Strong second half sees Dublin advance to All-Ireland semi-final

Dublin 0- 21 Cork 0 -10 Dublin with a strong second half showing overcame Cork by an 11 point margin in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park on Saturday evening in wet conditions.

Cormac Costello opened the scoring with Stephen Sherlock placing Cathail O’Mahony for Cork’s opening score. Lee Gannon added a quick point. In the 8th minute Dean Rock pointed a Dublin free, 0-3 to 0-1. Sherlock was denied a score by the post, then Dublin had two wides. Ciaran Kilkenny with a great point made it 0-4 to 0-1.

Brian Hurley had a very good point and he followed with another after good play by Cathail O’Mahony after 18 minutes. Sean Bugler pointed for Dublin. Good play by Sean Powter led to a Stephen Sherlock point as Cork came within a point, 0-5 to 0-4. Paddy Small had a point for Dublin that first struck the crossbar and then the post. Dean

Rock landed a free and the Dubs were 0-7 to 0-4 ahead.

Rock added another from a free. A foul on Cathail O’Mahony led to a Stephen Sherlock pointed free, as Dublin moved 0-9 to 0-5 ahead

Good play by Mattie Taylor and Cathail O’Mahony led to a foul with Sherlock pointing the free. Eoghan McSweeney had a very good point as Cork came back well before the break. In the closing moments Cormac Costello pointed and at halftime, Cork were in a good position trailing 0-10 to 0-7.

DUBS TOO STRONG

The expected push by Cork did not materialise in the second half. Dublin cut off the supply to the Cork attack and a mere 3 points in this half was just not enough. Dean Rock with three pointed frees had Dublin 0-13 to 0-7 ahead after 45 minutes. Further pressure saw Sean Bugler work well for Lee Gannon who made it double scores - 0-14 to 0-7.

Dean Rock added another free. Good play by Lee Gannon and Sean Bugler led to a point by Brian Fen

ton. Cork had to wait till the 25th minute of the second half for their first score when John O’Rourke pointed. Cathail O’Mahony pointed a Cork free as Dublin led 0-17 to 0-9. A foul on Dan Dineen led to another pointed free by O’Mahony.

Dublin added four more points without reply as they easily advanced to meet Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-10 (0-9f., 0-1 ‘mark’), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3, Lee Gannon 0-2, Brian Fenton 0-2, Sean Bugler 0-1, Aaron Byrne 0-1, Paddy Small 0-1, Cormac Costello 0-1.

Cork: Cathail O’Mahony 0-3 (0-2f), Stephen Sherlock 0-3 (0-1f., 0-1 ‘mark’), Brian Hurley 0-2, Eoghan McSweeney 0-1, John O’Rourke 0-1.

Cork team: Micheal A Martin (Nemo Rangers), Maurice Shanley

(Clonakilty), Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), Paul Ring (Aghabullogue), Sean Powter (Douglas), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Mattie Taylor (Mallow), Ian Maguire (St. Finbarr’s), Colm O’Callaghan (Eire Og), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), John Cooper (Eire), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown), Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarr’s), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven).

Subs: Dan Dineen (Cill na Marthra) for Eoghan McSweeney, Sean Meehan (Kiskeam) for Paul Ring, Brian Hayes (St. Finbarr’s) for Stephen Sherlock, Cian Kiely (Ballincollig) for John Cooper, Blake Murphy (St. Vincent’s) for Colm O’Callaghan.

Referee was Sean Hurson (Tyrone).