroy’s men edged ahead at 0-7 to 0-6 thanks to a Cullen point from the right, after a terrific block by Paddy McGrath on substitute Eoghan O’Gara.

Five minutes later, Brogan fired over a close-in free to put two points between the sides and there could have been more scores - McManamon had a shot-cum-pass saved by Paul Durcan, and Cluxton hit Dublin’s tenth wide in injury-time.

The performance may have been lacking - Dublin are somehow through to the final despite scoring only two points from play - but the result was all that mattered for Gilroy and his hard-working troops.

Scorers: Dublin: Bernard Brogan 0-4 (0-4f), Stephen Cluxton 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 ‘45’), Kevin McManamon, Bryan Cullen 0-1 each

Donegal: Colm McFadden 0-4 (0-2f), Ryan Bradley, Kevin Cassidy 0-1 each

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Cian O'Sullivan, Rory O'Carroll, Michael Fitzsimons; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Kevin Nolan; Denis Bastick, Michael Darragh Macauley; Paul Flynn, Barry Cahill, Bryan Cullen (capt); Alan Brogan, Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan.

Subs used: Philly McMahon for O’Carroll (26 mins), Kevin McManamon for Cahill (half-time), Eoghan O’Gara for McCarthy (61), Eamon Fennell for Bastick (65), Ross McConnell for Flynn (67).

DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn; Anthony Thompson, Karl Lacey, Kevin Cassidy; Eamonn McGee, Rory Kavanagh; Mark McHugh, David Walsh, Ryan Bradley; Christy Toye, Michael Murphy (capt), Colm McFadden.

Subs used: Michael Hegarty for Toye (half-time), Marty Boyle for Lacey (42 mins), Martin McElhinney for Hegarty (64), Paddy McBrearty for Boyle (67).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)