Senior footballers progress to All-Ireland decider

ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL

DUBLIN 1-24 CAVAN 0-12

Dublin progressed to their sixth final in-a-row after overcoming Cavan in Saturday evening's All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Parnell Park.

It was another historic milestone for Dean Rock who overtook Bernard Brogan as Dublin's all-time top scorer in Championship action.

The Ballymun Kickhams clubman hit 0-6 (0-2) to take his overall SFC tally to 10-234 (264) over 48 games, surpassing Bernard's 21-198 (261) over 60 SFC games.

It was also Dean's 100th time to represent Dublin at senior level (combined NFL/SFC) - 52 times in league action, 48th occasion in SFC. 

Dublin outscored the Ulster champions in each of the four quarters (allowing for water breaks) with four unanswered points between the ninth and 16th minute helping Dessie Farrell's men to a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage at the first break.

Dean Rock slotted three of these points, including one free following a foul on Paddy Small, with Con O'Callaghan kicking the other off his less favoured left side.

With Brian Fenton to the fore Dublin maintained slightly the upperhand against a very determined Cavan side and by the half-time break were 0-12 to 0-7 clear.

The majestic Raheny dynamo got Dublin's first point after the break after the industrious Paddy Small did very well to tidy up a misplaced pass by one of his team-mates.

In the second half Dublin restarted on the front foot with scores from Con O'Callaghan, a close-range fisted effort off his left side, Brian Fenton and a Paddy Small mark after being picked out by Michael Fitzsimons to open up an eight-point lead (0-15 to 0-7).

Dublin looked to make their advantage count with Ciarán Kilkenny slotting a point from play before having a goal attempt deflected over the crossbar by the impressive Martin Reilly in the 44th minute.

Three minutes later Con O'Callaghan cut through on goal but was denied by a brilliantly timed dispossession by Cavan full-back Pádraig Faulkner.

By the second half water break Con O'Callaghan had worked a loop move with Ciarán Kilkenny for a point to outscore Cavan 0-5 to 0-1 in the third period and make it 0-17 to 0-8.

Inside the concluding quarter Con O'Callaghan was through close to goal but elected to slot over off his left and as Dublin put extra pressure on Raymond Galligan's kickout scores resulted from Robbie McDaid and Brian Howard, following his introduction, after showing great dexterity to win a hop ball and engineer room for the score.

The Breffni men tried route one on a few occasions in the second period but Dublin's defence dealt well with that threat as they then sought to turn defence into attack at pace.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 66th minute, with sub Philly McMahon missing a gilt-edged chance a minute earlier, when Michael Fitzsimons and Dean Rock combined before Robbie McDaid palmed to the net.

Before the finish Thomas Galligan was dismissed on a second yellow card while sub Cormac Costello kicked one of the most stylish points of the night for the Dubs.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Rock 0-6 (0-2f), R McDaid 1-2, B Fenton, C Kilkenny (0-1m), C O’Callaghan 0-4 each, P Small 0-2 (0-1m), C Costello, B Howard 0-1 each. Cavan: M Reilly 0-3, J Smith, O Kiernan 0-2 each, C Brady, T Galligan, G McKiernan, C Madden, C Conroy (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, J Cooper; E Murchan, J Small, R McDaid; B Fenton, J McCarthy; N Scully, C Kilkenny, S Bugler; P Small, C O’Callaghan, D Rock. Subs: B Howard for Bugler (48), P McMahon for Cooper (51), P Mannion for P Small (55), C Costello for Scully (64), C Basquel for Rock (70).

CAVAN: R Galligan; K Clarke, P Faulkner, L Fortune; C Brady, O Kiernan, J McLoughlin; J Smith, G McKiernan; G Smith, K Brady, M Reilly; C Madden, T Galligan. C Conroy. Subs: C Smith for K Brady (inj 17), S Murray for Conroy (35), N Murray for Clarke (46), C Brady for C Smith (52), S Smith for Madden (64).

REF: C Branagan (Down).