Ryan’s harsh dismissal leaves brave Dublin down and out

Inside Track with John McIntyre

MOST of the time, neutrals don’t get the results they aspire to in sport. Last Sunday in Croke Park, for instance, virtually everybody outside of Cork would have been willing Dublin to a first All-Ireland hurling final appearance since 1961, but sentiment and romance do not get teams over the line. Instead, they just came up short after an heroic effort in the match of the year.

It’s difficult, however, not to feel some sympathy for Dublin this week. They had gone toe to toe with Cork in a breathtaking spectacle until centre forward Ryan O’Dwyer was controversially dismissed for a second yellow card by referee James Ownes in the 50th minute. The Dubs were holding onto a one point lead and still had every chance of carrying the day, but being reduced to 14 men changed the dynamics of the remaining action.

O’Dwyer’s first yellow card was a bad call and his style of tackling is more the product of his manic desire to win rather than any malice on his part, but since football man Pat McEnaney took over at the head of the national referees group, hurling is being policed far more rigorously. It’s a regretful development and though it’s a debate for another day, the GAA must seriously look at introducing separate refereeing bodies for Gaelic football and hurling.

Given the circumstances of O’Dwyer’s red card, Dublin will be absolutely gutted this week. They had made light of the team’s five-week break since trouncing Galway in the Leinster final and, even still, could have sneaked the verdict only for Paul Ryan losing his nerve with the frees in the second-half. Pat Horgan’s opportunist goal was avoidable too and though overall the Dubs should be immensely proud of their contribution to a hurling epic, they will know deep down that a great opportunity has slipped through their fingers.

The pace and quality of Sunday’s semi-final was exceptional. Some of the point-taking in the first-half was of the classic variety with Danny Sutcliffe, David Treacy, Dotsy O’Callaghan, Conal Keaney, Joey Boland and John McCaffrey landing great scores for Dublin, while Conor Lehane, Lorcan McLoughlin, Pat Horgan, Seamus Harnedy and Pa Cronin were doing likewise at the other end. The sliotar was flying up and down the field, leaving the huge crowd of over 62,000 enthralled.

The match was turning into an all-action, high scoring shoot out which Cork appeared to be edging until Paul Ryan’s pass paved the way for Treacy’s well-taken booted goal in the 30th minute. Dublin didn’t really drive on, however, as the Rebels quickly regrouped. They actually managed to lead by 0-15 to 1-11 at the interval after midfielder Daniel Kearney made the most of a stray opposition clearance in the dying embers of the half.

It was no surprise that Dublin abandoned their surprisingly orthodox formation for the second-half. They reverted to a seven-man defensive set up in an effort to close down Cork’s rampaging forwards. Certainly, the rate of scoring was reduced and the men in red jerseys were no longer getting the space and latitude of the opening 35 minutes. In fact, Cork only managed three points in the third quarter and had lost some of their fluency, but then came O’Dwyer’s dismissal which left Dublin with a mountain to climb.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.