Dublin 1-16
DCU 1-12
RISING STAR CON O’Callaghan fired 1-2 to help holders Dublin through to the last four of the Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup.
It wasn’t classic football from the All-Ireland champions though they needed to win to advance to next weekend’s semi-finals and duly delivered at Parnell Park.
It was something of a win-win scenario too for Dubs boss Jim Gavin who got to look at Blues including Conor McHugh, David Byrne and Shane Carthy (Portmarnock) in action for DCU.
O’Callaghan hit Dublin’s only goal in the 19th minute, putting them into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, while Dean Rock weighed in with six points — four of those coming from play.
Gavin, who handed game time to 27 different players in Dublin’s two previous games, experimented again in all sectors and increased that number to 29 with the addition of Darren Daly and Stephen Cunningham.
Stephen Cluxton did return to the panel though Michael Savage remained in goals for the third game running. Like the ties against Wexford and IT Carlow, Savage was unable to keep a clean sheet as Enda Smith fired a 67th minute consolation goal for DCU.
Local boy Jarlath Curley, of St Vincent’s, was full-back while Conor Mullally of Cuala was in the corner beside him with Jonny Cooper in the other.
James McCarthy joined Denis Bastick in midfield while rising Cuala star O’Callaghan was lively up front, dovetailing neatly with Shane Carthy of St Vincent’s and Cormac Costello.
Dublin led 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time and O’Callaghan claimed 1-1 of that tally, his 19th minute goal a fine left footed finish after a clever Tomas Brady diagonal ball in and a Costello lay off.
Longford’s Michael Quinn was industrious and effective for DCU while Monaghan man Shane Carey and Smith chipped in with three first-half points each.
Carey finished with seven points while Smith took his tally to 1-3 following that late goal.
But even that net blast only reduced the Students’ arrears to three points as Dublin maintained control of the second-half, picking off timely points from the likes of Paddy Andrews, O’Callaghan, Rock and Jason Whelan.
Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 1-2, Dean Rock 0-6 (0-3f), Cormac Costello 0-3, Shane Carthy and Paddy Andrews 0-2 each, Jason Whelan 0-1.
Scorers for DCU: Shane Carey 0-7 (0-3f), Enda Smith 1-3, Michael Quinn and David Byrne 0-1 each.
DUBLIN
1. Michael Savage
8. Jonny Cooper
12. Jarlath Curley
20. Conor Mullally
24. Niall Scully
19. Philly McMahon
25. John Small
17. James McCarthy
3. Denis Bastick
4. Tomas Brady
23. Dean Rock
6. Shane Carthy
9. Cormac Costello
2. Paddy Andrews
21. Con O’Callaghan
Subs
27. Jason Whelan for Brady (h/t)
22. Ciaran Reddin for Bastick (43)
13. Darren Daly for Mullally (49)
14. Michael Deegan for Andrews (53)
11. Stephen Cunningham for McCarthy (58)
10. Eoin Culligan for Cooper (59)
DCU
1. Philip O’Donnell
2. Eoin Smith
3. Kevin Feely
4. Stephen Attride
5. Cian Mulligan
6. Conor Moynagh
7. David Byrne
8. Caolan McGonagle
9. Shane Carthy
10. Rory Connor
11. Michael Quinn
12. Cian Breheny
13. Conor McHugh
14. Enda Smith
15. Shane Carey
Subs
26. Dessie Ward for Mulligan (30+1)
23. Simon McCoy for McHugh (h/t)
22. David Mannix for Breheny (h/t)
18. Nathan Gavigan for Feely (43)
17. Paudie McKenna for Eoin Smith (46)
25. Eoghan Smyth for Connor (53)
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).
