Calm Caffrey points to complacency as problem

One of these days Paul Caffrey might actually lose the run of himself and show some real emotion. If Dublin keep on winning the way they did yesterday he's going to find it harder and harder to stay so cool, calm and collected. But that's the Caffrey we got yet again after yesterday's Leinster semi-final win over Wexford.

Dublin's great start, unsteady voyage, and then spectacular landing certainly gave Caffrey much to think about, and probably fret about. Still, he only touched lightly on those emotions during the post-match interrogation under the still sweltering Hogan Stand.

"Yeah, up 0-7 to 0-2," said the Dublin manager, "I suppose a lot of the crowd thought we were in the Leinster final. Maybe that seeped down to the players, because we seemed to change our style of play a little. And we got our comeuppance for that.

"We went in the point down, but Wexford were good value for the last period of that half. They outfought us in the middle sector of the field, and it was a worry for us."

Whatever about Dublin's worries as the second half progressed, they were able to savour the final 10 minutes when they regained their hold on Wexford. Fitness appeared to be a crucial factor.

"I don't know if there's much variance in the fitness levels of teams at that stage of the competition. Everyone has the work done, so in terms of looking better for the last 10 or 15 minutes, it might be more about their heads going down after we got the goal at the Hill end.

"The only downside today is the loss of Stephen O'Shaughnessy. I thought he was magnificent again today until we lost him. He's shown the sort of consistency that we're looking to bring in to the Dublin jersey throughout the championship. Now he's up to Beaumont hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder. He's had problems with his shoulder before, so any injury to a player like that takes a lot away from a victory."

Not even the loss of Ciarán Whelan for those final 10 minutes was going unsettle Dublin's ship again. Caffrey was fair in his analysis of the sending off: "If the yellows accumulate you deserve what you get, but Ciarán is an honest player. He was going for it hard out there, but I was just glad others were able to shoulder in and lift the work-rate."

Senan Connell was introduced at half-time, just in time to witness Wexford produce their second goal - but yet the Na Fianna old-timer proved his value to the panel.

"The penalty was a killer blow for us," said Connell. "So to fight back from that did show some great character. In a way, we were lucky the second goal came so early in the second half because we had plenty of time."

Wexford manager Pat Roe must now take his team down that hard qualifier road, a journey he's clearly not looking forward to. "We're very, very disappointed," said Roe. "There was definitely a stage in that game when we were well on top, four points up. We just couldn't push on from there. Ultimately, a lot of Dublin scores came on the counterattack and from turnover balls.

"But you have to give credit to Dublin for that. It's hard to explain, though. We felt we prepared very well for the game. And, after giving Dublin a five-point start, we got right back into the game and were playing all the good football at one point in the second half. But at that crucial time when we should have shut the door we just couldn't do it."

Matty Forde scoring only 0-3 was clearly a large part of the problem. "Yeah, he was not himself," added Roe, "he didn't play well, not up to his usual standards. But I know he's bitterly disappointed. Ultimately, you have to show up for ball too, and make yourself available. Everyone worked tirelessly out there, but at a crucial time in the game someone has to step up and take hold of things, and we didn't have anyone to do that.

"Redmond Barry and David Fogarty had massive games, but it's gutting for us. PJ Banville was also out on his feet and we needed a fresh injection there. But none of those changes worked for us."