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Dublin impress in opening gameof the league

November 8, 2018

Dubs make impressive opening to league campaign

03 Feb 2013 | hill16.ie

DUBLIN 1-18 CORK 2-9

Dublin opened their Allianz Football League account in impressive fashion when clinically accounting for Cork at Croke Park on Saturday night.

The new and the older players blended into a strong unit on the night and were full value for their victory despite keeper Stephen Cluxton making a couple of excellent saves.

Cluxton was also named as captain for the upcoming year and he once again illustrated just why he is so highly rated – not just denying Cork of goals on two occasions but some of the pinpoint accuracy from kickouts helped the Dubs get a foothold at centrefield.

It was also night to remember for league debutant Jack McCaffrey who kicked two superb points on the counter-attack as well as covering diligently in defence as did relative newcomer Johnny Copper and newcomer Kevin O’Brien.

The Dublin attack was lively from the first whistle with Paddy Andrews, Bernard Brogan and Diarmid Connolly combining to telling effect while Paul Flynn and Paddy Quinn toiled non-stop.

Andrews finished with five points from play to maintain his current good form and by the interval Dublin led 0-11 to 1-4.

The only real blot on the copybook was the lapse in concentration when allowed Cork’s Aidan Walsh combine with Colm O’Neill to strike a powerful shot past Cluxton in the 13th minute.

Eight minutes into the second half Dublin had a goal of their own when Philly Ryan was fouled for a penalty which Connolly despatched confidently to see the Dubs move 1-12 to 1-6 in front.

Just approaching the last quarter Cork were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty and Donncha O’Connor beat Cluxton from the spot.

Importantly Dublin rallied back with two points from Brogan (one free) to keep the Rebels at bay.

The Dubs face Kerry in Killarney next Sunday (February 10, 2pm) in their next match.

* Paul Mannion, who suffered concussion in the first half of Saturday night’s match which caused a six minute delay, has received the all-clear following medical examinations on Saturday night in Beaumont Hospital.

SCORERS – Dublin: B Brogan 0-6 (0-3f), P Andrews 0-5, D Connolly 1-2 (1-0 pen), J McCaffrey 0-2, MD Macauley, P Ryan, C O’Sullivan 0-1 each. Cork: D O’Connor 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), A Walsh 1-1, J O’Rourke 0-3, P Kerrigan 0-2, F Goold 0-1.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Daly, R O’Carroll, K O’Brien; J Cooper, G Brennan, J McCaffrey; MD Macauley, E O Conghaile; P Flynn, D Connolly, P Quinn; P Mannion, P Andrews, B Brogan. Subs: P Ryan for Mannion (inj 32), C O’Sullivan for Macauley (46), C Reddin for Quinn (54), D Nelson for Daly (63), S Carthy for O Conghaile (67).
CORK: K O’Halloran; J O’Sullivan, E Cadogan, D Cahalane; P Kissane, T Clancy (Clonakilty), T Clancy (Fermoy); A O’Sullivan, A Walsh; F Goold, J O’Rourke, P O’Neill; C O’Neill, D O’Connor, P Kerrigan. Subs: C Sheehan for P O’Neill (50), G Canty for Cahalane (50), A O’Connor for Goold (56), B O’Driscoll for Walsh (63).
REF: E Kinsella (Laois).
ATT: 28,693.