Allianz Football League Division Two

Dublin 0-18 Cork 2-10

By Stephen Barry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Jack McCaffrey made a match-winning return after three years out of the Dublin jersey to hold off Cork in a Division 2 contest that ended with 14 men on either side.

It was by the skin of their teeth that Dublin escaped Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a first Leeside victory since 1990, however, after man-of-the-match Brian Hurley’s 78th-minute shot was tipped onto the post by David O’Hanlon.

Daniel O’Mahony had come close moments earlier, his effort bravely blocked by Tom Lahiff.

There was a jolt of excitement through the crowd with the pre-match announcement that McCaffrey was named on the bench in a change to the match programme.

The 2015 Footballer of the Year’s first touch for Dublin in three years was to assist a James McCarthy point to put Dublin two ahead on the hour.

His brilliant turn of pace hasn’t left him either as he showed in the 75th minute when beating two men to slot the insurance score.

Dublin had experienced eight consecutive losses in Cork over the last 33 years, although these two hadn’t met down south since 2015.

After a first half in which Cork showed more incision, Dublin still led at the break, 0-10 to 1-6.

Cork were patient in possession but showed an ability to vary their attack with kick passes to the inside outlets of Hurley and Chris Óg Jones. Hurley picked up four points, with Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy, and Seán Powter all locating him with balls kicked over the Dublin defence.

Cork’s three goal chances came via this route too, Colm O’Callaghan (twice) and Mattie Taylor kicking ball into the inside line.

From the first, Hurley set up Jones but David O’Hanlon held his ground, although he picked the ball off the turf to gift Steven Sherlock a tap-over free.

Eoghan McSweeney twice got free with storming off-the-ball runs at the heart of the Dublin defence. Powter couldn’t find him with the first but in the 22nd minute, Jones turned provider and the Knocknagree attacker side-footed to the roof of the net. Having been level four times, Cork jumped 1-4 to 0-4 ahead.

Then, Jones again was the creator for corner-back Maurice Shanley to palm to the net, although that goal was chalked off for a marginal square ball call.

Dublin kept their composure in attack. Their 10-point return came entirely from kick-outs worked upfield without letting Cork get pressure on the ball as the Rebels counted the cost of their seven first-half wides.

The closest they came to puncturing the Cork inside line was in the opening stages as Con O’Callaghan was fouled by Shanley when bursting into the box. Another marginal decision that the holding ended before entering penalty territory.

Nevertheless, Lee Gannon teed up Con O’Callaghan and Cormac Costello as Dublin reeled off the last three scores to edge ahead.

The game turned on the resumption. Midfielder Ian Maguire found himself isolated on Dean Rock and referee Séamus Mulhare deemed his jersey pull worthy of a second yellow card.

John Cleary sacrificed Sherlock as the Dubs picked Cork off with points from Rock (0-2), O’Callaghan, and Daire Newcombe, with his second score having started the day at corner-back on Sherlock.

It became 14-a-side in the 48th minute, Gannon receiving his second booking for a shoulder on Powter after the ball was gone. That gave Cork some inspiration, with Hurley tacking on the next two points to make it a one-score game, 0-14 to 1-8.

Only four minutes after Gannon’s red, the Rebels had levelled it. Taylor played a one-two with Deane down the flank and the Mallow flyer sent a rocket to the net.

McCaffrey’s introduction helped Dublin restore their lead, with Brian Fenton and McCarthy landing points.

Colm O’Callaghan had a goal-bound effort blocked by Cian Murphy, while Shanley denied Con O’Callaghan at the other end. Colm Basquel couldn’t keep his feet when through on goal entering seven minutes added time.

A Hurley wide and McCaffrey point left Cork needing a goal but they were held out by O’Hanlon’s fingertips.

Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-6 (4fs), Con O’Callaghan 0-4 (1m), Daire Newcombe 0-2; Cian Murphy, Brian Fenton, Ross McGarry, Cormac Costello, James McCarthy, Jack McCaffrey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Brian Hurley 0-8 (3fs, 1m), Eoghan McSweeney 1-1, Mattie Taylor 1-0; Steven Sherlock 0-1 (f).

Dublin: David O’Hanlon; Daire Newcombe, Cian Murphy, Michael Fitzsimons; John Small, Lee Gannon, Tom Lahiff; Brian Fenton, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne; Niall Scully, Ciarán Kilkenny, Ross McGarry; Cormac Costello, Dean Rock, Con O’Callaghan.

Subs: James McCarthy for Ó Cofaigh Byrne (44), David Byrne for Scully (55), Colm Basquel for McGarry (55), Jack McCaffrey for Murphy (58), Lorcan O’Dell for Costello (69).

Cork: Mícheál Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Luke Fahy, Rory Maguire, Mattie Taylor; Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire; Eoghan McSweeney, Seán Powter, Brian O’Driscoll; Brian Hurley (capt), Chris Óg Jones, Steven Sherlock.

Subs: Ruairí Deane for Sherlock (43), Conor Corbett for Jones (55), John O’Rourke for McSweeney (61), Killian O’Hanlon for Powter (63), Fionn Herlihy for O’Driscoll (70+2).

Referee: Séamus Mulhare (Laois).