Cork end Dublin's All-Ireland dream

All-Ireland MHC Semi-final/Cork 2-10 Dublin 0-13: Two crucial goals in the closing minutes of the first half set Cork on the…

All-Ireland MHC Semi-final/Cork 2-10 Dublin 0-13:Two crucial goals in the closing minutes of the first half set Cork on the way to a hard-earned victory over Leinster champions Dublin at rain-drenched O'Moore Park on Saturday.

Impressive Dublin were leading 0-8 to 0-4 when goals from Cork heroes Ryan Clifford and Michael O'Mahony in the 28th and 29th minutes put a very different complexion on the scoreboard as Cork went in leading by 2-5 to 0-8 at the interval.

Points from Clifford, Lorcan McLoughlin, Denis O'Sullivan and , Donagh Stack helped extend rampant Cork's lead but they failed to score again in the final 20 minutes.

Wayne Brogan's converted long-range free signalled a stunning recovery bid by Dublin who gained in confidence to tack on four more points through Brogan (twice), Niall McMorrow and substitute Kevin O'Loughlin. But they could make no further inroads on the deficit in the closing dozen minutes.

READ MORE

Emmet McCabe brought out the best in Cork goalkeeper Dara McCarthy while substitute Ciarán Dorney was unlucky not to have hit an equalising goal in injury time.

Jack Herlihy marshalled a sound Cork defence and their forwards, notably Clifford and O'Mahony, were quite superb.

Brogan and the industrious David Treacy in Dublin's attack were deadly accurate but their opportunities were limited because of Dublin's shortcomings in midfield.

CORK: D McCarthy; C Hurley, A Kearney, M Murphy; L McLoughlin (0-1), J Herlihy, C Donovan; S Farrell, D O'Sullivan (0-1); P Gould (0-2), M Bowles (0-2), M O'Mahony (1-0); L Farrell, D Stack (0-1), R Clifford (1-3). Subs: F Keane for O'Mahony, G O'Connor for Gould, K McCarthy for Bowles.

DUBLIN: F McGarry; A Goff, E Walsh, P Schutte; P Buckeridge, R O'Carroll, P Kelly; A McMullen, D Whelan (0-1 free); J Cooper, D Treacy (0-3, one free), B O'Rorke (0-1), N McMorrow (0-3), P Garbutt (0-1), W Brogan (0-3, frees). Subs: K O'Loughlin (0-1) for Whelan, E McCabe for O'Rorke, K Dorney for Garbutt.

Referee: E O'Shaughnessy (Galway).