Dublin 4-25
Longford 0-10
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
DUBLIN STROLLED INTO the Leinster semi-final stage as they hammered Longford in today’s quarter-final clash in Croke Park.
Jim Gavin’s side ran out 27-point winners in a dominant display that underlined the control they exert in the province.
Longford battled gamely but there was a huge chasm in quality between the sides and the one-sided nature of the match raises further questions about the current Gaelic football structures.
Dublin lead 2-14 to 0-8 at the interval with Diarmuid Connolly and Paul Flynn finding the net. Dean Rock and Bernard Brogan raised further green flags in the second-half as Dublin cruised to a comfortable victory.
Brogan was excellent throughout for Dublin as he struck 1-6 from play while there was also the heartening sight for Dublin fans of his brother Alan being introduced to the action late on.
Dublin exploded from the blocks to go 1-5 to 0-0 ahead with Connolly striking their opening goal. Longford tried to make a stab at hauling themselves back into contention with Rory Connor and Brian Kavanagh their principal scoring architects.
They had the deficit back to six points, 1-9 to 0-6, by the 21st minute but Dublin simply accelerated clear before the interval with Paul Flynn smashing home their second goal.
The one-way traffic continued in the second-half with Dublin operating at a higher level than their opponents. Two goals in as many minutes heaped further misery on Longford with Dean Rock palming the ball to the net via the crossbar and Bernard Brogan drilling home their fourth goal.
The game petered to its inevitable conclusion from there as Dublin march on to a Leinster semi-final date with Laois or Kildare while the qualifiers beckon for Longford.
Scorers for Dublin: Bernard Brogan 1-6, Dean Rock 1-5 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Paul Flynn 1-3, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3, Diarmuid Connolly 1-0, Kevin McManamon 0-2, Brian Fenton, Paddy Andrews, Philly McMahon, Tomás Brady, Eric Lowndes 0-1 each.
Scorers for Longford: Brian Kavanagh 0-5 (0-4f), Rory Connor 0-3, Paddy Collum (0-1 ’45), Liam Connerton 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
2. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
3. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
4. Philip McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
5. Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens)
6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street)
10. Paul Flynn (Fingallians)
11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
12. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincents)
13. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
14. Kevin McManamon (St Judes)
15. Bernard Brogan (Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruaidh)
Subs
18. Tomas Brady (Na Fianna) for Connolly (half-time)
23. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala) for McMahon (half-time)
25. Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St-Enda’s) for Bastick (46)
17. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s) for Flynn (52)
24. Eric Lowndes (St Peregrines) for Cooper (56)
19.
Longford
1. Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels)
2. Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers)
4. Cian Farrelly (Emmet Óg Killoe)
6. Barry Gilleran (Longford Slashers)
5. Colum P Smyth (Abbeylara)
3. Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond)
7. Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard)
8. Michael Quinn (Emmet Óg Killoe)
9. Kevin Diffley (Ballymahon)
10. Rory Connor (Kenagh)
11. Ronan McEntire (Dromard)
12. Peter Foy (Longford Slashers)
13. Barry McKeon (Colmcille)
14. Brian Kavanagh (Kilmacud Crokes – Dublin)
15. Ross McNerney (Dromard)
Subs
24. Liam Connerton (Rathcline) for McKeon (17)
21. Aidan Rowan (Cashel) for Smyth (48)
22. Pauric Gill (Fr Manning Gaels) for Connor (52)
17. Fergal Battrim (Abbeylara) for Masterson (57)
19. Enda Williams (Clonguish) for McNerney (inj) (70)
