Senior footballers book semi-final berth after intense battle

DUBLIN 1-14 TYRONE 0-14

Dublin booked their place in the All-Ireland semi-final with this very hard-earned All-Ireland SFC quarter-final Group 2 Phase 2 clash in Healy Park, Omagh on Saturday.

The Dubs face Roscommon in two weeks' time in their concluding group game while Donegal host Tyrone in Ballybofey.

It was a frenetic, physical contest from start to finish. A thundering early shoulder on Cian O'Sullivan set the tone for the physical stakes and as a contest it did not disappoint with some excellent defending and scoring by both counties.

Such was the intensity both sides made uncharacteristic mistakes also and Dublin will come away knowing the execution at times let them down, particularly in the hand-passing department as on several occasions they lost the ball in attack and Tyrone countered very effectively to punish them.

Dublin led 0-7 to 0-5 at the half-time interval. The crucial goal game five minutes into the second-half when James McCarthy made a surging run to link up with his midfield partner Brian Fenton. His initial shot was saved by Niall Morgan but the Ballymun Kickhams man reacted brilliantly to fist the rebound to the net.

At one stage of the second half Dublin pushed the lead out to six points but Tyrone came at Dublin in swarms late on and reduced the deficit to just two points and they also missed a pressure free (Ronan O'Neill) before the Dubs broke forward for sub Paul Flynn to settle the nerves with a point.

Dublin held strong in the face of much late Tyrone pressure with Jonny Cooper in particular emerging in possession on a number of occasions.

The early exchanges were nip and tuck with Dean Rock and Peter Harte sharing the first four scores.

With the tactical battle being played out it was no major surprise that attacking defenders should contribute to the scoring tally with Jack McCaffrey and Philly McMahon both slotting stylish points for the Dubs. John Small also got in on the scoring act in the opening half.

Backs doing the scoring and forwards defending brilliantly, it was that type of modern game. No Dublin forward though tackled as well as Paul Mannion who put in two crucial first half dispossessions deep in his own defence while the likes of Brian Howard ran himself into the ground to contribute to both Dublin's defensive and attacking game.

On one such occasion the Kilmacud Crokes man took the ball off Cathal McShane in the danger zone and Dublin moved into attack mode for McMahon to stick a point over the bar from near 45 metres with the outside of his right boot.

After 30 minutes a Dean Rock free moved Dublin 0-6 to 0-3 clear before Tyrone game back at them.

"Tonight was all about coming up to Omagh and getting a result," said Dublin manager Jim Gavin.

"We're in a group format so two points means a lot to whoever could get it tonight. We're just glad we got it.

"Will that performance be good enough going forward? I'm not too sure.

"But we just enjoyed the experience, fantastic Tyrone crowd, fantastic Dublin crowd, everything on the line, two teams going hard at it, I'm sure it made for really good viewing as well so I'm sure everyone will be happy.

"You just look at the Tyrone team, they've got class players, the scores they've been putting up in games has been phenomenal. That's just the work that Mickey has done with the boys.

"I think every team enjoys going on the road. We certainly do anyway and our supporters do. We were passing them by on the bus up there today and they seemed to be all having a good time which is great for them, and great for the economy as well. It's a great format, there are eight teams getting more games as well.

"But there are 24 other teams on the island whose season is finished so maybe that's something for the off-season."

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-6 (0-4f), J McCarthy 1-0, C Kilkenny 0-2, B Howard, P McMahon, K McManamon, J Small, J McCaffrey, P Flynn 0-1 each. Tyrone: P Harte 0-3 (0-2f), C McAliskey (0-1 '45'), C McShane, K McGeary 0-2 each, M Bradley, F Burns, M McKernan, T McCann, H Loughran 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; J Cooper, P McMahon, E Murchan; J Small, C O’Sullivan, J McCaffrey; J McCarthy, B Fenton; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, B Howard; P Mannion, D Rock, C Kilkenny. Subs: C Costello for Mannion (46), K McManamon for Scully (51), M Fitzsimons for McMahon (58), P Flynn for Howard (60), D Daly for Small (65), MD Macauley for McCarthy (68),

TYRONE: N Morgan; M McKernan, R McNamee, HP McGeary; T McCann, M Donnelly, F Burns; C Cavanagh, P Hampsey; N Sludden, P Harte, C Meyler; C McShane, R Donnelly, C McAlliskey Subs: R Brennan for McNamee (34), M Bradley for McAlliskey (52), K McGeary for Burns (53), D McClure for Cavanagh (60), H Loughran for Meyler (65), R O’Neill for Sludden (71).

REF: D Coldrick (Meath).