Young Dubs hit the ground running

Dublin 1-18 Cork 2-9:Kevin Heffernan was commemorated in Croke Park this evening before a crowd of 28,693 and a great evening’s football ended fittingly for his memory. In the second match of the double bill Dublin got the first Allianz Football League match of Jim Gavin’s tenure off to a positive start with a comprehensive defeat of holders Cork.

The younger brigade in defence was particularly impressive. Johnny Cooper, who has had some experience in the past two seasons, and the lightning fast Jack McCaffrey - who got up for two points - both carried well and on his debut last year’s under-21 captain Kevin O’Brien had a great tussle with Cork All Star Colm O’Neill.

The only significant setback was the nasty injury to one of last year’s minors, Paul Mannion, who had to be stretchered off just after 30 minutes having taken a heavy knock in a collision with one of his own players.

Both sides made changes before the throw-in with Cork springing a number of debutants in place of some of the more experienced players named in the original selection: Graham Canty, Alan O’Connor and Ciarán Sheehan all started on the bench with both Thomas Clancys, of Fermoy and Clonakilty, Andrew O’Sullivan and the impressive John O’Rourke, who ended with three points from play, lining out in addition.

Dublin brought in Emmet Ó Conghaile and Mannion in place of Declan O’Mahony and Kevin McManamon but by the end Gavin had run the rule over a number of debutants off the bench and had a look at defender Cian O’Sullivan, back after injury, at centrefield.

From the start Dublin hit the front and led by 0-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes. Cork hit back when A long ball from O’Rourke was fielded by O’Neill and moved on with impressive dexterity to the incoming Aidan Walsh who hit the net with the equaliser.

Bernard Brogan, who was aggressively marked by Eoin Cadogan throughout, pointed a free followed by Michael Darragh Macauley’s rampage in on goal and a fisted point. Brogan set up the dangerous Paddy Andrews for another and Dublin had wiped out the goal.

There were six minutes injury time to make up for Mannion’s injury and a flurry of scores to end the half, including both of McCaffrey’s for an 0-11 to 1-4 half-time lead.