Senior footballers into All-Ireland semi-final

Mon, 3rd August 2015

DUBLIN 2-23 FERMANAGH 2-15

Dublin are into the All-Ireland semi-finals following Sunday's eight-point victory over Fermanagh in Croke Park.

The Dubs looked like they were cruising to a facile enough double digit victory when they led by 1-21 to 0-11 entering the concluding ten minutes before some high farce contributed to the tighter margin.

Fermanagh were awarded a goal in the 63rd minute that was cleared a free out for a foul on Stephen Cluxton by impressive Fermanagh full-forward, Seán Quigley, and before the end Fermanagh got in for a second goal when Tomás Corrigan capitalised on hesitancy in the Dublin rearguard.

For the most part Dublin, without setting the world alight, were in control and after a slow start settled to the task with three Ciaran Kilkenny points from play in the opening half pushing them into a 1-13 to 0-6 interval lead.

The goal arrived in the 13th minute when Jack McCaffrey linked the play before angling a drive towards Bernard Brogan who outfielded his marker and despatching to the net.

The score of the half was Diarmuid Connolly's in the 33rd minute when his pullback solo and switch onto his left foot to arc over a superb long range score underlined his class.

Five minutes into the second half Dean Rock looked poised to raise a second green flag for the Dubs but his shot was cleared off the line by James McMahon after it had beaten keeper Thomas Treacy.

Dublin kept Fermanagh at arm's length for most of the second period before the concession of the two late goals lifted the spirits of the Fermanagh supporters.

Dublin face the winners of Donegal v Mayo in the last four on Sunday, August 30 in Croke Park.

SCORERS - Dublin: B Brogan 1-6, D Rock 0-7 (0-2f, 0-1 '45'), P Flynn 1-1, P Andrews C Kilkenny 0-3 each, D Connolly 0-2, B Fenton 0-1. Fermanagh: S Quigley 0-8 (0-4f), T Corrigan 1-2, B Mulrone 0-3, S Cluxton 1-0 og, C Jones 0-2.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; J Cooper, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, D Bastick; P Flynn, C Kilkenny, D Connolly; D Rock, P Andrews, B Brogan. Subs: MD Macauley for Bastick (ht), K McManamon for Kilkenny (ht), A Brogan for Connolly (48), M Fitzsimons for Cooper (50), J Small for McCarthy (55), C Costello for Andrews (66).

FERMANAGH: T Treacy; N Cassidy, R McCluskey, M Jones; J McMahon, M O'Brien, D McCusker; E Donnelly, R O'Callaghan; R Corrigan, R Jones, P McCusker; B Mulrone, S Quigley, T Corrigan. Subs: D Kelly for P McCusker (42), C Jones for D McCusker (54), T Daly for M Jones (54), D Kille for R Corrigan (68).

REF: P O'Sullivan (Kerry).

ATTENDANCE: 58,680.