CORK 0-21 DUBLIN 2-14
The wait goes on . . . . as Dublin missed out on a great chance to capture the NFL Division 1 title for the first time since 1993 in front of an attendance of 36,348 at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
Five minutes into the second half the Dubs had put themselves in the driving seat when leading 2-12 to 0-10 but the Rebels came with a storming, yet composed, drive for the finish line to edge out Dublin by the minimum in an exciting finish.
Not dissimiliar to last August’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final Cork’s greater strength in depth, self-belief, and assuredness saw them to the winners enclosure as the Dubs tied up over the conclusion of the game.
Dublin led 1-10 to 0-10 at half-time – it was a lead by they had extended to eight points five minutes after the restart with Kevin Nolan slotting an excellent individual point and when Bernard Brogan struck Dublin’s second goal which was quickly followed by a Diarmuid Connolly point the Dubs moved 2-12 to 0-10 clear.
But Cork got on a run which was only occasionally interupted by Dublin while the loss of Bernard Brogan through injury and Bryan Cullen took massively from the attack.
If Dublin were panicky over the close of the second half they put in an excellent opening 35 minutes with Kevin McManamon particularly impressive. The Dublin defence was resolute and on three occasions in the first half stripped Cork of possession to inititate moves which culminated in scores at the other end.
The only goal of the opening half came in the seventh minute when Bernard Brogan turned Michael Shields at the Davin Stand end before placing corner-forward team-mate Tomas Quinn who fired to the net. It was the dream start to a day that ended in familiar nightmare in Croke Park.
SCORERS – Cork: C Sheehan, D Goulding (0-2f) 0-4 each, P O’Neill, P Kelly, D O’Connor (0-1f) 0-3 each, J O’Sullivan, N O’Leary, F Goold, F Lynch 0-1 each. Dublin: B Brogan 1-3 (0-1f), T Quinn 1-2, K McManamon 0-5, D Connolly 0-2, B Cahill, K Nolan 0-1 each.
CORK – K O’Halloran; M Shields, R Carey, J O’Sullivan; P Kissane, J Miskella, N O’Leary; A O’Connor, P O’Neill; C Sheehan, P Kelly, F Goold; D Goulding, D O’Connor, P Kerrigan. Subs: F Lynch for F Goold (inj 26), D O’Sullivan for Miskella (inj 28), D Goold for Kerrigan (inj 35+2), N Murphy for A O’Connor (65).
DUBLIN – S Cluxton; P McMahon, P Brogan, M Fitzsimons; B Cahill, G Brennan, K Nolan; D Bastick, MD Macauley; P Flynn, K McManamon, B Cullen; T Quinn, D Connolly, B Brogan. Subs: D Daly for Cullen (inj 47), P Burke for B Brogan (inj 50), D Kelly for Connolly (inj 54), P Andrews for Daly (63), D Lally for Cahill (72).
REF – J McQuillan (Cavan).
