Rock holds his nerve as Tyrone fall apart
Bradley dismissal allows Dublin to salvage a draw and save unbeaten run
FUNNY how one thread of the prematch conversation centred on the possibility of a late summer meeting. If all goes to plan in terms of the AllIreland draw, then Mickey Harte will be presented with the opportunity of derailing Dublin’s three-in-a-row bid at the semi-final stage.
Last night offered a dose of reality to those thinking wishfully ahead to hard ground and Championship days.
The Arctic conditions — and so much of a narky, slow-paced encounter — was so far removed from what can be expected if these two meet again at a much later date that what happened here at Croke Park can be ignored for the most part.
On a day when club standard bearers St Vincent’s were deposed by Slaughtneil and the Dublin hurlers took a tanking from Tipperary in the curtain-raiser, it looked for so long that Dublin’s staggering record of 30 games unbeaten in League and Championship would be ended by a superbly drilled Tyrone who led 1-6 to 0-4 when Aidan McCrory goaled in the second half.
Mark Bradley’s sending off soon after though was the catalyst for a Dublin comeback that finished with Dean Rock showing serious gumption to stick a free in the fourth minute of added time to level. Thirty one games it is, so, the only concern being the sight of James McCarthy limping from play with what Jim Gavin later confirmed was a calf injury.
If Tyrone set out to frustrate Dublin from the off, and hit on the counter, it worked a treat, even if it made for a terribly humdrum affair for the poor souls who had paid good money to brave the elements.
The teams’ colourful recent history meant that there was a bit of cut to proceedings as well. Tyrone were going man to man on the kick-outs, the only time they pushed up in anything resembling an orthodox formation. And they did a good job of messing with Stephen Cluxton’s head. A Conor Meyler point came indirectly from another Cluxton kick-out that was won by Mickey Harte’s men.
Even without Mattie Donnelly, a zonal defence limited the impact of Dublin’s midfield, particularly the influence of Brian Fenton.
Two frees by Peter Harte interrupted Tyrone’s run of poor shooting and that Meyler score made it 0-3 to 0-1, Philly McMahon showing a blunt attack how it’s done.
Niall Sludden then generated a rare bit of excitement with a burst up the middle to point and then bettered it on 35 minutes. Another jet-heeled run again at the heart of the Dublin defence left blue shirts in his wake. Could he finish? Absolutely, hardly breaking stride as he split the posts.
The game got to half-time without a Dublin forward scoring from play, Jonny Cooper pegging it back to 0-5 to 0-3 with the second score by a member of his team’s full-back line.
But for a string of misplaced shots – Tyrone’s wide tally hit eight by the break – the lead would have been far more emphatic.
Declan McClure popped a point soon after the restart to make it double scores again before Dublin had the perfect opportunity to equalise.
Paul Mannion managed to find a pocket of space and scooted goalwards. Just as he pulled the trigger, he was bumped in the back by Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh, only on as a substitute. Penalty.
With Diarmuid Connolly on club duty, Rock stepped up only for Niall Morgan to read his kick like a book and block it away to safety.
Rock reduced the deficit with a free before Tyrone stuck the knife in, slicing through the heart of the Dublin defence in numbers, Aidan McCrory finishing off the move by driving a low shot past Cluxton.
The bit of niggle continued off the ball, referee Joe McQuillan’s attention being brought to a run-in between Bradley and Cooper. Up 1-6 to 0-4 and with the All-Ireland champions getting increasingly frustrated, Tyrone didn’t need to lose a man. But Bradley was shown a straight red while Cooper was yellow carded.
After Rock struck back with another free, Sludden grabbed his third point from play, darting through to keep Tyrone at arm’s reach.
Dublin don’t have such a remarkable unbeaten streak though without reason, finally beginning to play with a bit of urgency and potency in attack, and two more Rock frees left
just a goal in it as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Sludden had an effort ruled wide after a Hawk-Eye ruling and then Fenton kicked a booming left foot point to ratchet up the tension.
When Rock slotted another free, it meant the electronic board went up to show a full six minutes to be added on, and Dublin trailing by just one, 1-7 to 0-9.
There was just time for Rock to show real nerve to hit the equaliser from nearly 50 metres and ensure Dublin are 31 not out.