Dubs pack too much punch

IN his pre-match analysis Colm O’Rourke likened the Dublin/Tyrone semi-final to a clash of the heavyweights.

Ali and Frazer were his boxers of choice.

He was never going to admit to getting up at 5am to watch the Las Vegas fight but I’m sure I noticed a few more bags than usual under those astute eyes.

Pat Spillane and Joe Brolly were less convinced of Tyrone’s chances, Brolly in particular.

As it turned out, it was even more one-sided that the aforementioned boxing encounter.

Tyrone were never in the contest. Dublin superbly dismantled their much vaunted blanket defence and arguably had the game won at the end of the first quarter.

Dublin’s embarrassment of riches was there for everyone to see. They showcased their talents in the second half without ever having to get out of second or third gear.

Jim Gavin emptied his bench with every sub adding more to Tyrone’s misery.

Diarmuid Connolly had to be content with a two minute cameo appearance while the likes of Bernard Brogan and Michael Dara McAuley never left their seats.

Mickey Harte looked bewildered on the sideline, but where would you even begin to tackle this hurtling giant.

Tyrone set up like a team who knew they were not going to win. Much like Mayweather a few hours earlier, there were no chinks in the armour.

This Dublin team’s collective and individual talent is probably the best we’ve seen since the Kerry team of the 70’s. They were simply superb.

Mayo caused a bit of an upset the previous day with a comfortable victory over the more fancied Kerry.

Mayo were much the better side and really should have finished their opponents off more easily, especially when they led by 8 points mid-way through the second half.

Stephen Rochford’s men lack a clinical edge to their play, but you have to admire their persistence.

Kerry, on the other hand, faded as the Championship progressed and have a lot of soul searching to do over the winter.