Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Dublin blow Cork away to reach 13th All Ireland semi-final in a row

A game of two halves for Dublin as they safely progressed to the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals where they will meet Kerry or Mayo on July 10.

Without stars James McCarthy and Con O'Callaghan, who reportedly suffered hamstring injuries recently, the hot favourites laboured in the first half of their last eight tie with Cork and took a three point lead into the break.

But it was a different story in the second half, when it took the Rebels 20 and a half minutes to register a score.

READ MORE: Dublin 0-21 Cork 0-10: Recap

By that time Dessie Farrell's side were completely out of sight as they brought a decisiveness in defence and attack and a clinical edge that was missing for large parts of the opening period.

After hitting five six half wides, the Dubs registered none after the interval and that will encourage Farrell.

Still, he will be concerned by how long it took his team to get going with a much stiffer test ahead as Dublin look to make amends for last year's semi-final loss to Mayo.

Certainly, skipper McCarthy and main dangerman O'Callaghan were missed after both reportedly suffered hamstring injuries in the run up.

In the opening period at least Cork proved stickier opponents than expected and, with Brian Hurley and Steven Sherlock allowed to menace Dublin's full back line, John Cleary's men stayed in the fight.

It could have been better for Cork but for a slow start, with Sherlock wasting some early opportunities to get points on the board.

But once Hurley came into the contest, switching flanks on occasion to keep Eoin Murchan guessing, the Rebels were much more competitive.

Between them, Sherlock and Hurley finished with five points for the opening half while the Dubs largely had Dean Rock (three frees) and Ciaran Kilkenny's two scores from play to maintain their momentum.

Dublin came back out as if they had been told a few home truths at the break and a number of their biggest names, such as Brian Howard and Niall Scully, stepped up their game.

Cork had to come out firing but instead had no answer to the blitz that followed as their opponents went up a couple of gears.

Rock quickly surpassed his first half tally from frees - he finished with eight in total, and converted a mark - but that early push from the Dubs quickly ended any prospect of an upset as Cork finished with 13 wides altogether.

Dublin: Evan Comerford; Eoin Murchan, Michael Fitzsimons, Lee Gannon (0-2); John Small, Jonny Cooper, Brian Howard; Brian Fenton (0-2), Tom Lahiff (0-1) Niall Scully, Sean Bugler (0-1), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-3); Cormac Costello (0-1), Dean Rock (0-9, 8fs, 1 mark), Paddy Small (0-1).

Replacements: Lorcan O'Dell for Bugler (53), Cian Murphy for Cooper (57), Aaron Byrne (0-1) for P Small (61), Eoghan O'Donnell for Murchan 68), Davy Byrne for J Small (70).

Cork: Micheal Martin; Maurice Shanley, Kevin O'Donovan, Paul Ring; Sean Powter; John Cooper, Rory Maguire, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Eoghan McSweeney (0-1), John O'Rourke (0-1); Cathal O'Mahony (0-3, 2fs), Steven Sherlock (0-3, 2fs), Brian Hurley (0-2).

Replacements: Daniel Dineen for McSweeney (49), Sean Meehan for Ring (49), Brian Hayes for Sherlock (54), Cian Kiely for Cooper (57), Blake Murphy for O'Callaghan 70).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)

READ NEXT

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.