GAELIC GAMES:THE FOG which wrapped Croke Park in its claws on Saturday evening could have been a natural smokescreen for the acts which followed, providing a somewhat eerie precursor to a few hours where the clash of the ash mixed with the thump of the leather and – in between – teenage songsters rapped out their version of Ghostbusters.
As nights in the old ground went, this was a good one for Dublin GAA. Two wins over reigning All-Ireland champions – Anthony Daly’s hurlers edging out Tipperary by a point, Pat Gilroy’s footballers claiming an emphatic six-point win over Cork – in front of a crowd of 35,028 gave the so-called Spring Series of Allianz National League matches at Croke Park a start which left the hurling and football Dubs humming.
The only bum note as such was inflicted on one half of the Grimes twins known as Jedward, as John’s hair – usually a testament to the efficiency of hair spray – stubbornly refused to remain up. Instead, it flopped backwards, much to the amusement of his brother Edward, as Ireland’s Eurovision representatives performed their midpoint act between the two main events with a burst of energy normally reserved for a forward bearing down on goal.
In fairness to Jedward, they delivered the goods. But, more importantly for the home supporters, so too did Dublin on both fronts: the hurlers, with Conal Keaney’s contribution of 14 points of his side’s total of 1-16, earned a one-point win over All-Ireland champions to continue their unbeaten start to the NHL Division One campaign; the footballers, with last year’s player of the year Bernard Brogan providing the link play for all three of his side’s goals, emerged with a 3-13 to 0-16 win.
Dublin were hit before the match by the defection of midfielder Michael Darragh McAuley, who suffered from a digestive complaint which resulted in a call-up in for Barry Cahill who normally plays at wing-back. “Necessity is the mother of invention . . . they are falling like flies, our midfielders, at the moment,” remarked Dublin manager Gilroy of his decision to successfully draft Cahill into the midfield role.
In truth, the difference on the scoreline came from how the two team’s took – or didn’t take – the goal chances that came their way in a very open game of football that had players huffing and puffing. Tomás Quinn, Kevin McManamon in the first half and Cahill in the second grabbed Dublin’s fruitful haul of goals, while goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton twice pulled off fantastic saves from Pearse O’Neill and Donncha O’Connor in either half.
Cork manager Conor Counihan reckoned the difference between the two sides was “hunger”. As he put it, “hunger is a great tool to have in your box and those guys (Dublin) have that”.
Perhaps Counihan was recognising something that he had seen in his own squad these past few years before finding deliverance in reclaiming the Sam Maguire Cup last September. “We can’t have any excuses,” added Counihan.
Two wins from two games for Gilroy’s men, the job doesn’t get any easier. Next up at HQ next Saturday evening is Kerry. “There’s something different playing under lights in Croke Park, something special,” said Gilroy.
