Dublin delivered 'over and beyond' says joint manager Paul Casey

Dublin joint managers Derek Murray, left, and Paul Casey celebrate. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.

It's not often that it all comes together on All-Ireland final day but it did for Dublin.

"Over and beyond" was joint Dublin manager Paul Casey's summary of how just about every single Dublin player delivered.

Defensively, Dublin conceded just four points from play. At the other end, they had enough scores racked up to lead by 13 points after 23 minutes.

And all in what was the very first final contested under the new joint management of former Dublin footballers Casey and Derek Murray.

"We knew when we met them this morning that they were ready for it," said Casey.

"They had a pep in their step and they came into Croke Park bouncing. But it's nothing like the way they're going to leave here tonight!

"It's a day when you're hoping that all your big names and stars will turn up and give a performance and I think that they went over and beyond in terms of that. It was fantastic."

Dublin joint manager Paul Casey celebrates with his children Luke, age seven, and Lucy, age 4. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.

Truth be told, Dublin were there for the taking at times in this year's Championship. Certainly they lived on their wits, requiring a late, late Kate Sullivan score to draw with Waterford in Dungarvan.

Hannah Tyrrell bailed them out with her free from the edge of the men's 40m arc in the semi-final against Galway, forcing extra-time that evening.

And back on Leinster final day, Dublin had to reel off eight late points in a row to secure a four-point win, and the 12-in-a-row, at Meath's expense.

So this was by a long way their best display of the year.

"I think it was, yeah, absolutely," said Casey. "We saw it in patches before this. When we played Meath in Parnell Park back in the league, we were really, really good in that one.

"And I think the last game, the All-Ireland semi-final, brought us on a lot. We really had to dig deep that day. We probably didn't play the football we wanted to but we were just superb out there today.

"At times, their composure on the ball, the scores they got, their conversion rate must have been up around 80 percent. It was excellent.

"But I thought defensively, and when I talk about defensively I mean from number 15 back to Abby in goals, they were superb. The full-back line, Jess Tobin, Leah Caffrey, Niamh Crowley, all brilliant. Niamh Donlon we actually thought we had lost last weekend, she had a bit of a nick in her groin. So to go out and give that performance was superb.

"But it was all over the pitch. I think everybody played close to their best. To do that on this day of all days is very, very satisfying."

Casey had special praise for Player of the Match Orlagh Nolan. It was her first start of the year after an ACL injury last year.

"When we were up in Clonshaugh and Craobh Chiarain, in the dark and the muck, Orlagh was in the gym and working so hard to come back. She always did it with a smile on her face.

"Her composure on the ball out there at crucial times, she was superb. We saw that when she came on in the semi-final against Galway. She's a fantastic footballer, so hopefully she can put all those injury problems behind her."