Senior footballers cruise to victory

Sun, 31st May 2015

DUBLIN 4-25 LONGFORD 0-10

Dublin cruised to victory in this Leinster SFC quarter-final on Sunday afternoon.

Jim Gavin’s men had little difficulty in overcoming the Longford challenge as they hit a pair of goals in each half to run out comprehensive victors.

Dublin led by 12 points at the break and second half goals from Dean Rock and Bernard Brogan, in quick succession before the three-quarter mark, put that extra gloss on the final scoreline.

Longford could only manage just two points in the second period, both Brian Kavanagh frees (43^rd and 77th minutes).

Both of Dublin’s second half goals highlighted the quick, unselfish transfer of the ball which created the overlaps to punish the opposition.

Dublin eased through the gears in the opening half and enjoyed a 12-point advantage at the break, 2-14 to 0-8.

Inside the opening five minutes the Dubs had opened up a 1-3 to 0-0 lead.

Points from hard-working debutant Brian Fenton, Kevin McManamon and Philly McMahon got Jim Gavin’s men off to a running start before Diarmuid Connolly arrowed a brilliant finish to the net in the fifth minute.

Two points were added by Bernard Brogan, one off his right and one off his left, before Longford opened their account through the best forward in the half Rory Connor.

With eight minutes to go in the opening half Paul Flynn applied the finish to a move which carved open the Longford defence with Dean Rock and Kevin McManamon playing central roles.

Before the interval Brogan (two) and a Rock free had Dublin in total control at the break.

Dublin will face Klldare or Laois in Croke Park on Sunday, June 28.

SCORERS - Dublin: B Brogan, D Rock (0-2f, 0-2 ‘45’) 1-6 each, P Flynn 1-3, D Connolly 1-0, C Kilkenny 0-3, K McManamon 0-2, B Fenton, P McMahon, E Lowndes, T Brady, P Andrews 0-1 each.Longford: B Kavanagh 0-5 (0-4f), R Connor 0-3, L Connerton, P Collum (0-1 ‘45’) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, D Byrne, J Cooper; D Daly, J Small, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, D Bastick; P Flynn, C Kilkenny, D Connolly; D Rock, K McManamon, B Brogan. Subs: M Fitzsimons for McMahon (ht), T Brady for Connolly (ht), MD Macauley for Bastick (46), P Andrews for Flynn (53), E Lowndes for Cooper (56), A Brogan for B Brogan (61).

LONGFORD: P Collum; D Brady, C Farrelly, B Gilleran; CP Smyth, B O’Farrell, D Masterson; M Quinn, K Diffley; R Connor, R McNerney, P Foy; B McKeon, B Kavanagh, R McEntire. Subs: L Connerton for McKeon (inj 17), D Reynolds for Diffley (30), A Rowan for Smyth (49), P Gill for Connor (53), F Battrim for Masterson (58), E Williams for McNerney (inj 70).

REF: C Lane (Cork).

ATTENDANCE: 33,544.