Down turn on the style in second half

The Down team had just settled down to reflect on the extent of their unexpectedly comprehensive win at Navan when Dublin captain Nicky Cleere popped into their dressing-room with a little advice on how to beat Mayo in the final.

"Ye are a class team," said Cleere. "Mayo don't like to be hit hard and if ye can hit them the way ye hit us today ye can win the final," said Cleere, who was easily Dublin's best defender.

However, Down's win was more about skills, drive and cohesion than simply hitting opponents hard, necessary as this may be in championship football. Dublin were so overwhelmed by a brand of 15-man football that at stages in the second half the game was no longer a real contest.

Down's left corner forward Ronan Sexton scored a crucial goal seconds into the second half, and full forward John Fegan and late call up PJ McAlinden quickly knocked over points in the next two minutes to leave Down with a 1-8 to 0-5 advantage.

From then on, Dublin were on the back foot. But Down's exuberance was something that had been threatened throughout the second quarter of a fast-moving game.

The first quarter had been so close that another draw could not be ruled out. Then Down cranked up a gear; their central defence became impregnable. Brendan Grant and Liam Doyle, their team captain, laid on the inspiration from the back. Midfielders Louie Sloan and Brendan Coulter showed uncanny positional sense, while Michael Walsh, who carried a hamstring injury into the game - he was later forced to retire - was leading the attack with distinction.

Dublin endured a harrowing last 15 minutes of that first half, and it was simply amazing that they trailed by only a point at half-time.

In fairness to the Dublin defenders, they repeatedly managed to frustrate Down's scoring attempts with good blocks. In addition, some Down forwards were guilty of shooting from too far out and at least four attempts dropped safely into the hands of Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton.

Given Down's growing authority the signs became more and more ominous for Dublin and right on cue, their worst fears came home to roost in the second half.

Down had stretched the lead to seven points by the sixth minute of the second half before Stephen Mills took a rebound off a post to knock home Dublin's goal from close range. Down's lead was down to four points when they struck with venom for a brilliant goal, finally put away by Coulter as a result of a one-two between himself and McAlinden.

That goal midway though the second half more or less decided the issue. Dublin's subsequent three points, two from frees by Mills and one from play by midfielder Devine, were never going to make a difference to the result. To make matters worse for Dublin, Liam Og O hEineachain was wayward with two easy point chances. Down would not have been flattered had Fegan's late shot entered the net instead of rebounding off the crossbar.

Dublin failed to score during the last 12 minutes.

When Down last won the All-Ireland in 1987, James McCartan and Conor Deegan were in the side - they went on to win senior medals four years later.

Down manager Jerry Dougerty feels that a number of his players are ready to join the senior team. On the evidence of this fine display he might well be right.

Down: J Sloan; J Clarke, B Grant, M Doran; B Kearney, L Doyle (0-2 frees), D McGrady (0-1); L Sloan (0-3), B Coulter (1-1); G Digney, M Walsh [R O] (0-2), R Murtagh (0-1); PJ McAlinden (0-1), J Fegan (0-3), R Sexton (1-0). Subs: F McGreevy for Digney (28 mins); D O'Hanlon for Walsh (42 mins).

Dublin: S Cluxton; A Holly, N Cleere, N O'Driscoll; A Brogan, P Casey, A Cleere; C Murphy, K Devine (0-1); S McCann, L Og Eineachasin O hEineachain (0-4, one free), C O'Driscoll; S Mills (1-3, three pointed frees), B McEvoy (0-1), G Joyce. Subs: D Magee for Joyce (42 mins); J Waldron for O'Driscoll (45 mins).

Referee: D Joyce (Galway).