Cork v Dublin player ratings: Outstanding Dalton set the tone for Cork
Cork’s Declan Dalton celebrates with his son DJ. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho
Outside of a casual puckout that led to Dublin’s second goal, was on point throughout. Cork’s first goal came from a trademark bomb on top of the opposing 20, while splendidly picked out the likes of Fitzgibbon and Dalton to run onto and point. Brilliant 18th-minute save from Fergal Whitely too. 8
Showed all his craft and guile here with a series of flicks, hooks and blocks, most notably when denying Ronan Hayes a goal shortly after halftime. Distribution was excellent as well, helping initiate Cork’s fourth goal. Probably the finest game he’s ever had in Croke Park, and one of his best ever in red. 9
Handled the bear around the square that was Hetherton to the point the St Vincent’s man had to be moved elsewhere. 7.5
Apart from giving away a free from the first ball that was played in his corner, was his customary solid self in keeping Seán Currie scoreless from play. 7.5
Let little through his line while distributed some wonderful forward-friendly ball into Hayes and Horgan. 8
Back close to his best, anchoring and directing the Cork backline, clearly the better for the month’s break after his season since the league final had been hampered by injuries. 7.
Another exhibition of decision-making on the ball, and also showed some steel to go with the style with some fine blocks. 8.5
Even before the goals – the one he created, then the two he goaled himself – he showed he was tuned in for this one, scoring from distance and getting in a couple of big tackles. 9
Quietly underlined just what a smart and silky hurler he is, with a tidy three points from play. 8
Brian Hayes’s flickdown wasn’t the only remarkable bit of skill in the lead in to Cork’s opening goal: Healy’s bounce-stick pass, a skill often taken for granted now but we or the game hadn’t seen prior to John Gardiner 2004, was on the money for Shane Barrett to offload to Hayes again. Could be the player that loses out to Seamus Harnedy should the St Ita’s man be fit to start in a fortnight but he’ll see action the same day. 7.5
The one Cork starter from midfield up who failed to score but though his radar was off with a series of poor first-half wides, his workrate wasn’t. Several scores came from turnovers, runs and pop passes that he produced. 7
Outstanding. Set the tone for the day with a monstrous free from range, bettered it with a point from play from the other wing 15 minutes later, and between that set up a goal and a couple of other points. Roamed everywhere, seems like he can score from anywhere. If Seamus Harnedy regains a starting spot for the final it won’t be at his Dalton’s expense. 9
Reminded us just what a creator as well as a finisher he is, and in the process, what a supreme hurler. Due to his delightful arrays of off-loads and flicks here, is just 15 days from shedding all those tags with ‘greatest’ and ‘never-yet to win an All Ireland’ for good. 8.5
After quietly taking his points in Munster, today the goals finally came. An avalanche of them. Six touches, five scores, three goals, but all from his movement. If he wasn’t dashing out in front of his man, he was darting behind him. Excellent. 9
Ingeniously initiated as well as finished the move for Cork’s opening goal with that deftest of flick-downs. That’s two consecutive All Ireland semi-finals now he’s been unmarkable. The trick now will be to replicate that form in this year’s final. 8.5
The game might have been already wrapped up when Pat Ryan started running his bench but none of that cavalry allowed Cork’s tempo to drop. Both Shane Kingston (7.5) and Conor Lehane (7.5) got on the scoresheet after earlier selflessly declining taking one on. Jack O’Connor (7) also registered a score, Robbie O’Flynn (7) assisted Alan Connolly’s third goal, while Tommy O’Connell (7) hounded any Dublin man in his vicinity.
Had to suffer the indignity of being the first man since Limerick’s Brian Murray back in 2009 to have to pick the ball out of the net six times in an All-Ireland semi-final; then it got worse as he had to do it for a seventh time. You could quibble that on the law of averages he could have maybe stopped one of them, but with his backline being overran as they were, which one? 6
Actually started quite well, being out ahead of Alan Connolly to a couple of balls, but then like everyone else in blue was overran and overwhelmed. 6
Wasn’t helped by the lack of protection he and his fullback line got but will be annoyed how the ball came back off him in the lead-up to one of the goals. Again, says you, which one? 5
Picked up an early yellow card for a foul on Patrick Horgan and while you could say more of his teammates could have taken such a measure to kill any goals at source, it came at a cost: after 14 minutes Níall Ó Ceallacháin calculated he couldn’t risk him any further against an already-rampant Cork. 5
Managed about as well as anyone in an overstretched backline, though even then will be annoyed by some ball he overshot during a period Dublin had nudged themselves back into the game. 6 CONOR McHUGH Whatever about Dublin, he was doing fine enough up until he had to go off injured after just 21 minutes. 6
Had the unenviable job of chasing Declan Dalton around Croke Park. Like almost everyone else in blue, came off second in his particular individual battle. 6
Pushed forward to score three points but the risk and downside of that was to leave all that space behind. The boldness that contributed to the Limerick ambush in a way also led to this trimming. 6
Another Dublin player who finished second best in his individual duel – as Timmy O’Mahony ghosted in behind him too often – and also in the battle with his namesake further down the field. 6
Couldn’t really get into the game and so at halftime was taken out of it, the first uncarded or uninjured Dub Ó Ceallacháin pulled ashore. 5
The leader of the first of several Dublin mini-rallies; in refusing to raise the white flag, forced the umpires to raise three of them. 7.5
Held scoreless by Ciarán Joyce before being replaced on 46 minutes. 6
Was game out and so duly finished with a game-high 2-5, all from play; no mean achievement in a shootout with so much firepower elsewhere. 7.5
With Cork being forewarned, made nothing like the impact he did the previous day out. Never relented though and fared better when he roamed further afield. 6
Failed to score from play but has to be credited for assisting both of his team’s goals. For the first one showed brilliant vision to feed O’Sullivan; then great audacity with a quick free to him reminiscent of Flynn to Mullane in the 2003 Munster final. 7
Just like their starters, were outplayed and outscored (0-4 to 0-1) by their Cork counterparts. David Lucey (6) and Darragh Power (6) were thrust in within the opening 20 minutes, while the damn had completely burst by the time Donal Burke (6.5), Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing (6) and Conal Ó Riain (6) were deployed to the scene.
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