DUBS’ CROKER CRUISE
Champions slap down Mayo’s weak resistance
NO doubt those that came to Croke Park on this mild spring evening doubtlessly did so with thoughts of summer on their mind. This was Dublin and Mayo, after all, Gaelic football’s most febrile and heated rivalry.
But there was no fire and fury at headquarters. Dublin were allowed to get back on track after the defeat in Tralee with a disappointing Mayo not even laying a glove on them. This drab affair, in front of 35,213 spectators, was only illuminated by Cormac Costello, who would score 1-4, and the wonderfully redemptive performance of Rob Hennelly in the Mayo goal.
Playing in Croke Park for the first time since his ill-fated appearance in the 2016 All-Ireland final replay, the Breaffy man was magnificent. His alertness and agility saved Mayo from a humiliation, making six excellent saves, four in the firsthalf alone. And on a night when his outfield team-mates were profligate – Mayo hit 14 wides – Hennelly ended up as his team’s joint top scorer.
What else can be taken from an evening when Dublin re-asserted their grip on a League trophy they have won in all but one of Jim Gavin’s seasons in charge? Darren Gavin looked tidy in the middle of the field and was afforded an ovation for his efforts when called ashore just before the end. Costello further strengthened his case for a starting berth in Dublin’s glittering attack. Cian O’Sullivan and Ciarán Kilkenny, late additions to the team, eased their way into the season.
The dislike that these sets of players have for each other only sporadically manifested itself, unsurprisingly Jonny Cooper and Donal Vaughan were often in the midst of those things. Two Mayo players had stints in the sin-bin – Lee Keegan in the first-half and Séamus O’Shea after the break – but Dublin didn’t really punish their opponents in either period.
Costello’s goal in the 19th minute was a beauty. The forward left Keith Higgins, making his 150th appearance, for dust on the left flank, bearing down on Hennelly and rifling the ball past him with a right-footed drive. On another evening, Costello might have bagged a hat-trick. He had to be content with being named man-of the-match, but was run close by the Mayo goalkeeper.
Hennelly made four smart saves in the first-half, using his feet to deny Mannion, Ciaran Kilkenny and Jack McCaffrey while making an excellent stop at the near post when Costello came searching for a second goal. Costello was once again denied by Hennelly after the break but perhaps the Breaffy native’s best save was late in the match, as he made an alert dive to divert Con O’Callaghan’s speculative drive away from the roaming Paddy Andrews.
The first 10 minutes were drab and riddled with mistakes. Paul Mannion’s fine fifth minute point was the only score in the opening exchanges, when he was released by Eoin Murchan’s raid down the left wing. Apart from that, there was a sense of two teams gradually getting reacquainted.
But some of the night’s most persistent themes were already set in stone. Mayo only rarely got sight of the Dublin posts and when they did, the likes of Colm Boyle and Vaughan were guilty of some wild shooting.
The visitors needed Rob Hennelly to come from his goal-mouth to get them on the scoreboard, as he nailed a magnificent 55 yard free. Fionn McDonagh showed his confidence and belief by slicing a lovely point into the Hill in the 18th minute. That left the teams tied at 0-2 each. It would be the last time that they were level and there was a semblance of a contest.
A moment after McDonagh’s effort, Cormac Costello, a livewire all evening, had the ball in the Mayo net. The movement and pace of Costello and Paul Mannion troubled the Mayo defence all evening while Darren Gavin was proving an useful foil to Brian Fenton around the middle third. Keegan walked to the sinbin after a deliberate bodycheck on Gavin. And yet, Mayo looked brighter at times during that spell. Andy Moran knows himself that he should have found the net, after slipping Mick Fitzsimons but he blazed the ball wide. And they were also handed the lifeline of a penalty. Some fine buildup play involving Matthew Ruane and Brian Reape released Doherty, who was hauled down by Jonny
Cooper. The Burrishoole man dusted himself down and took the spot-kick himself but his soft effort was easily stopped by Evan Comerford,
It ensured that Dublin had a substantial lead at the break, 1-6 to 0-3, one they never looked like relinquishing in a forgettable secondhalf during which the only drama came when Boyle flattened the umpire when chasing a high ball.
As the umpire got some attention, the crowd was already starting to stream ou, as this offered no clues as to what the summer may hold in store if these two meet again.