An All-Ireland minor football semi-final of lost opportunities for tirelessly energetic teams who strove manfully, if not particularly adroitly in testing conditions, ended in high drama as the result issue depended entirely on the accuracy and nerve of Liam Og O hEineachain, Dublin's polished attack leader.
Dublin left wing forward Cillian O'Driscoll was fouled on the end line midway between the posts and the corner flag in front of the Nally Stand in a desperate last ditch attack. The match was into injury time and Dublin trailed by a point.
It was the big pressure kick of a match that had been notable for a number of crucial wides in a swirling wind, but the Kilmacud Crokes youth, as cool as you like, popped over an angled shot to level the scores.
The real hero of a fluctuating struggle was Down goalkeeper John Sloan who brought off two miraculous saves that were strictly out of the top draw. Sloan had been noted for similar spectacular feats in the Ulster championship but after yesterday's performance he admitted, "I think I surprised myself".
Sloan's second stop, four minutes from time with Dublin ahead by a point, clearly let his side off the hook. The ball was swiftly moved down the right leaving Sean McCann with a gilt edged chance but somehow, the advancing Sloan not only got a hand to it but set up a counter-attack from which the Down team captain and centre back Liam Doyle was sent clear to kick an equaliser.
Earlier in the half Sloan denied Og O hEineachain of what seemed an imminent goal by throwing himself feet first to affect the block and clearance.
If Dublin had cause to rue their lost chances in front of Sloan, Down will look back with regret on the string of opportunities they saw repeatedly let go, especially in the second half.
Attack leader Michael Walsh distinguished himself by distributing the ball magnificently throughout the game, but equally earned the role of villain by missing three of Downs' five setters in the third quarter. It was some day for him.
This particular spell of missed opportunities by the Ulster champions made their manager Gerry Dougherty comment afterwards, "We should have had Dublin beaten out of sight at that stage".
Dougherty admitted, however, that he had mixed emotions about the result: "It was a tough match of block tackling and basically that is why we are to play another day".
Dougherty's Dublin counterpart Cyril Kevlehan was more philosophical. "We got out of jail," he said referring to O O OhEineachain's last gasp point. "We didn't flow, we didn't get it right as we know we can. We were left with out backs to the wall but we have a good team and can only hope to improve in the replay".
The Dublin defence, with the exception of wing back Alan Brogan, a son of former Dublin all-star Bernard, was too easily caught off guard during Down's third quarter dominance that fortunately for the "Blues" yielded only two points.
Dublin goalkeeer Steve Cluxton emulated his opposite number when he blocked a goal destined shot from Down full forward John Fegan at the expense of a "45" which Brendan Coulter converted to level the scores before halftime.
Coulter had a fine game in midfield to help counter the work of Dublin's Conor Murphy and Kevin Devine. Michael Walsh was credited with a late fisted point, off a Coulter well lobbed free, before O OhEineachai n struck to square the match.
Brogan got forward again early in the second half to wipe out Down's one point interval lead (07 to 1-4).
Dublin: S Cluxton; A Holly, N Cleere, N O'Driscoll; A Brogan (1-1), P Casey (0-1), A Cleere; C Murphy, K Devine (0-1), S McCann, L Og O OhEineachain (0-4 one free), C O'Driscoll (0-1), S Mills (0-1), B McEvoy, G Joyce. Substitutes: J Waldron (0-1) for Mills (50 mins).
Down: J Sloan; J Clarke, B Grant, M Doran; B Kearney, L Doyle (0-2), D McGrady; L Sloan, B Coulter (0-3 one "45"), G Digney (0-1), M Walsh (0-2), R Murtagh, G Morgan (0-2, one free), J Fegan (0-1), R Sexton (0-2). Substitutes: P J McAlinden for Morgan 51 mins.
Referee D Joyce (Galway)
