All-Ireland Under-21 semi-final: Not the most dazzling of games to get the Tommy Lyons show back on the road but with an All-Ireland title just one victory away, Dublin's trip to Thurles yesterday fulfilled its purpose. A win is a win, as Lyons likes to say, and it was a test that will stand to his Dublin team when they meet Tyrone in two weeks' time.
Defeat was always going to be far less traumatic for Waterford. Yet they proved capable of competing at this level, and despite playing catch-up for almost the entire game the Munster champions never let Dublin run away with it, nor were fazed in any way. And this in their first venture outside the province in the under-21 grade.
What did make the difference on the day, though, was Dublin's extra bit of class in the key positions - most notably Alan Brogan at corner forward, Declan O'Mahony at midfield, and across their defence. Brogan ended up with 1-3 and O'Mahony wasn't far behind, claiming 1-2.
With a five-month lay-off since claiming the Leinster title, there was the possibility of some loose cracks appearing, and yet for the most part Dublin handled the best Waterford could throw at them over the 60 minutes of play, bar a few temporary scares in the defence. They led by seven points at half-time, and the nine-point margin at the end was a fair reflection of their dominance.
As a spectacle, though, it clearly wasn't helped by the rain that fell intermittently, and both sides had their problems adapting to the slippery conditions. Especially after the summer just past. Dublin were aided in that regard, too, with the greater spread of the more physical players, who could hold on to possession when free-flowing movement simply wasn't an option.
Afterwards Lyons admitted it hadn't been an easy ride and yet it was the sort of performance he wanted ahead of an All-Ireland final.
"We worked awful hard for it," he said, "but it was that sort of game. I thought the intensity of the battle out there was fantastic, from both teams. We got the breaks, we won't hide from that, but we also took the scores well. So overall I thought we were the better team, and more composed in really awful conditions.
"And we did kick some great scores in the second half to really pull away. And all the lads gave every ounce of energy they had out there. We'd a lot of heroes, and not just the likes of Alan Brogan, who you would expect to perform in game like that."
In terms of those breaks, Dublin can look to all three of their goals, none of which was a classic, but which did loosen any grip Waterford might have hoped to have gained on the game.
Declan Lally collected the first on 12 minutes, but Brogan's was the real killer, coming just before half-time. O'Mahony claimed his goal largely fortuitously some seven minutes from time and that merely destroyed any hopes of a late Waterford fightback akin to their wins over Cork and Kerry.
At times, though, Dublin's movement on and off the ball was impressive, particularly in the forward line. Conal Keaney was busiest in the first half when collecting two points, as were Graham Cullen and Liam Og Ó hEineachain, but it was Brogan who delivered the most consistent performance, never once drifting out of the game.
Certainly for the first 10 minutes there was nothing between the sides. Brogan tipped Dublin in front with a sweetly taken point after five minutes, and Nathan Kane popped up from corner back shortly afterwards to add their second. But Waterford soon had that balanced out, the first score from Bob Costelloe displaying the high level of commitment in the way he outran Paul Griffin. Billy Harty's opening free levelled it up.
Just as you sensed Dublin realised they had a real battle on their hands Lally's goal started to send the game out in one direction. Harty's free-taking helped to keep Waterford in touch but well before half-time Dublin appeared the likely winners.
Brogan's goal just added weight to that theory.
The worst period for Dublin was the first 15 minutes of the second half, where they failed to score, but Waterford were limited to a goal from Shane Walsh in that same period.
Another class score for Brogan resumed normal service for Dublin, and they closed out the game without any undue pressure. O'Mahony's goal on 53 minutes spelled the end for Waterford, the worst part of it being how it slipped hopelessly through the hands of goalkeeper David Hickey.
"Dublin were the better team overall," said Waterford manager Pat Nugent. "Their goals came at the worst time for us, and the one before half-time was the vital one. But we expected to win centrefield, or at least break even, and we just didn't do that. The conditions didn't suit us either, and it was the first time we played in the rain this year."
Waterford do have eight of the team back next year, and this defeat won't hide what has been a breakthrough summer for football in the county.
DUBLIN: P Copeland; N Kane (0-1), M Fitzpatrick, P Griffin; N Cooper, B Cullen, C Prenderville; D O'Mahony (1-2, one sideline), P Brennan; C Keaney (0-2), L Óg Ó hEineachain, D Lally (1-0); A Brogan (1-3), G Cullen, J Noonan (0-2). Subs: D Murray for Cullen (26 mins), D Marshell for Ó hEineachain (51 mins), G Smith for Noonan (60 mins), M Lyons for Lally (61 mins).
WATERFORD: D Hickey; M Crotty, E Walsh, J O'Reilly; N Hennessy (0-1), E Rocket, J Hurney; S Dempsey, M Walsh; L Ó Lionnain (0-1), M Power, T Whelan; B Costelloe (0-1), S Walsh (1-1, one 45), B Harty (0-3, all frees). Subs: E Walsh for Costelloe (33 mins), P Behan for O'Reilly (42 mins), T Power for Power (47 mins), T Halpin for Harty (56 mins).
Referee: J McKee (Armagh)
