Dublin 2-14
Mayo 0-16
BERNARD BROGAN SCORED 1-10 as 14-man Dublin beat Mayo in a stirring Allianz National Football League Division 1 clash at Croke Park this evening.
The Sky Blues ran out four-point winners at GAA HQ in what was a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final between the sides.
There was drama aplenty in the second half as Dublin had defender Ger Brennan red-carded, while goalkeeper and captain Stephen Cluxton missed a penalty.
But inspired by ace forward Brogan, Dublin dug in and have now secured three wins from three outings in the top flight this year, to remain top of the table.
Brogan was in majestic form and the deadly corner forward’s 32nd minute goal separated the sides at half-time, as Dublin led by 1-8 to 0-8.
And Brogan also drew gasps of amazement in a crowd of 21156 with a superb second half sideline.
But Brennan’s 41st-minute dismissal, following a scuffle, was a low moment in Dublin’s night and the 2011 All-Ireland SFC medallist could be looking at a lengthy ban.
By half-time, man of the match Brogan had notched 1-6 and the St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh clubman had also laid on scores for Cian O’Sullivan and Paddy Andrews.
Dublin raced into an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead but Mayo responded with six points without reply.
In a seesaw first half, Dublin regained the whip hand before Enda Varley and Mickey Conroy tagged on a couple of Mayo points before half-time.
Kevin McManamon, goal hero in the 2011 All-Ireland final, was a 19th minute substitute for Dublin and he would have a big say in a dramatic second half.
After the red mist descended on Brennan, Mayo inched ahead and when goalkeeper Kenneth O’Malley saved Cluxton’s 46th minute penalty, the 2012 All-Ireland finalists looked good for victory.
But Dublin have been hugely impressive so far this year under Jim Gavin and despite falling two points behind, 1-9 to 0-14, McManamon’s 49th minute goal turned the game in their favour.
Ciaran Kilkenny’s smashing ball placed McManamon for a brilliantly-taken goal and it proved to be a decisive score.
Despite having the extra player, Mayo went from the 47th to 64th minutes without registering a score as Dublin moved 2-13 to 0-14 clear.
Lee Keegan pointed with six minutes remaining when a goal was on but Dublin responded with another Brogan point, a fisted effort.
Kevin McLoughlin replied in stoppage time for Mayo but it was too little, too late for the Westerners, who slumped to a second defeat in three League matches.
Scorers for Dublin: B Brogan 1-10 (0-5f, 0-1 sl), K McManamon 1-1, P Andrews 0-2 (1f), C O’Sullivan 0-1.Scorers for Mayo: J Doherty 0-6 (4f), L Keegan & K McLoughlin (1f) 0-3 each, E Varley 0-2, A O’Shea & M Conroy 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Daly, K O’Brien, J Cooper; R O’Carroll, G Brennan, J McCaffrey; D O’Mahony; C O’Sullivan; P Flynn, T Brady, C Reddin; P Andrews, C Kilkenny, B Brogan.
Subs: K McManamon for Brady, D Nelson for O’Carroll, B Cullen for Reddin, P Quinn for Kilkenny, N Devereux for McCaffrey.
MAYO: K O’Malley; C Barrett, G Cafferkey, K Higgins; L Keegan, D Vaughan, C Boyle; J Gibbons, B Moran; K McLoughlin, A O’Shea, R Feeney; E Varley, J Doherty, M Conroy.
Subs: C Carolan for Gibbons, S O’Shea for Moran, T Cunniffe for Feeney.
Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath)
