Dublin forced to grind out result as they book quarter-final spot

Irish Daily Mirror

21-06-2025

Dublin 1-19 Cork 1-16Dublin are through to the last eight of the Championship for the 22nd consecutive season after grinding their way past Cork.It certainly wasn't the performance of champions in waiting from Dessie Farrell's side as they struggled for long periods of the first half and were behind as late as the 55th minute, but they outscored a plucky Cork outfit by 0-7 to 0-3 coming down the stretch with Seán Bugler and Cormac Costello top-scoring with 0-5 each and Paddy Small weighing in with 0-4.Chris Óg Jones was Cork's main attacking threat and arguably the best forward on the field as he finished with 1-4 from play, giving Seán MacMahon a difficult evening, though Stephen Cluxton denying him a second goal in the first half ultimately proved crucial.The result means that Dublin will play one of Tyrone, Monaghan or Meath in the All-Ireland quarter-final next weekend, with 2003 the last time that they failed to reach that stage of the Championship or its equivalent.There was no Con O'Callaghan as he was withdrawn from the published line-up and although the likes of Bugler, Costello and Small showed up well at times, his loss was still felt and Dublin's chances of kicking on from here will weigh heavily on his fitness.Having missed the defeat to Armagh, he played a full part in Dublin's season-saving win over Derry seven days earlier, with Farrell outlining afterwards how he had 'run the gauntlet' by holding him in reserve with a potentially more testing quarter-final in mind.Ultimately, once Dublin got ahead late on, Cork's threat dwindled as their only score in the closing 12 minutes came from a Mark Cronin free.After the incredible drama of the first game at Croke Park, there was a flatness to the atmosphere as this preliminary quarter-final got underway, though perhaps that would have been the case in any event.Shocked Limerick supporters among the 36,546 attendance largely headed for home and, after five minutes, it looked the smart call as a second shock of the day already appeared remote as Dublin swept into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead through Paddy Small (two), Ciarán Kilkenny and Bugler.But it would be 12 minutes before they scored again and, indeed, they only managed four scores for the remainder of the half as Cork took control of the game and bossed possession for long periods.Chris Og Jones got them off the mark in the ninth minute before Mark Cronin added a free and Cork went in front as Jones finished low to Cluxton's left and in off the post for the game's opening goal after Ian Maguire had taken possession from a sideline ball.Brian Hurley kicked a couple of points for Cork and though Dublin were kicking the odd score to stay on their shoulder, it was John Cleary's side that were finding the scores easier and, indeed, they had a golden opportunity for a second goal only for Cluxton to save from Jones on the half hour mark.Cork goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin converted the resulting 45 and Jones brought his tally to 1-2 as he waltzed through amid a glaring lack of intensity from the Dublin defence.Crucially, however, Bugler hooked over a two-pointer just before the buzzer to halve Dublin's deficit and make it 1-8 to 0-9 at the break.Dublin seized the initiative on the restart, outscoring Cork by 1-3 to 0-1 in the opening 10 minutes to go three points in front. Brian Howard struck for the goal after he lost Seán McDonnell all too easily, though the Raheny man's finish was lethal as he gave Martin no chance with a rocket to the top corner.Cork, to their credit, didn't buckle and hit four points without reply through Colm O'Callaghan, Jones, Cronin and Seán Walsh to regain the lead as Dublin went through another fallow period, this time going 10 minutes without a score.Rebel boss John Cleary was the most relieved man in Croke Park as an act of dissent on his part - he kicked the ball away as Dublin were about to take a sideline ball - resulted in a 50-metre penalty though Costello kicked the resulting two-point free wide.He did bring Dublin level shortly afterwards, however, before Paddy Small put them in front with his third of the day. It was nip and tuck as Jones equalised, Bugler restored Dublin's lead and then sub Cathail O'Mahony fisted Cork level with 12 minutes remaining.Further points from Costello and Paddy Small gave Dublin some comfort but Cronin's free was brought it back to one and McDonnell had a two-point free to put Cork in front only for it to drop short into Cluxton's arms.With that, Cork's chance was effectively gone as Costello (free) and sub Luke Breathnach completed the scoring to see Farrell's side into the last eight.DUBLIN: S Cluxton; E Murchan, S MacMahon, D Byrne; B Howard (1-0), J Small (0-1), L Gannon (0-1); P Ó Cofaigh-Byrne, C Kilkenny (0-1); K McGinnis, S Bugler (0-5, 1tp), N Scully (0-1); P Small (0-4), L O'Dell, C Costello (0-5, 0-2f).Subs: C Murphy for O'Dell (45), L Breathnach (0-1) for McGinnis (57), T Lahiff for Gannon (59), N Doran for Scully (68).CORK: MA Martin (0-1 '45'); N Lordan,D O'Mahony, M Shanley; B O'Driscoll, S Brady, M Taylor; I Maguire (0-1), C O'Callaghan (0-2); P Walsh, S Walsh (0-1), S McDonnell; M Cronin (0-4, 0-2f), B Hurley (0-2), C Jones (1-4).Subs: E McSweeney for P Walsh (48), C Cahalane for McDonnell (49-58, temp), C O'Mahony (0-1) for Hurley (55), S Powter for Taylor (58), L Fahy for Lordan (63).REFEREE: S Hurson (Tyrone).