An outstanding side.
It might have taken Jim Gavin’s men some time to find their feet, but Dublin have won their fourth All-Ireland title in a row and confirmed their status as one of – if not THE – greatest football sides of all time by lifting Sam Maguire for the fourth time in a row.
After a nervous opening 15 minutes, the Dubs hit their stride and ran out Dublin 2-17 Tyrone 1-14 winners at Croke Park.
Early on, the result was far from certain as the defending champions struggled to impose themselves against a ferocious Tyrone. Early wides and missed free-kicks by Dean Rock were seized upon by Mickey Harte’s men as they moved into an early four point lead.
After 16 minutes, the Red Hand County were in the ascendancy but the momentum of the game swung in the 19th minute when Tiernan McCann’s tackle on Paul Mannion was judged to be a foul.
Mannion converted the penalty and the Dubs got their second goal of the day when Con O’Callaghan brilliantly set up Niall Scully for an easy finish.
At the break, the Dubs led by 2-07 to 0-06 but Tyrone also hit nine wides in the opening half.
Half-time in Croke Park and it's @DubGAAOfficial 2-07@TyroneGAALive 0-06
Check out the first half highlights here on #GAANOW! pic.twitter.com/x0EZPRQkYQ— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 2, 2018
Early scores fromConor McAliskey and Kieran McGeary gave Tyrone a strong start to the second half but a flurry of scores from Brian Fenton, Brian Howard and Ciaran Kilkenny settled Dublin down and make it 2-10 0-10.
Tyrone’s hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow in the 47th minute when Kieran McGeary was shown a black card for obstructing Fenton’s run
Paul Mannion and Cathal McShane traded points but a wonderful score from Brian Fenton stretched Dublin’s lead as Kevin McManamon and Cormac Costello were introduced from the bench.
Dean Rock’s frees kept the scoreboard ticking over but Tyrone’s hopes were reignited when they were awarded a penalty after Philly McMahon pulled back Colm Cavanagh in the square.
Peter Harte absolutely buried the penalty past Cluxton to make it Dublin 2-14 Tyrone 1-12 with five minutes remaining. With seven minutes of injury time being given, John Small saw red for a second yellow as Lee Brennan slotted over the 14-yard free.
Peter Harte scores the penalty for Tyrone! pic.twitter.com/cEIlY5TNDR
— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 2, 2018
Kevin McManamon restored Dublin’s five point advantage while Tyrone went down the other end of the field and kicked another wide – their 16th of the match – while Ciarán Kilkenny slotted over too.
Ultimately, Dublin saw the game out as they wrapped up their fourth All-Irelands in a row.
The Dubs have now won six of the last eight football championships and the Allianz National League to boot.
Congratulations to Dublin, an absolutely stunning side that continue to set the standard in Gaelic football.
