Cork 0-21 Dublin 2-14:A massive sense of déjà vu, a scrap in the tunnel, worrisome knocks to key players and a barrage of scoring ultimately resulted in Cork retaining their national league title at the expense of Dublin at Croke Park this afternoon.
It almost felt like a championship duel. It certainly feels like Dublin are yet to digest the lessons of last years All-Ireland semi-final defeat to the same opposition.
On 61 minutes Cork's superior strength in depth hauled in an eight-point deficit.
Bernard Brogan was gone off with an injured hamstring so the response was led by Kevin McManamon’s non-stop endeavour earning them a kickable free to the right of the posts. Tomás Quinn put it wide into a silent Hill 16.
Moments later, down the Canal end, Ciarán Sheehan put Cork ahead with his fourth point.
There was more drama. In the last minute of normal time, Quinn had another free to level it. He missed again.
The All-Ireland champions simply know how to win these type of encounters after years of jousting with Kerry.
But to the full story.
An entertaining first half was notable for a spread of decent scores from 12 different men but, with the bigger picture in mind, Cork’s injury concerns appear to have deepened. Fintan Goold was forced off after crumbling under a heavy challenge from Dublin centre back Ger Brennan – Cork were awarded a free by referee Pat McQuillan but replays indicated a textbook shoulder to shoulder – yet the major concern was the seemingly innocuous collapse of John Miskella. The veteran defender was assisted from the field.
Bernard Brogan was another to pull up as he felt a twinge in his once troublesome hamstring forcing an early departure on 50 minutes.
The major talking point over the coming days, however, occurred off the field as Philly McMahon and Michael Shields came to blows in the tunnel at half-time.
Dublin, as is their custom, went for the jugular early. With a point apiece, the ball went to Bernard Brogan, who feinted inside before powering around Shields. The crowd sensed a green flag and it followed seconds later when Brogan fed Tomás Quinn.
Dublin were in rampant mood with Quinn, Brendan McManamon, Brogan and enigmatic Diarmuid Connolly points putting them into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead.
The defending champions did eventually find their rhythm with four unanswered points in three minutes by Daniel Goulding (2), wandering corner back Jamie O’Sullivan and Fintan Gould exposing Dublin’s inability to get control of high balls around midfield.
Cork even took the lead from Patrick Kelly’s excellently struck second point but a blitz of four scores before the break from McManamon (2), Quinn and Barry Cahill gave Dublin a three point interval lead, 1-10 to 0-10.
And they appeared to have ended an 18-year wait for their first league title when Brogan again fended off Shields’ attentions for a goal two minutes into the second-half. It was sandwiched between Kevin Nolan and Connolly scores.
Cork were never going to roll over. Sure enough, entering the last quarter with Brogan, Connolly and captain Bryan Cullen replaced, Donnacha O’Connor sprung to life with two scores followed quickly by another from Kelly to make it a one-point game.
It was Cork sub Fiachra Lynch who put drew the sides level on 62 minutes.
Dublin had not scored for 20 minutes.
Sheehan was at the end of the winning score but Dublin had long since lost control of this contest. In direct contrast, Cork yet again proved themselves a team that always play to the death.
Cork: K O'Halloran; R Carey, M Shields (capt), J O'Sullivan (0-1); N O'Leary (0-1), J Miskella, P Kissane; A O'Connor, P Kerrigan; P O'Neill (0-2), P Kelly (0-3), F Gould (0-1); D Goulding (0-3, 1f), D O'Connor (0-3. 1f), C Sheehan (0-4). Substitutions: D O'Sullivan for J Miskella (22 mins), F Lynch (0-1) for F Goold (25 mins), D Goold for P Kerrigan (35 mins), N Murphy for A O'Connor (64 mins).
Dublin: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, P Brogan, P McMahon; B Cahill (0-1), G Brennan, K Nolan (0-1); D Bastick, MD Macauley; P Flynn, K McManamon (0-5), B Cullen (capt); B Brogan (1-2), D Connolly (0-2), T Quinn (1-3). Substitutions: D Daly for B Cullen (46 mins), P Burke for B Brogan (50 mins), D Kelly for D Connolly (54 mins).
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).