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Dublin Lose Out in Triller

November 8, 2018

Senior hurlers go down after thrilling duel

14 Aug 2011 | hill16.ie

TIPPERARY 1-19 DUBLIN 0-18

Dublin’s memorable year came to something of a heroic conclusion at Croke Park in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final but morale victories will not console the Dubs as they pushed the reigning All-Ireland champions to their limit in a game that was in the balance until the final minutes.

The Dubs entered the game shorn of five players through injury but their attitude, intensity and gameplan saw them keep the game in the melting pot til its conclusion and this after a nighmare start.

Three minutes into this thrilling duel Lar Corbett showed his deadly poacher’s instinct when he capitalise on a nervous touch from Peter Kelly to finish the sliotar to the net.

However, Kelly’s confidence was not shot and he went on to have an excellent game at full-back including a terrific second half dispossession and long-rann ge point.

After the bodyblow of the early goal Dublin settled and points from Alan McCrabbe, Liam Rushe, Paul Ryan (free) and the outstanding Joey Boland had the sides level, 1-1 to 0-4 inside eight minutes.

With Johnny McCaffrey operating as an extra defender Dublin frustrated Tipp for the opening half while at the other end the aerial prowess of Liam Ryan and Liam Rushe, accuracy of Paul Ryan and never day die attitude of Ryan O’Dwyer often had the Premier men on the back foot.

The counties entered the break on level terms, 1-8 to 0-11, with Gary Maguire ending the half by making a superb save to deny Seamus Callanan after the Tipp attack moved with great potency through Noel McGrath and Corbett.

Tipp made the better restart to move 1-11 to 0-11 clear inside seven minutes but Dublin refused to bow or bend as points from Maurice O’Brien and two Ryan frees had Anthony Daly’s men back on leverl terms by the 46th minute.

As the half wore on Tipp’s half-back line began to dominate in terms of breaking ball across their half-back line as Noel McGrath and Padraic McGrath hit crucial second half scores as the workload undertaken by the Dubs began to take its toil.

Dublin really needed a goal to pull of a major shock but it never looked like materialising bar one late goalmouth scramble but in time will look back on their season as another step forward for hurling in the capital.

SCORERS – Tipperary: L Corbett 1-3, E Kelly 0-6 (0-3 ‘65s’, 0-2f), N McGrath 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Pádraic Maher, G Ryan 0-2 each, S McGrath, S Callanan, P Bourke (0-1f) 0-1 each. Dublin: P Ryan 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’), P Kelly, J Boland, A McCrabbe, R O’Dwyer, L Rushe, D O’Callaghan, L Ryan, M O’Brien, S Ryan 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY – B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; J O’Keeffe, C O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; G Ryan, S McGrath; N McGrath, S Callanan, Patrick Maher; E Kelly, J O’Brien, L Corbett. Subs: B Maher for Callanan (ht), P Bourke for Patrick Maher (56), B O’Meara for Ryan (65), S Bourke for Kelly (70), J O’Neill for O’Brien (73).
DUBLIN –  G Maguire; P Kelly, P Schutte, N Corcoran; M Carton, J Boland, S Durkin; J McCaffrey; L Rushe, C McCormack; D O’Callaghan, L Ryan, A McCrabbe; R O’Dwyer, P Ryan. Subs: M O’Brien for Cormack (ht), D Plunkett for McCrabbe (53), S Lambert for Schutte (63), S Ryan for L Ryan (65), P Carton for Durkin (73).
REF – C McAllister (Cork).
ATTENDANCE: 43,563.