ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 FOOTBALL FINAL/Dublin 1-10 Donegal 1-8:MICHAEL MURPHY is the best young footballer in Ireland but his last-gasp penalty miss proved to be the winning and losing of this thrilling under-21 All-Ireland football final and, probably for the first time in his career, he was out-classed by a peer in what proved the game's defining duel.
A simplistic summary perhaps but bare facts don’t lie. Step forward Rory O’Carroll, who will now be burdened with the title of heir to Dublin’s troublesome fullback role.
A Kieran Donaghy or a Seán Cavanagh are still to examine O’Carroll’s credentials but this was undoubtedly the litmus test of his discipline and footballing nous. He passed with honours and sponsors Cadbury’s deservedly named him as man of the match. A rare achievement for a full back marking Michael Murphy.
Murphy’s injury-time penalty ricocheted skywards off the crossbar. When the ball dropped it was O’Carroll’s soaring fist that guided it to safety to ensure the All-Ireland under-21 title went to Dublin for the first time since Alan Brogan’s successful class of 2003.
There is another important footnote. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness was at pains to give Dublin full credit for their win but six of his starting team were suffering from a viral infection of the throat that laid low 11 members of the panel and management, including McGuinness. The virus began to spread after last weekend’s gathering in Letterkenny.
“They didn’t have the same drive and ability to turn the ball over that we would normally have,” said McGuinness afterwards. “That was very disappointing for the players that it happened to us on the week of an All-Ireland final. They still gave it everything. They emptied the tank but their concentration levels were down; they kept getting caught in possession where they never got caught in possession all year. We weren’t fluent. We weren’t moving the ball because the energy levels were low.
“Anton (McFadden) and Tommy McKinley didn’t even come back out for the second half because they were ill.”
McFadden and McKinley were hauled ashore after 28 minutes.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin’s tactic prevailed with a blue line of defenders, evident across the 45, forcing natural ball-carriers like Mark McHugh (son of Martin) and Conor Classon to constantly check their advances.
When they went long, O’Carroll, more often than not, denied Murphy clean possession.Their first collision came after Murphy gathered the throw-in and galloped menacingly at the Dublin defenders. O’Carroll’s shoulder came to meet him.
The next ball in saw O’Carroll clinging to Murphy’s jersey to allow Dermot Molloy’s unerring left boot start to inflict damage; a yellow card at this juncture from Marty Duffy would have been disastrous.
O’Carroll was eventually cautioned in the 49th minute for denying Molloy what looked a certain goal. The resulting free levelled matters at 1-7 apiece. Murphy went into the book moments earlier for a trip on O’Carroll that seemed borne out of frustration.
The remarkable strength of the Glenswilly man did engineer two clear shots at goal: one flew over the bar, the other into the side netting. O’Carroll even profited more from the late switch to centre forward as it allowed him contribute further out the field.
We shall see plenty more of Murphy in the coming decade unless the circling Australian sharks improve on the initial offers of an AFL rookie contract.
“Michael will come back from that there,” said McGuinness. “There is no problem. He is the best young lad you could ever get your hands on to work with. He is so coachable. He wants to learn all the time. He’ll be fine.”
Dublin made the better start with Dean Rock’s accuracy, allied by the penetrative ball carrying of Nicky Devereux and Gary Sweeney, making it 0-6 to 0-2 before Donegal began using Murphy as a decoy to create space for others through the middle.
The momentum swung their way just before half-time when James Carroll fed Leo McLoone whose rapid exchange with Cillian Morrison gave him an easy tap in to make it 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval.
Donegal were in control until Sweeney’s excellent goal on 47 minutes. The teenager’s supreme confidence saw him solo without breaking stride before calmly placing the ball past Peter Boyle.
With seven minutes remaining Ciarán Dorney, the hero of the Leinster final against Westmeath when Dublin also rode their luck, capitalised on terribly lax Donegal defending to ease his team ahead, 1-8 to 1-7.
Rock and Murphy exchanged frees as three minutes of time added on was announced but Dublin substitute Barry O’Rorke’s point, after a marvellous piece of skill from Devereux, gave them a two-point cushion.
Murphy won the next kick out and was fouled by O’Carroll. He sent a quick free into Morrison who was hit head-on by Seán Murray. Duffy blew for the penalty. Murphy shot high and to his left. O’Carroll climbed over everyone, punching to the corner where the inspirational Dublin captain Johnny Cooper mopped up and cleared.
“You wouldn’t expect the crossbar,” said Gavin. “It reminds me of some of the games I played in with Dublin – missed penalties.
“They have ice in their brains.”
Subsequent developments since 2003 will calm talk of a bright new day in the capital yet O’Carroll and Rock are already part of the senior set-up and more will now follow.
DUBLIN: V Whelan; E Culligan, R O’Carroll, D Nelson; J Cooper, S Murray, N Devereux (0-1); J McCarthy, C Mullins; C Dorney (0-1), M Coughlan (0-1), G Sweeney (1-1); R McCarthy (0-1), T Furman, D Rock (0-4, two frees, one 45). Subs: D Quinn for R McCarthy (half-time), C Redden for J McCarthy (37 mins), B O’Rorke (0-1) for T Furman (43 mins), S McGuinness for D Nelson (49 mins), N Brogan for C Dorney (62 mins).
DONEGAL: P Boyle; E Doherty, C Boyle, P McGrath; D Walsh, T McKinley, C Classon; K Mulhern, D Curran; M McHugh (0-1), M Murphy (0-2, free), D Molloy (0-5, four frees); J Carroll, L McLoone (1-0), A McFadden. Subs: C Morrison for A McFadden (28 mins), D Murphy for T McKinley (28 mins), C McGinley for J Carroll (53 mins), S OKennedy for D Curran (67 mins).
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
