Dublin defeat Fermanagh to progress to All-Ireland semi-finals
Sunday 2 August 2015 20:53, UK
Dublin are safely through to the All-Ireland semi-finals after outclassing brave Fermanagh by a score of 2-23 to 2-15 in an entertaining game at Croke Park.
Jim Gavin sprang a surprise prior to kick-off as Paddy Andrews and Dennis Bastic were both handed the opportunity to start in place of Michael Darragh Macauley and Kevin McManamon, who were both originally named in the starting line-up.
It was Andrews who opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he cut in from the left and pointed with his right before Sean Quigley quickly levelled with a fisted point.
That was as good as it got for Fermanagh however as Dublin seized control by kicking the next four scores.
Fermanagh’s packed defence proved no match for Dublin’s slick passing and the Leinster champions rattled off three points in a row from Ciarán Kilkenny (two) and Bernard Brogan before the game’s first goal arrived.
Jack McCaffrey picked up the ball deep in his own half and played a one-two before finding Brogan drifting in behind Niall Cassidy.
McCaffrey landed a wonderful, pin-point pass over Cassidy’s head which Brogan claimed before rifling the ball past Thomas Treacy and into the Fermanagh net.
Tomas Corrigan (twice) and Barry Mulrone pointed for Fermanagh but each score was quickly answered by Dublin as Diarmuid Connolly, Brogan and Kilkenny all raised white flags in reply.
Mulrone cut the deficit to five points with a well-taken score but that prompted Dublin to find another gear and they kicked five unanswered points to surge further ahead.
Points from Brogan and Dean Rock were followed by a majestic effort from Connolly where he sold a wonderful dummy before curling the ball over with his left foot from near the sideline.
Paul Flynn fisted over and Brogan added another score before Quigley stopped the rot for Fermanagh with a terrific point from 45 yards with the outside of his right boot.
But a recurring theme of the half was Dublin’s ability to halt any Fermanagh momentum in its tracks and they did so again as Rock kicked a score to send the Dubs in at the interval with a commanding ten-point lead.
The second-half allowed Jim Gavin to empty his bench and examine the wealth of options at his disposal ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final as Macauley and McManamon were introduced in the second-half in place of Bastic and Kilkenny.
While Kildare collapsed against Kerry earlier in the day, Pete McGrath’s Fermanagh are made of sterner stuff and while they may only have been playing for pride, they can certainly be proud of how battled in the second-half.
Quigley in particular was outstanding throughout and finished with a personal tally of 1-8.
His goal arrived in bizarre fashion on 62 minutes as Stephen Cluxton claimed an under-hit Fermanagh shot on the line and Quigley arrived to shove him over the line.
Referee Padraig O'Sullivan waved play on but, after vigorous protestations from Quigley, he consulted with his umpires and awarded the goal.
Dublin soon hit back with a wonderful team goal of their own as Brogan won the race to the ball before quickly laying the ball off to Rock who in turn teed up Flynn to palm into the net.
Tomas Corrigan capitalised on a mix-up in the Dublin defence at the death to nab a consolation goal for Fermanagh after Cluxton let the ball run into his path when he had the opportunity to clear.
Dublin will now face the winners of Mayo vs Donegal in the All-Ireland semi-final and the only concern for Gavin will be that his side has not had had to hit fifth gear once so far this season with their superiority easily apparent throughout the Leinster championship and again here today.
Dublin: S Cluxton, J Cooper, R O’Carroll, P McMahon, J McCarthy, C O’Sullivan, J McCaffrey, B Fenton (0-1), D Bastick, P Flynn (1-1), C Kilkenny (0-3), D Connolly (0-2), D Rock (0-7, 2f, 1 ’45), P Andrews (0-3), B Brogan (1-6).
Subs: MD Macauley for Bastick (ht), K McManamon for Kilkenny (ht), A Brogan for Connolly (48), M Fitzsimons for Cooper (50), J Small for McCarthy (56), C Costello for Andrews (66).
Fermanagh: T Treacy, M Jones, M O’Brien, N Cassidy, D McCusker, R McCluskey, J McMahon, E Donnelly, R O’Callaghan, B Mulrone (0-3), R Jones, R Corrigan, P McCusker, S Quigley (1-8, 4f), T Corrigan (1-2, 1f).
Subs: D Kelly for P McCusker (43), T Daly for M Jones (55), C Jones (0-2) for D McCusker (55), D Kille for R Corrigan (68).
Ref: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).
