Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18
"There was fourteen on number 6 was off,
Brennan on the sideline havin a gawk,
Giller and the boys were working out a plan,
How to beat McGeeney’s lads without the extra man.
On Hill 16 we cheered every attack,
Without Ger Brennan the Vinnies centre back,
The end of the 1st half the Hill was going mad,
But Geezer and the Kildare men were looking very sad.
And the 2nd goal, it came from out the field,
Whacker kicks a great pass out to centre field,
Alan Brogan’s kick pass I never will forget,
Jayo turned his man and BOOMED it to the net.
Oh, of the second half all Dublin should be proud,
We put our shoulders to the wheel to quiet the Kildare crowd,
Whelo kicked the 1st point, and Bernard kicked the rest,
Five Leinsters in a row but this one was the best."
(With apologies to the original composer)
In the game of the year to date, the Dubs recorded their 5th successive Leinster title and in doing so put in a display of which all Dubs fans should be proud. At half time the sky darkened & so Dublin’s chances dimmed. But an incredible effort from the boys in blue was ultimately rewarded.
It started so well. Once again the Dubs were 1st out the gate and in double quick time were 1-03 to 0-00 ahead. Barry Cahill was the unlikely goal scorer taking the ball on the 45 selling a dummy before blasting to the net. Superb from the Brigid’s man. Then it went so wrong when on the 20th Ger Brennan was red-carded for an off the ball incident, Kildare rattled off a series of points and but for a Jayo goal might have been out of sight but led 0-12 to 2-05. Jayo’s goal was typical of the man, brilliantly receiving Alan Brogan’s long pass chest high and reminiscent of turning his Cork marker in ’95 he boom boomed the ball to the net.
Giller took the chance at half time to reshuffle. Diarmuid Connolly had already been sacrificed to allow the introduction of Bryan Cullen. But on came Ciaran Whelan who from the throwin signalled his intent kicking the opening score of the 2nd period and set the tone for the rest of the game. Kildare watched as Dublin opened up a 3 point lead before tying it up. It was nip and tuck until the last 5 minutes when Brogan stole the show. Up to then it was a brilliant performance by the Dublin backs led by the inspirational Bryan Cullen. Captain Griffin put in 2 fine blocks, Denis Bastick took a ball from under the posts while time after time big hits were being made by the Men in Blue. No quarter was given and the determination not to lose at the back was matched by Bernard up front kicking the last 5 points and lead to rapturous celebrations. Five Leinsters in a row you could almost write a song about the performance J
Dublin - Dublin -- Stephen Cluxton (Parnells), David Henry (Raheny), Denis Bastick (Templeogue/Synge Street), Paddy Andrews (St. Brigids), Paul Griffin (Kilmacud Crokes), Ger Brennan (St. Vincents) (Red Card (20)), Barry Cahill (St. Brigids) (1-01), Ross McConnell (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (Shane Ryan (Naomh Mearnog) (55)), Darren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes) (Ciaran Whelan (Raheny) (35) (0-01)), Paul Flynn (Fingallians) (Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) (65)), Alan Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-02), Diarmuid Connolly (St. Vincents) (Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps) (25), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St. Endas) (0-03), Bernard Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-07), Jason Sherlock (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (1-01) (Tomás Quinn (St. Vincent’s) (50)).
Kildare - T Corley, E Bolton, H McGrillen (A McLoughlin (15)), M Foley, M Flaherty, B Flanagan, M Conway (0-02), D Flynn (R Kelly (50) (0-01)), D Earley (0-01), J Kavanagh (0-02) (K Ennis (65)), P O’Neill (0-02) (G White (55)), R Sweeney (0-02), A Smith (0-02), K Donnelly (0-03) (E Callaghan (55) (0-01)), J Doyle (0-02).
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