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Are we all present and accounted for? Good.
Welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of this afternoon’s second All-Ireland SFC semi-final as Dublin and Donegal do battle for the right to meet Kerry on the third Sunday in September.
We’ve got just over five minutes to throw-in. I’ll have the teams for you in a quick second.
Dublin: Cluxton; O’Sullivan, O’Carroll, Fitzsimons; McCarthy, Brennan, Nolan; Bastick, Macauley; Flynn, Cahill, Cullen; A Brogan, Connolly, B Brogan.
Donegal: Durcan; McGrath, McGee, McGlynn; Thompson, Lacey, Cassidy; Kavanagh, Gallagher; McHugh, Hegarty, Bradley; McBrearty, Murphy, McFadden.
The mind games begin already, as Donegal boss Jim McGuinness appears to have made three last-second changes to the team which I just posted. Christy Toye, Eamon McGee and David Walsh all start. Paddy McGrath, Michael Hegarty, and Paddy McBrearty all start from the bench.
The anthems are done, the rain appears to be easing, and referee Maurice Deegan gets the action underway. Game on, Ger!
Dublin keeper Stephen Cluxton has a chance to kick Dublin’s first point, but his free into the Canal end drifts to the left and wide. As he lined up his effort, the Donegal defenders had no problem getting in his face and letting him know that they were there.
As expected, both teams are defending doggedly in these early exchanges. Donegal defender Anthony Thompson is swarmed by four blue shirts as he tries to field the ball 10 yards from Cluxton’s goal.
With a sea of blue on Hill 16 doing its best to put him off, Michael Murphy kicks Donegal’s first wide from a free.
Seven minutes played in Croker, and it all looks a little bit nervy from both sides. Nobody is getting even a split second on the ball, so the passes and shots are quite erratic. Still no score to either side.
Dublin’s James McCarthy is booked for a rather cynical drag back. Colm McFadden takes over free-taking duties and opens the scoring for Donegal. Donegal 0-01 Dublin 0-00
Oooh, that looked to be a great chance for Bernard Brogan who capitalised on some sloppy defending by Donegal to race through on goal. He dragged his shot wide of Paul Durcan’s post, but Maurice Deegan had already whistled for a free-out so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
The capacity crowd in Croke Park is making some noise. It must be impossible to hear the referee’s whistle.
Neil McGee is penalised directly in front of his goal after a tussle with Bernard Brogan, and the reigning Footballer of the Year kicks a straightforward point to draw Dublin level. 13 minutes gone, Dublin 0-01 Donegal 0-01.
That’s a disappointing miss by Michael Murphy who puts a kickable free about five or six yards wide.
Bernard Brogan tries to contest a long dropping ball played in by Ger Brennan but there are five Donegal players within a couple of yards of him. Five.
Another wasted opportunity for Donegal as Colm McFadden kicks a 45 wide. That’s their fourth wide of the afternoon so far.
For a neutral, this must be terrible to watch. In fact, for everyone, this must be terrible to watch. But Donegal have restricted Dublin to one point in 20 minutes, so I’m guessing that Jim McGuinness will be happy enough with how things are going.
The amount of pressure that Donegal are putting Dublin under is quite remarkable. No matter how quickly Dublin try to move the ball, or how inventive they try to be, there are yellow jerseys right on top of them.
Ryan Bradley gets the afternoon’s first score from play. It only took 24 minutes, FYI. Donegal 0-02 Dublin 0-01
That might be the key to Dublin’s success — Bernard Brogan gets a jump on his marker to secure possession and draws the foul as he tries to turn and shoot. Donegal don’t look like they’ll take too many chances with him this afternoon. Brogan points the free and we’re level again. Dublin 0-02 Donegal 0-02
Wonderful score by Kevin Cassidy, Donegal’s quarter-final hero. He kicks a beauty off the outside of his boot which drops over Cluxton’s bar. Donegal 0-03 Dublin 0-02
Colm McFadden is looking pretty dangerous when he gets the ball inside the 40. He extends Donegal’s lead to two with a well-taken point from play. Donegal 0-04 Dublin 0-02
Barry Cahill gets a yellow card for flattening Karl Lacey. A little bit of frustration creeping into Dublin’s play as the clock ticks towards half-time.
We’re into the first of three minutes of additional time. Diarmuid Connolly tries to score Dublin’s first point from play but it’s another effort which drops short and bounces wide. I wonder if Pat Gilroy has a Plan B?
This is not looking good for Dublin. Stephen Cluxton has a chance to cut the deficit to one with what is pretty much the final kick of the half, but he can’t hit the target.
HALF TIME: Donegal 0-04 Dublin 0-02
Donegal will be pretty happy with that. Everyone else watching at home has probably changed the channel at this stage. I’ll be back in a few minutes, I just need to try to make some sense of what I’ve just seen.
Ok, this is how it is. Donegal have executed their game plan almost to perfection as far as I can see. They are happy to rely on Murphy, McFadden and a couple of occasional midfield forays to get the points — everyone else is behind the ball, hassling and harrying until the Dubs cough it up. It’s not great to watch, but it looks to be getting the job done at the moment.
For Dublin, the problem is that they are playing right into Donegal’s hands. They are carrying the ball into contact too frequently and they aren’t moving it about quickly enough. The major issue is that their options are quite limited when attacking and, rather than pushing men on in support, the Dubs are happy to snatch at long-range chances.
It’s not working, and it won’t work in the second half. I’d love to hear what Pat Gilroy is saying at the moment.
Dublin’s saving grace is that they are only two points behind. Against any other team, you might expect to claw back that deficit within a couple of second-half minutes, but that’s unlikely to happen today. Rather than try to hand out an unmerciful Tyrone-style beating after the break, they need to concentrate on just getting their noses back in front.
Donegal, on the other hand, will keep doing what they’re doing and try to frustrate and annoy Dublin into taking on more silly shots. It has worked so far, but can it continue?
One change each for the second half: Kevin McMenamin is on to replace Barry Cahill for Dublin, while Donegal’s Michael Hegarty comes on for Christy Toye.
We’re back underway and from the throw-in, Colm McFadden has a glorious goal chance. He’s played in after some great work by Michael Murphy but can’t keep his shot down and fires over the bar. Donegal 0-05 Dublin 0-02
Dublin have started to push an extra player or two on in these opening minutes, but it’s yet to pay any real dividends.
Kevin Cassidy appears to have precious little conception of distance — he’s standing about six or seven yards from Stephen Cluxton as the Dubs keeper lines up a free. It doesn’t bother Cluxton though, who knocks the free over the bar. Donegal 0-05 Dublin 0-3
Marty Boyle comes on to replace the injured Karl Lacey.
A wonderful pointed free by Colm McFadden who swings the point over from out near the right touchline. Donegal 0-06 Dublin 0-03
81, 436 is the official attendance at Croker this afternoon. I think that counts as a sell-out, though you could probably wedge one or two more in if you wanted.
Dublin are losing the head a little bit here, which isn’t helping their cause at all. They’re conceding far too many frees in their desperation to win possession. When they do get it, they’re giving it back far too easily.
Jim McGuinness is absolutely incensed with Cian O’Sullivan’s tackle on Rory Kavanagh. The Donegal bench are signalling that O’Sullivan used his elbow, but the replays show that it wasn’t quite that serious. Maurice Deegan agrees and it’s just yellow for the Dublin corner-back.
Under pressure, Bernard Brogan battles for possession and is rewarded with a free. He points, and Donegal’s lead is reduced to two. Eighteen minutes to play. Donegal 0-06 Dublin 0-04
Cluxton’s 45 splits the posts, much to delight of Hill 16. One-point game. Donegal 0-06 Dublin 0-05
Kevin McMenamin has the ball in the Donegal net, but it won’t count. Referee Maurice Deegan didn’t like the way in which the forward challenged Paul Durcan, causing him to drop the ball. McMenamin looks like he may have been inside the small rectangle as well. Either way, it won’t count.
RED CARD! (Connolly, 58′) A rush of blood to the head for Dublin’s Diarmuid Connolly, and he’s sent off by Maurice Deegan. Connolly had just won a free for Dublin 20 yards from the Donegal goal and, in a little bit of afters, he raised his hands and pushed Marty Boyle in the face. He’s gone, and with 12 minutes to play, Dublin are down to 14.
Kevin McMenamin fields the ball and carries it inside the Donegal 20, but slips just as he’s about to pull the trigger. He does well to get back to his feet though, and slots the point to draw Dublin level. Ten minutes to play. Donegal 0-06 Dublin 0-06
A final roll of the dice by Pat Gilroy who switches wing-back James McCarthy with forward Eoghan O’Gara.
O’Gara is immediately at the centre of the action. His shot on goal is brilliantly blocked down but when play is recycled, it is worked to Brian Cullen at the back post and he fires Dublin into the lead. Dublin 0-07 Donegal 0-06
A bit of a let-off for Dublin there. As Michael Fitzsimons scrambled to stop Colm McFadden, he appeared to play the ball with his elbow. It could have been a free-in and a certain point for Donegal, but referee Maurice Deegan decides that the offence was not intentional and play continues. Six minutes to play.
Dublin get a free in an kickable position for a sly tug on Bernard Brogan. Brogan is really fired up, charging towards the Hill and roaring them on. Brogan stands over the free…
…and scores. Dublin 0-08 Donegal 0-06.
Ross McConnell is on to replace the injured Paul Flynn.
Just over two minutes remaining, plus stoppage time. Donegal have only scored twice in this second half, and you can’t help but feel that they’ll need a goal now.
Ryan Bradley is given some medical treatment after a clash with Ross McConnell. The game is stopped for the moment, but we’re into injury time now.
Three minutes of injury time. Donegal have three minutes to save their Championship.
A free for Dublin as the clock ticks down, and Stephen Cluxton trots up from the back…
FULL-TIME: Dublin 0-08 Donegal 0-06
And that is it. Maurice Deegan blows for full-time, and it is Dublin who will meet Kerry in the All-Ireland Final on the third Sunday of September.
To describe that as “terrible” is perhaps overly generous, but the last 10 minutes were certainly gripping. In the end, Dublin’s 14 men managed to claw themselves over the line, and they’re back in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1995.
Perhaps it was a little bit surprising that Donegal didn’t push on for the last few minutes when they had the extra man, but I suppose that wouldn’t really have been in keeping with the game plan that had served them so well to that point.
Dublin weren’t a completely different side in the second half but, helped by the introduction of Kevin McMenamin, they certainly stopped playing into Donegal’s hands to the same extent as they had in the first half.
Remember the date: Sunday 18 September. Dublin v Kerry. The game which, in the last ten minutes, has been repeatedly described as the “football final which GAA fans wanted to see.”
After all, they are the two most successful footballing counties in the country — Kerry with 36 titles and Dublin with 22 — but they haven’t met in the final since Kerry’s 2-12 to 2-08 win in 1985, and the hype is bound to reach fever pitch over the next three weeks.
Dublin manager Pat Gilroy:
“That’s all semi-finals are about, it’s about getting over them.
“We’ve tried a few times over the last few years, and today we had to be really patient and stick to our task. It was a very very difficult game and fair play to Donegal, they made it difficult. But I think we showed great composure and patience to see it out.
We expected it, so we probably weren’t as frustrated as people watching it were. But it was going to be difficult to break down, so we had to be patient.
“I think changing some people helped us as well. Kevin [McMenamim] got a bit more penetration when he came on to the pitch.
“I suppose it [Connolly's sending-off] did change the game, but I think the guys had started to step it up just before that and we were really getting on top of Donegal. There were gaps beginning to appear and we took advantage of that.
And on the all-important meeting with Kerry:
Ah, it’s another game. Dublin-Kerry, a lot is talked about it, but I think it was only really a rivalry in the ’70s when Dublin gave Kerry a fair run of it. We’ll think about it tomorrow.
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness:
“I suppose at 0-06 to 0-03 we probably had a chance to go on and win the game, but in fairness, Dublin came back very very strongly and in the end they deserved to win definitely.
“Obviously, Dublin are very advanced in their conditioning and in their development and it kind of came through there at the end. They wore us down today.
The boys have become competitive again, they’ve brought a lot of pride back into the county.
“I don’t think I’m anti-football to be honest with you. This time last year, what we were trying to do was win games and get the team winning games, and I suppose that’s what we’ve decided to do with the team. I don’t make any apologies for that, we don’t feel that we have to make any apologies for that. Our game plan was to try to beat Dublin today.
I would prefer to be winning games and winning championships and winning medals than to be going down in a blaze of glory.
It’s a joke, the FA are a bunch of clowns anyway
O take your punishment you sulky overpaid idiot. You knew exactly what you were doing with that goal celebration. Definitely knew it would be controversial.
even if that were true and i am not saying it is,you are suggesting being controversial is a punishable offense and at that with a 5 game ban ???
Yes because he knew what he was doing.
well mike punishing someone for being controversial is one of the most stupid things ive ever had the misfortune to hear and tell me how does such and ambiguous offense get defined and who decides ?? is it decided by mass hysteria on the internet ?? i disagree with the fact that he knew it would cause such a stir too,the vast vast majority of people outside france had never even heard of the gesture or the comedian until after anelkas celebration
I completely agree with it. Players can’t be allowed celebrate whatever way they want especially when it can cause controversy. The people in power as always are the people who decide. He will appeal and get the ban reduced as always. Rooney was banned for cursing in to the camera but that particular curse is part of 99% of people’s daily lives. I agreed with that ban too.
The FA should take a leaf out of the NFL’s book and ban all goal celebrations.
Gerard if that is one of the most stupid things you have ever had the misfortune of reading you must have lived a fairly simple and sheltered life up to now. Welcome to the real world!!
I’m glad the great Johnny Giles agrees with me. I would take what he has to say more seriously than what you have to say on the matter Paddy. Go read his article and you might understand the significance of what he did. You must be a big WBA fan to support him. I still find it laughable that you think it’s the must stupid thing you ever read.
can you not answer a simple question mike,who decides what is controversial and how do they define it ?? ” the people in power” is not an answer you might as well have said “holy god” !!!
It’s not up to me to decide who punishes players for incidents like this is it? I’m not involved in the FA. Do you acutally not know who punished him? Have you had your head buried for your whole life? The same people in the FA dish out all the fines and bans to players and managers. Go research it on the internet if you want further information as I’m not going to waste my time explaining it. You are either a wum or you know absolutely nothing about soccer.
Did you read the John Giles article like I said? You probably don’t even know who he is considering you don’t know who hands down the bans to players. Who hands down bans to any player in any sport?? The fans? The club shop worker? The burger van worker outside the ground? Or in this instance just possibly maybe the FA!! You probably don’t know what FA stands for.
Guess you just don’t like Monsieur Anelka, Mike
I only dislike any player who does a stupid needless goal celebration that could cause any kind of controversy. To do something that caused a lot of anger and disgust in your own country is disgusting. It’s nothing got to do with disliking a player it’s got to do with their lack if common decency
i will try one last time mike,you are testing my patience but i know you cant help it but HOW IS CONTROVERSY TO BE DEFINED ??? and you slow slow man who is to decide it as in because iabunch of sad people take to the internet to get hysterical does that then make something punishable by a 5 match ban or does everyone have to write a letter to the fa !!! tell me mike you vague ambiguous clown of a man
O Gerard are you getting a bit hot under the collar? Are you Anelka or a relative of his?
The people in the FA decide what controversy is and they called it spot on here. His gesture caused outrage in France. He knew his gesture would cause this. He will deny it the same way anyone will deny any wrongdoing. If there were not places like courts and sporting organisations to hand out prison sentences and bans etc. nobody would get punished for their actions.
What did you think of the John Giles article Gerard?
see first of all i didnt think you were talking to me because you said “paddy” my name is gerard,were you using a derogatory name for irish people ??? i had presumed you were irish second of all insulting me isnt the best way to get me to comply generally and lastly i am well aware of who charged him with the offense but its not because the english FA themselves personally found it controversial,they arent the kings of soccer in england,i will ask you for the fourth time,who decides its been controversial and more importantly how is controversial to be defined ??? if you dont know thats ok just say so !
I’m not here to teach you the workings of the FA Paddy. Go on the internet, if you know what that is, and read up about who decides. I’ll give you a hint it has the letters F & A in it. If that hint doesn’t help you along I think it would be best for all if you put your head back into that hole. Obviously you are not cut out for the real world as you are easily upset. Imagine getting upset about people having choice words to say about Nicolas Anelka. You must be either him, a friend, a relative or that idiot comedian.
hahahaha “paddy” oh im really insulted now,did you come up with that on your own ?? who’s a clever boy.id say you make your mother realy proud,the irony of saying i get too easily upset is almost too much for me,thanks mike ive had a great laugh at your expense mind yourself and remember to wear your helmet :-)
Ok Paddy no bother. Try enjoy your day. Keep the tissues close by to dry your weeping eyes!!
hahahaha paddy,say it again for me,it hurts me so bad !!!!! hey ive a question for HOW ARE THEY TO DEFINE CONTROVERSY ???? bet you cant answer !!!! ahhahahahah i love you mike
Say hello to Nicolas for me Paddy and give him a nice kiss. Ye will be able to spend lots of time watching DVD’s of yere comedian friend whilst he serves his much deserved ban for causing such controversy. Naughty boy that Nicolas. Ooops I hope that comment doesn’t upset you further, hope you took my advice and kept the tissues close by, give Nicolas a few too!
A dictionary is good for finding the definition of words, maybe you might use that in your quest to understand the word controversy. Although I’m not too sure you will understand what a dictionery is and you will need a dictionery to figure out what a dictionery is!!! Oooooo you live in a confused world!!! Poor baby
HOW IS CONTROVERSY TO BE DEFINED ???? imagine not being able to answer a simple question about the point you made,its like you dont even understand yourself !!! hahahahaha and the paddy is more clever,that must sting HOW IS CONTROVERSY TO BE DEFINED???
still cant answer my question ???ill give you another chance,im sound like that HOW IS CONTROVERSY TO E DEFINED ????
Poor Paddy doesn’t know what a dictionery is! Ah well to be fair I suppose not everyone had the good fortune to be educated.
If you did have a dictionery I’d say you would find a picture of your boyfriend Nicolas under the word controversial. Ah maybe that’s it, maybe you don’t want to look up the word in the dictionery as you know your boyfriend will be pictured there and you can’t come to terms with the fact he’s controversial. He probably will have a sulky face on him in the picture as usual
hahahahahahaha mike you legend !!! :-0 hey i have a question for you,HOW WILL THEY DEFINE CONTROVERSY ??? imagine a paddy who doesnt know what a dictionary is being smarter than you !! must sting,bit like your mothers vag !! hahaha go on mike keep it coming (again your mother springs to mind)
This might shock you Paddy but there is a dictionery that can fit in your pocket, it’s called a pocket size dictionery. Imagine you could have this in your pocket to help you when you get stumped by the definition of words. You could use it in the special school you obviously attend and you could become the star pupil. Imagine, Paddy of all people becoming the teachers pet after all the years of not understanding words and having your head buried in a hole, are you an ostrich by any chance? I don’t think you are unless Nicolas is dating an ostrich! I suppose he could be considering he likes doing controversial things. I hope one day you can figure out the definition of the word controversy special Paddy. Maybe ask the teacher in the morning and he/she might give you some help with it. I suppose it’s not fair to abuse thickos like yourself but it’s funny so why not, it passes cold January days!
Paddy do you know what an apostrophe is? Maybe that lesson hasn’t come up in that special school yet.
what is this apostrophe you speak of ??? is it the philosopher ??? we dont do philosophy in my special needs school.hey her’s a question for you HOW ARE THEY TO DEFINE CONTROVERSY ???
O Paddy Paddy Paddy you are even thicker than I thought. Don’t worry there is a place for people of all intelligence or lack of in this world. Ye make the world a funny place and give us intelligent people something to laugh at.
Proper order. I dont buy his stupidity defence at all. He is paid eneough to behave – no place for politics or racism in sport whichever way you interpret the gesture.
Well said James, fair play
it wasnt political nor racial,he did it in support of a comedian
He did but he knew it would cause outrage in his country as that comedian had already caused outrage because of things he said and did similar gestures. It’s not like he was doing a gesture in support of a comedian that had never got in trouble and it was taken up the wrong way. The soccer pitch is not the place to do any kind of gesture to support anyone.
so you cant answer ??? hahahahahahhahahaha ok ok,here’s an easy one for you HOW ARE THEY TO DEFINE CONTROVERSY ????
is that your way of sayin you dont know ????? :-0 hahaha go on the paddies we’re so smart and witty !!!!!! :-) hey ive a question for you mike HOW ARE THEY TO DEFINE CONTROVERSY ???
Paddy where are you gone? I thought we were friends!!!
Mike i dont know what your nationality is but you are one of the intelligencia in your country the God help your nation
With a head on you like that god help your nation and any future kids!! Good lord