Plenty of work to do for summer

Dublin 0-9 Cork 0-9 When Dublin and Cork lock horns these days it doesn't create much of a stir in the jungle. Not much grass gets trampled. You could get parking in Donnycarney yesterday right up to throw-in, and the imprecations and oaths from the small crowd were scarcely enough to interrupt the thoughts of golfers on the course behind.

In the end it was deemed that a draw was a fair and equitable way to divvy up the points after 70 minutes that were middling in terms of entertainment and intriguing in terms of either county's view of itself as a superpower. If either team is to become anything of consequence this summer they will have to transform themselves.

It should be noted in mitigation early on that the weather was mischievous and unhelpful, sweeping in from the clubhouse end and raking all before it. Everything afterwards was viewed in terms of the wind and the absentees.

What might have been and what will be.

Cork, missing 11 players, as Billy Morgan pointed out more than once afterwards, find themselves needing to win their final two games if they are to play more league football. When they examine why they didn't win this particular game against a Dublin side reduced to 14 men for all of the second half they will hasten the convalescence of several of that missing 11.

As it was, the game unfolded with appealing symmetry. Both sides scored seven points in the half when they were kicking with the wind. Of missed chances, Cork's had the most lamentable goal opportunities, but Dublin, as is their wont these days, missed some very kickable frees in the first half.

With summer getting ever nearer this won't be a game that either side will be studying for long. Both teams had a little shuffling to do before the game started. Injury deprived the home side of Declan O'Mahony and Tomás Quinn, prompting manager Tommy Lyons to insert Peadar Andrews back into the team for the first time since his injury and to offer a start to Kevin Golden of St Vincent's.

For Cork, Martin Cronin and Micheál Ó Croinín were both absent. Noel O'Donovan came in at wing back and Fionnan Murray returned to the Cork team at full forward.

For Dublin, the return of Peadar Andrews was the most significant event of the day. Andrews played well and joined the attack frequently. You look at the options Dublin have for the half back line now (including Shane Ryan and Brian Cullen, neither of whom played) and you have to reckon that there is the foundation of a team there.

And as Lyons would point out later, Alan Brogan returns from Australia next week.

Before his slightly unlucky dismissal yesterday Jason Sherlock was in exhilarating form.

The shape of a summer team is emerging in the forwards: Brogan, Sherlock, Connell, Quinn, Keaney (if still straying from his principle faith) and any one from a group of other contenders, which includes Ray Cosgrove.

Dublin created several decent chances against the run of play in the first half as Cork set about running in a score which they could declare on at half-time. Golden had a tough time kicking into the wind and there were several other guilty parties caught out in the conditions.

For Cork, Philip Clifford was giving Paul Griffin a difficult time, a pattern which was repeated across the full forward line where a preponderance of early ball was made unpredictable by the wind. Clifford bagged the scores and there were chances a plenty, but Dublin will be quietly pleased their emergency services coped sufficiently to keep them within five points at the break.

They could argue, too, that they were better value than that. Playing with a two-man full forward line and letting Sherlock wander, they benefited greatly from his unerring distribution. One wonderful pass let Shane Ryan in for a goal chance which was saved, but soon afterwards Sherlock unleashed his old accomplice Senan Connell with another fine pass which brought Dublin's first point. All that and a series of frees which dropped short kept Dublin hopeful.

All the greater pity, then, when Sherlock was dismissed just before half-time when a clash with Anthony Lynch produced his second bookable offence. Although he appeared to take a swing at the opposing player, Sherlock, as a rule, is more sinned against than sinning when he plays. His loss deprived the game of its most creative influence.

After the half-time tea and thermal blankets, Dublin got down to work the old fashioned way and ground out a result.

Declan Lally showed more of his potential as the sort of wing forward that Dublin need, opening the scoring in the half and making himself available throughout.

Senan Connell, who had a fine game, began to gnaw away at Cork's confidence, and as Dublin closed in on the draw it was fitting that it was Connell, with his fifth score of the game, who secured the point.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, P Christie, P Griffin; P Andrews, D Magee, C Moran; C Whelan, S Ryan; S Connell (0-5, one free), B Cullen, D Lally (0-2, one free); J Sherlock, R Cosgrove, K Golden (0-1, free). Subs: Ó hEineacháin (0-1) for Golden (half-time); J McNally for Cosgrove (57 mins); D Homan for Magee (65 mins); C Goggins for Griffin (68 mins).

CORK: K O'Dwyer; S O'Brien, G Canty, G Murphy; E Sexton, A Lynch, N O'Donovan; M O'Sullivan, D Hurley; K McMahon (0-1), C McCarthy, A Cronin; P Clifford (0-5, 1f), F Murray (0-2, 1f), C Crowley (0-1). Subs: J Mescal for F Murray (60 mins).

Referee: J McKee (Armagh)