Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter finals as they happened

Down and Dublin have dumped Kerry and Tyrone out of the championship in a fantastic day of football at Croke Park. Read on to see how it went down.

Full time scores:

Dublin 1-15 – 0-13 Tyrone

Down 1-16 – 1-10 Kerry

Wrap Up:

Yet another giant of the game has been felled after the Dubs defied the odds to beat the mighty Tyrone. Pat Gilroy’s side were excellent throughout the field and displayed a work rate that was the equal if not better that Tyrone or Armagh in their pomp. Bernard Brogan was on fire up front with nine points, four from play while Stephen Cluxton, Rory O’Carroll and Eoghan O’Gara also stood out in what was a complete team performance.

O’Gara’s goal five minutes from time was the turning point as the sides were neck and neck up to that point. Like Kerry, some of Tyrone’s vaunted stars failed to fire with Philip Jordan, Owen Mulligan and Martin Penrose the only ones really to fire. Cracking game at Croke Park and what a day overall; there’s going to be new All-Ireland champions for the first time since 2002, a breath of fresh air for the football championship.

Full time: Dublin 1-15 – 0-13 Tyrone

It’s all over!

Tyrone are a beaten team and they know it. It was summed up in the lazy challenge by Philip Jordan on Alan Brogan, fouling the Dublin forward and eating up valuable seconds for Pat Gilroy’s side.

Michael Dara McCauley looks to have wrapped it up for the Dubs, latching on to Bernard Brogan’s ball and fisting it over the bar. They are now five points to the good.

Stephen O’Neill with an absolute waste, ballooning the ball high and wide from way out on the left wing.

Looks like Tyrone will need a goal, there’s very little left on the clock. Have they got it in them?

Alan Brogan back in for Dublin for Bryan Cullen.

Conal Keaney adds a point for Dublin who are four points up with four minutes left.

What drama in Croke Park. Paul Flynn’s effort comes back off the post and Eoghan O’Gara picks up the rebound and blasts it past Pascal McConnell. How crucial could that be?

GOAL!!! Dublin

Owen Mulligan levels it for Tyrone, showing great composure to stop and knock it over the bar with his right foot.

Peter Harte, a nephew of the manager, comes on for Martin Penrose, who had been having a serious game.

Now it’s Seán Cavanagh’s turn. He did excellently to beat Philly McMahon to the ball, but dragged an easy looking chance wide of the target off his weaker left boot.

Chances going a begging for either side, Eoghan O’Gara the latest culprit, wasting a chance with players around him in better positions.

Enda McGinley replaces Kevin Hughes in the Tyrone midfield for the last ten minutes.

Great goalkeeping from Stephen Cluxton, who fetches Seán Cavanagh’s high ball into the area with authority.

Owen Mulligan with a great chance to level in front of the posts but instead tries an audacious pass to Stephen O’Neill and the ball bounces harmlessly wide. Just over ten to go and it’s still impossible to call.

It’s back to one again after another Martin Penrose free. Magnificent stuff at Croke Park.

Bernard Brogan is on fire at the moment. He lobs over another score after beating Joe McMahon to Ross McConnell’s long ball in. The Dubs go two in front with just over fifteen left.

You can’t take your eyes off this one for a second. Bernard Brogan with a goal chance and once again he decides to put it over the bar after Eoghan O’Gara’s effort comes back off the post. Philip Jordan did really well to put him off though.

The sides are level again after Brian McGuigan’s effort just lands over the crossbar despite the best efforts of Stephen Cluxton.

Conal Keaney is on for Dublin, with Alan Brogan going off. A very strange call from Pat Gilroy as the elder Brogan was really starting to come into it.

The Brogans combine once more and Bernard fires over his second from play, when there might have been a goal on. The Dubs go in front again.

Just over 20 minutes left and this game is really in the melting pot. Both sides registering wides under severe pressure, the intensity is something else.

Alan follows it up with his first score of the game from play after Bernard Brogan kicked the ball 30 yards back the field to his brother. The sides are level and the Hill have found their voice.

Classy score from Bernard Brogan, his first from play after a nice exchange with Cian O’Sullivan. One between the teams yet again.

Tyrone now starting to do what they do best, sucking up all the pressure and hitting Dublin with pace on the counter attack. They’ve wasted a couple of opportunities in the last few minutes though and are still only two in front.

Eamonn Fennell in for Niall Corkery for Dublin.

First chance for Stephen O’Neill to make his mark on the game but he drags his effort wide after lovely combination play with Owen Mulligan.

Mulligan adds another for Tyrone, his fourth of the game as Tyrone start to turn the screw a little. They’re now two to the good.

Philip Jordan with his second of the day for Tyrone a lovely effort cutting in from the left and kicking over with his right boot. I can think of only Tomás Ó Sé as his equal as a half back in the last ten years.

38′

Cian O’Sullivan has also come on for Dublin in place of Barry Cahill.

38′

Good start to the second half for Dublin. Bernard Brogan lands his fifth point of the game, his latest effort, like all his scores so far, is from a free.

37′

Changes on either side at half time. Stephen O’Neill is on for Davy Harte for Tyrone, Paul Flynn is on for David Henry for Dublin.

36′

The second half is underway in Croke Park.

Half time talk:

Dublin’s work rate has impressed all the pundits, who all agree that this isn’t one for the purists. Pat Spillane argues that Dublin lack ideas in attack, putting forward the statistic that the Dublin forwards have only scored one point from play in the first half. Joe Brolly says that Pat Gilroy’s tactics are spot on and that the only way to beat Tyrone is to out-Tyrone Tyrone, if that makes any sense!

Half time thoughts:

Not a game for the purists, but it’s a closely fought encounter at Croke Park. Dublin started off extremely well and led by four points at one stage. Bernard Brogan was causing problems in the Tyrone defence while their work rate prevented Tyrone from getting any easy scores. Tyrone have shored it up at the back though and they are starting to win the battle in the middle of the field.

Martin Penrose has been their main threat from play and placed balls while Owen Mulligan and Seán Cavanagh are beginning to make their presence felt. The Red Hands were starting to dominate at the end of that half so Pat Gilroy will be glad of the chance to regroup.

Half time at Croke Park.

Martin Penrose hits the bar in what was a great chance for Tyrone just before the break. Brian McGuigan did very well to set him up and he was very unlucky not to bring his personal tally to 1-4.

Seán Cavanagh beginning to wander out the field and beginning to exert more of an influence on proceedings, He is fouled yet again, but Owen Mulligan can’t take advantage.

Penrose puts Tyrone into the lead once more with a well-taken free from distance. Dublin have to stop giving away cheap frees because Penrose will punish them every time.

Not for long though. Philly McMahon shows the Dublin defenders are well able to score themselves with a cracker from long range, only his second ever championship point for Dublin.

Philip Jordan ambles up the field for the obligatory point he seems to score in every game. No doubt Davy Harte will follow suit at some stage. Tyrone in the lead for the first time.

Another free from Owen Mulligan and seemingly from nowhere, Tyrone are level at six apiece.

Strange occurence in front of the Dublin goal as Martin Penrose gives up chasing a brilliant through ball from Owen Mulligan, thinking he had heard the referee’ whistle. There definitely was a noise but it wasn’t David Coldrick who made it. Let off for the Dubs.

‘Muggsy’ follows up his free with a delightful score over his shoulder from a tight angle. The gap is now the minimum with ten minutes left in the first half.

Cathal McCarron is called ashore not long after receiving a yellow card and is replaced by Dermot Carlin.

Instantly followed by an Owen Mulligan free to reduce the gap to 2 points.

Penrose replies with a free of his own. He remains Tyrone’s only scorer so far.

Brogan taps over the resultant free, his fourth of the day.

Cathal McCarron penalised once again for a foul on Bernard Brogan and is given a yellow card. The youngster was impressive against Monaghan in the Ulster Final, but he’s having it tough against Brogan today.

Dublin’s first 45′ means it is a first chance for Stephen Cluxton to make his way up the pitch and he makes no mistake. Dublin 0-5 – 0-2 Tyrone.

Hardly high scoring so far, but there is a real championship intensity to this game. Nobody giving an inch in the tackle and every ball is being contested as if the players’ lives depends on it.

More like it from Tyrone. Cavanagh feeds the onrushing Martin Penrose, who flashes one over with the outside of his left boot.

Tyrone uncharacteristically wasteful in possession so far with Brian Dooher the guilty party on more than one occasion. Seán Cavanagh has stayed on the edge of the square, but has seen little in the way of possession.

Which he does with extreme confidence. Dublin three ahead once more.

Cathal McCarron fouls Bernard Brogan but tries to point out to the referee, with some justification, that Brogan has a good hold of his jersey. David Coldrick is having none of it and Brogan has a chance to knock over his third of the game.

Tyrone are taking advantage of the fact that Dublin are withdrawing so many players in attack with a short kick out policy. Nearly every kick out so far hasn’t gone beyond the 45 metre line.

The Dubs are working extremely hard to prevent Tyrone getting easy possession up front. Seán Cavanagh and Brian Dooher weren’t given an inch by about six Dublin players in the latest attack.

Martin Penrose gets Tyrone on the board from a free after a foul close in on Owen Mulligan.

The key to beating Tyrone, according to Kevin McStay, is to get out in front early and make Tyrone chase the game. If they get ahead early, they’ll sit back and dictate the game as they please.

Bryan Cullen, so impressive against Louth last week, fires over the bar after a determined run past Justin McMahon. Dubs three to the good and playing well.

Alan Brogan seeing a lot of the ball early on, he is thwarted in his latest attempt at a score by a magnificent block by Colm Cavanagh, who dived full length to get his body in the way.

Two from two for Bernard Brogan who knocks over his second free with the left boot.

A chorus of boos greets Martin Penrose as he attempts to knock over Tyrone’s first point from a free. He balloons it up in the air and Dublin clear it to safety.

The atmosphere has been ramped up significantly with the arrival of the Dubs fans into Croke Park and they’ve been given something to shout about immediately as Bernard Brogan lands the first score of the match from a free.

The second quarter-final is underway at Croke Park.

The last time these met in the championship in 2008, the Dubs were handed their arse on a plate in a 12 point defeat. In fairness to the Dubs, there has been far less hype about their side this year compared to other years. They still have a massive task to try and beat this Tyrone team, who have looked really, really impressive this year.

Not long to go until the second quarter-final. Here’s a reminder of the teams:

Dublin: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O’Carroll, P McMahon; K Nolan, G Brennan, B Cahill; R McConnell, MD Macauley; N Corkery, A Brogan, B Cullen; D Henry (captain), E O’Gara, B Brogan.

Tyrone: Pascal McConnell, Cathal McCarron, Justin McMahon, Ryan McMenamin, Davy Harte, Conor Gormley, Philip Jordan, Colm Cavanagh, Kevin Hughes, Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan, Joe McMahon, Martin Penrose, Sean Cavanagh, Owen Mulligan.

Marty Clarke awarded the man of the match award and it is well-deserved, he pulled the strings throughout for the winners. As the pundits in the studio are keen to point out, Colm Cooper wasn’t far behind him, even if the All-Ireland champions were outplayed all over the field.

Full time thoughts:

Down have, lets be honest, hammered Kerry and kept alive the record of never having beaten by the Kingdom in the championship. Kerry were never at the races and never replaced the loss of Paul Galvin and Tomás Ó Sé, who were sorely missed today. Nobody won the dirty ball that Galvin is so good at winning and nobody replaced Tomás Ó Sé’s drive from the half back line.

Don’t let that take away from Down’s performance. The Mourne men were excellent today. Their work rate was ferocious, they had far more appetite and hunger than their opponents and they took some fine scores particularly, in the second half. After that performance Down will fear nobody, even though the big shock is just how bad the reigning All-Ireland champions performed.

This year, incidentally, will be the first time that Kerry will not be in an All-Ireland final since 2003, a sign of just how long the current team have been on the road. A big shock at Croke Park then, but a thoroughly deserved victory for James McCartan’s side.

 

FULL TIME: Down 1-16 – 1-10 Kerry

It’s all over in Croke Park.

GOAL!!! Kerry

Penalty for Kerry and David Moran slots it home as a consolation. Soft penalty, there didn’t seem to be much of a foul on Kieran Donaghy there to be honest.

Ambrose Rogers fires over another one and Down are ahead by nine points in injury time at the end of the game. Who in their right minds would have expected this?!!

Peter Fitzpatrick becomes the latest Down substitute to get on the scoresheet and a big smile flashes across his place. Down are taunting Kerry at this stage, the ultimate insult to the All-Ireland champions.

Dissent from the Kerry players means that a difficult free for Marty Clarke turns out to be a tap over. Down 7 points ahead once more.

The Gooch puts over another free and Kerry are within six with time running out fast.

Another brilliant save by McVeigh from Donaghy and that could have been Kerry’s last chance. Great save along the deck from the Down netminder.

Ronan Murtagh, not long off the bench, lands a mighty effort from over 45 metres. Down are almost home and hosed at this stage.

Coulter with another score, this time from the left wing. An inspirational effort, his third of the game.

Kerry will need a goal, you feel, if they are going to come out on top in this one and they don’t look like getting it at the moment.

Benny Coulter adds another and Down are looking very good with just over 10 to go.

Substitute Conor Maginn gets off the mark with a fine score from a tight angle. Down ahead by 4.

Most of Kerry’s marquee players have remained very quiet since the break. Haven’t seen much of Marc Ó Sé and particularly Declan O’Sullivan in the second half.

Just over 15 to go at Croke Park and it’s anyone’s game at this stage.

Down at the other end, the Gooch and Donaghy combine to create a goal chance for Star, but Brendan McVeigh makes a great save. Bryan Sheehan knocks over the resultant 45′ and Kerry are within three. It’s hotting up at Croke Park.

Big big decision by Joe McQuillan. Benny Coulter puts in Paul McComiskey for a goal, but like he did in the first half, McQuillan rules it out for a foul handpass, but this time it looks like the right call.

Conor Maginn comes in for John Clarke for Down, while Kieran O’Leary replaces Darran O’Sullivan for Kerry.

Cooper with another free for Kerry. Six points for the Gooch today, two from play. Bryan Sheehan the only other man to score for Kerry.

Donncha Walsh has just been sent off for Kerry for a second yellow card offence. It’s going from bad to worse for Kerry. Barry John Keane is on for the Kingdom, with Seamus Scanlon making way. Both of Kerry’s starting midfielders have now been replaced.

The Gooch is still ploughing a lone furrow for Kerry up front, popping over a lovely score off his right to reduce the gap to five once more.

It’s very noticeable that Down have more support in Croke Park. The Kerry faithful are very muted but many of course, are probably waiting at home to make their annual trip on the third Sunday of September. They’ll need to cop on quick if they’re going to be there this year.

Paul McComiskey replies immediately for Down with a lovely score on the run. He’s been excellent today.

Bryan Sheehan follows it up with another one and Kerry begin to eat into Down’s lead.

The Gooch replies with a free for Kerry, his fourth point of the day.

Great start to the second half for Down with Marty Clarke tapping over a free after Paul McComiskey was fouled by Tom O’Sullivan.

Loads of positional switches for Kerry at the start of the second half. Donaghy is at midfield, Declan O’Sullivan is gone into full-forward and David Moran is gone into the corner.

Back underway at headquarters

Half-time talk:

Predictably, Pat Spillane is livid with the decision by referee Joe McQuillan to disallow Killian Young’s goal. Not only that, but Spillane (backed up to a degree by Colm O’Rourke) feels that the big decisions are going Down’s way. Joe Brolly disagrees, of course, but prefers to wax lyrical about Marty Clarke’s contribution so far. Clarke was excellent in the last half of the first half, but in fairness was hardly seen up to that. At least everyone can agree that Down have been the better side by a stretch in the first half.

Half time thoughts:

Kerry are definitely in trouble. For a while, they looked as if they were going to take over after a bad start, but Down came to the fore in the last ten minutes and are good value for their six point lead. Marty Clarke has been very busy for Down, while Mark Poland and Daniel Hughes have caused problems up front. They are giving as good as they get at midfield and are keeping tabs on the Kerry forwards.

For the Kingdom, only Colm Cooper is performing anywhere near an acceptable standard. Donaghy and Declan O’Sullivan have been anonymous, Bryan Sheehan is completely off-colour in front of goal and Michael Quirke has already gone off. Jack O’Connor will have to do something but without Paul Galvin and Tomás Ó Sé it’s hard to see what he can do. An interesting second half awaits.

Half time at Croke Park.

David Moran on for Michael Quirke, who took a knock from his own man Donncha Walsh in an accidental collision about ten minutes ago. Since that knock, Kerry have struggled around the middle of the park.

Poland with a class score off his left boot, cutting in from the right wing after super work from Daniel Hughes. Down now dominant and six in front.

Mark Poland with a free for Down after John Clarke was pulled down by Tommy Griffin. Down coming back into the game in the last 5 minutes.

Having hardly featured for 25 minutes, Marty Clarke adds another immediately after his first, blasting over from a narrow angle after Benny Coulter set him up. Well-taken score by the An Ríocht man.

Marty Clarke gets his first of the game and Down’s first score for nearly 17 minutes with a beautifully judged 45′. Down back to 3 in front.

Down yet to score in 15 minutes according to Marty Morrisey and this game is beginning to look a lot like Down’s encounter with Tyrone in Ulster where the Mourne men got off to a flyer before Mickey Harte’s side took over in the end.

Questionable decision again from the referee to disallow a Kerry goal from Killian Young after Donncha Walsh was adjudged to have given a foul handpass to Young in front of goal. Looking at the replay it was a perfectly valid handpass and Kerry will justifiably feel hard done by.

Cooper with another free for Kerry after Kevin McKernan took out Aidan O’Mahony in the process of shooting. Soft free but Kerry gradually beginning to take over this game.

The Gooch reduces the gap to 3 with his first of the day from a free. Kerry finally starting to settle.

Dan Gordon definitely winning the battle against Kieran Donaghy so far. ‘Star’ isn’t getting much of a look in at all.

Beautiful score from the Gooch, who wins the ball from a Declan O’Sullivan free, sells a dummy, turns onto his right and lobs it over. Brilliant to watch.

Finally Kerry get on the board and it’s Sheehan, who in fairness hasn’t shyed away from the responsibilty despite some waywardness so far. Blasts over the bar from close in after being set up by Donaghy.

Serious work rate being displayed by Down, Darran O’Sullivan absolutely surrounded by three Down men on the right wing. Bryan sheehan has a dose of the yips today I’m afraid, wasting yet another chance after great work from Cooper.

Super score from Paul McComiskey to put Down in six in front. Started out very wide but curled in beautifully just inside the post. 11 minutes gone and Kerry yet to score.

2nd wide for Bryan Sheehan, this time from a 45′. Tough angle, but normally a foregone conclusion for the big corner forward.

It’s very slippy at Croke Park, already there’s been a lot of slipping and handling errors. It’s bucketing down at the moment.

Kerry look rusty, Bryan Sheehan has already had a shot blocked and put another one wide while Declan O’Sullivan has also been off target. Very un-Kerry like.

Ambrose Rogers lobs over a 45 and only five minutes, in Down are five points to the good.

More messing at the back from Kerry is punished and again it’s Quirke that’s at fault. Benny Coulter takes advantage this time and fires it over the bar. Having given out about Kerry handpassing too much before the game, Pat Spillane must be going ape in the studio.

What a start for Down. Pure messing in the Kerry defence from a number of players with Michael Quirke most culpable. Mark Poland pounced on the loose ball and smashed it past Brendan Kealy. The cat is most definitely amongst the pigeons.

GOAL!!! Down

Underway at Croke Park

You can have your Messis and your Ronaldinhos, but this guy is a class act, says Pat Spillane of the Gooch Cooper.

Absolutely massive task for Dan Gordon at full-back marking the man mountain that is Kieran Donaghy. Brolly points out that Gordon has been playing there for only three weeks and is up against a man that has destroyed full-backs in Croke Park in the past. Spillane has not been happy with the contribution of Donaghy this year, but his main gripe lies with the over-use of the handpass of the Kerry team and their hesitancy in letting the ball into the dynamic duo of Gooch and Donaghy. 185 times they handpassed the ball against Limerick according to Pat.

Not a fantastic day at headquarters with some rain having already fallen and a constant threat for the rest of the afternoon. Mightn’t aid the quality of football on display but with more mistakes being made it should be interesting at least.

Contrasting views over the role of Marty Clarke for Down so far this year in the RTE studio. Joe Brolly fulsome in his praise of the ex-Collingwood man while Colm O’Rourke has been disappointed with his contribution so far. Fair enough he hasn’t set the world alight but for his first year back in Gaelic Football he hasn’t done too badly.

Jack O’Connor has not been a happy man lately and let rip against both the GAA and the media yesterday, believing that Kerry are singled out for unfair treatment because of their success. Sounds like he’s playing up the us against them mentality to me, but find out more about the story for yourself here.

Just an hour to go until throw-in in the first of today’s quarter-finals folks. Down up against it, but without Ó Sé and Galvin, Kerry look vulnerable. A reminder of the two teams for you and we’ll have an eye out for any pre-game changes from the two managers.

Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Marc Ó Sé, Tommy Griffin, Tom O’ Sullivan; Aidan O’Mahony, Mike McCarthy, Killian Young; Seamus Scanlon, Micheál Quirke; Darran O’ Sullivan, Declan O’ Sullivan, Donncha Walsh; Colm Cooper, Kieran Donaghy, Bryan Sheehan.

Down: B McVeigh; D McCartan, D Gordon, D Rafferty; D Rooney, J Colgan, C Garvey; A Rogers, K King; D Hughes, M Poland, P McComiskey; B Coulter, J Clarke, M Clarke.