GAA round-up: Kildare were left seething after a highly contentious decision handed Dublin a place in the Leinster football final today. Having launched a trademark comeback, Kildare appeared to have forced a replay when Eamonn Callaghan levelled matters deep into injury time.
Instead, Dublin sent a long ball forward and referee Cormac Reilly penalised Aindriu MacLochlainn as he challenged Bernard Brogan for possession. If there was contact at all it was minimal and while the Dubs celebrated, the Kildare supported vented their fury. Brogan knocked over the simplest of frees himself to send Dublin into the final with a 1-12 to 1-11 win but the debate over the validity of their win will rage well into next week.
Dublin were sluggish in the opening stages, allowing Kildare to establish a foothold, but once into their stride began to stamp their authority on proceedings. After notching the opening two scores, with Bernard Brogan getting his side up and running, Dublin switched off and Eoin O'Flaherty swiftly drew the Lilywhites level with two points of his own.
Stung into action, Dublin’s attack clicked with Alan Brogan first knocking over a wonderful point after combining with his sibling before Paul Flynn robbed a Kildare defender and raced clear to fired home the opening goal of the game. Johnny Doyle responded with his first free but Dublin still turned with a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 advantage.
Not for this first time, however, this Kildare team emerged from the locker room vastly improved although their cause was aided and abbeted by the loss of Michael Dara Macauley to injury and a rush of blood from O’Gara. Booked in the first half for persistent fouling, O’Gara flattened Conor Brophy
completely unnecessarily to leave Reilly little option but to send the big full forward off.
Kildare, buoyed by O’Gara’s dismissal, set about reeling the defending champions in and points from Eoin O’Flaherty, Robert Kelly and Eamonn Callaghan brought them within touching distance as Dublin were limited to picking off rare scores.
The did have a chance of a goal only for Alan Brogan’s shot to be cleared off the line by Andrew MacLochlainn, but as time ticked away Dublin appeared to have done enough. That was before Callaghan’s intervention, the half forward first scoring a stunning goal from all over 20 metres and then sending over the equalising score.
Few in the crowd of 58,000 would have denied Kildare a replay, but when Dublin launched one last attack, Reilly penalised MacLochlainn. It was a bitter pill for Kieren McGeeney to swallow, but his side can go into the qualifiers with their heads held high.
Dublin will meet Wexford in the decider after they opened the Leinster semi-final double header at Croke Park with a resounding 4-12 to 0-10 win over Carlow. Shane Roche was the star for the Model County, scoring 2-4 of his side’s total as Jason Ryan’s side ran out 14-point winners.
In Castlebar, Mayo dispatched Galway to put their scare against London behind them but will have to improve further if they are to be considered All-Ireland contenders after a poor exhibition at a damp and dreary McHale Park this afternoon.
Mayo cruised into the Connacht final, where Roscommon await, thanks to a 1-12 to 1-6 after Galway managed just a single point in the second half. Mayo were equally poor in the first half but upped their performance after the break to see off their rivals with ease.
Eight minutes were on the clock before either side managed a score in a low-octane contest. By that stage, Mayo’s Alan Dillon had already kicked a couple of wides and goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly was summoned forward to knock over a free from distance.
Mayo were seeing plenty of the ball but had precious little to show for it with some poor decision making and wayward shooting. In the first half alone, they forged 17 scoring chances but took just four of those and Galway, who were making the most of their opportunities, turned 1-5 to 0-4 in front thanks to a Paul Conroy goal.
With the wind at their backs, Mayo were a different animal after the break and Kevin McLaughlin soon drew the sides level before Alan Freeman finished in the corner to put clear daylight between the sides. Galway, on the other hand, were all at sea and could only muster a score from Eoin Concannon in the entire period.
In Ulster, Donegal set up a mouth watering final with neighbours Derry after ending Tyrone’s reign with a 2-6 to 0-9 win. There was late drama in Clones as Dermot Molloy’s injury-time goal proved the difference between the sides.
Martin Penrose looked to have secured a replay for Tyrone, who finished the match with 14 men after Kevin Hughes was sent off, with a late point but Molloy took Michael Murphy’s pass to send Donegal through with virtually the last kick of the game.
Sunday’s GAA results
Leinster SFC semi-finals
Dublin 1-12 Kildare 1-11
Wexford 4-12 Carlow 0-10
Connacht SFC semi-final
Mayo 1-12 Galway 1-6
Ulster SFC semi-final
Donegal 2-6 Tyrone 0-9
Saturday’s GAA results
All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1
London 0-15 Fermanagh 0-9
Antrim 0-16 Westmeath 1-07
Down 1-13 Clare 1-12
Longford 2-16 Cavan 0-11
Wicklow 1-18 Sligo 0-16
Laois 2-16 Tipperary 0-11
Meath 5-08 Louth 2-08
Offaly 1-18 Monaghan 1-10
All-Ireland Hurling Qualifiers Phase 1
Cork 2-17 Offaly 2-16
Antrim 0-23 Carlow 1-12