Costello fires senior footballers to victory over Louth

LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 5-21 LOUTH 0-10

Dublin opened their defence of the Leinster Championship with a comfortable 26-point victory over Louth in Saturday evening's provincial quarter-final at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise in front of an attendance of 14,380 (along with Meath v Carlow curtain-raiser).

Four of Dublin's goals came in the second half when despite the sending off of Paul Mannion they carved open the Wee County rearguard on several occasions.

Dublin will face the winner of the Kildare v Longford quarter-final in the semi-final, a double-header (along with Meath v Laois) in Croke Park on Sunday, June 9 - it is a game that could mark Stephen Cluxton's 100th Championship appearance.

Mannion was dismissed on a straight red card in the 25th minute having been influential for Jim Gavin's men to that point, kicking two fine points from play and working back the field to telling effect.

At that stage the Dubs were 1-7 to 0-3 to the good after slick interplay between the forward unit concluded with Con O'Callaghan finding the net.

From then to the half-time interval Cormac Costello converted five frees to bring his first half tally to nine points, eight frees and one '45', for Dublin to hold a 1-12 to 0-4 lead.

Con O'Callaghan was proving to be an excellent pivot in the Dublin attack and with the Whitehall Colmcille man clinical from deadball any Louth indiscretions were punished.

Costello concluded his evening, when replaced by championship debutant Seán Bugler in the 63rd minute, with a personal tally of 1-12 (0-10f, 0-1 '45') as well as several other positive contributions - his sole point from play coming after his initial free hit the right upright but he reacted quickest to fire the rebound over off his left foot.

Cormac's tally is the third highest ever by a Dublin player in a SFC match, coming in behind Johnny Joyce (5-3 v Longford, 1960) and John McCarthy (3-7 v Carlow, 1978).

Dublin didn't let up in the second half, far from it.

Within three minutes of the restart Costello had added two points, one a free, to extend the lead to 13 points.

Then came Dublin's second goal when Brian Fenton timed his run to perfection and finished with his left like an inside forward to make it 2-14 to 0-4.

Louth had one brief sighting of goal but wing-forward Conal McKeever blazed wide when travelling at pace.

The introduction of Rory O'Carroll drew a massive cheer as the Kilmacud Crokes defender returned to the Dublin colours.

Dublin's bench made a big impact over the concluding quarter with Michael Darragh Macauley raising Dublin's third green flag after terrific work by fellow sub Paddy Small.

Small impressed on his introduction, for Con O'Callaghan, in the 47th minute showing well as a target and moving the ball cleverly.

Philly McMahon, another sub, also got in on the scoring act with a goal in the 52nd minute after good graft from sub Kevin McManaman while the Kickhams man also sprayed some stylish passes to his inside forwards.

Four minutes later Costello brought his tally to 1-12.

McManamon had replaced Niall Scully in the 54th minute after the Templeogue Synge St forward had kicked 0-2 overall and put in a tireless shift while full-back Michael Fitzsimons tagged on a point before the finish.

SCORERS - Dublin: C Costello 1-12 (0-10f, 0-1 '45'), B Fenton 1-1, C O'Callaghan, P McMahon, MD Macauley 1-0 each, P Mannion, N Scully 0-2 each, C Kilkenny, P Small, K McManamon (0-1f), M Fitzsimons 0-1 each. Louth: E Burns 0-4 (0-2f), J McEneaney 0-2, C Downey, C McKeever, A McDonnell, E Callaghan 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Byrne, C O'Sullivan, M Fitzsimons; J McCaffrey, J Small, J McCarthy; B Fenton, D Gavin; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; P Mannion, C O'Callaghan, C Costello. Subs: MD Macauley for Gavin (40), P McMahon for O'Sullivan (40), R O'Carroll for McCaffrey (47), P Small for O'Callaghan (47), K McManamon for Scully (54), S Bugler for Costello (63).

LOUTH: F Sheeky; F Donohoe, E Carolan, J Craven; A Williams, B Duffy, J Clutterbuck; T Durnin, J Califf; C Downey, J McEneaney, C McKeever; A McDonnell, R Burns, D Byrne. Subs: D Corcoran for Donohoe (ht), S Mulroy for Byrne (ht), C Early for Califf (43), D Maguire for Clutterbuck (46), E Callaghan for Craven (bc, 54), E Duffy for McEneaney (60).

REF: J Henry (Mayo).