Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

DUBLIN 0-19 CARLOW 0-7

By Jackie Cahill at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

Dublin's quest for a record seventh successive Leinster senior football championship crown began with a comfortable 12-point point victory at O’Moore Park this evening.

Just three points down at half-time, Carlow registered just two further scores in the second half, one from play, as Jim Gavin’s provincial and All-Ireland champions won pulling up.

Carlow also lost key midfielder Brendan Murphy to a second yellow card in the 48th minute, the second offence an off-the-ball challenge on Jonny Cooper spotted by linesman Ciaran Brannigan.

Having been given plenty to think about in the opening half, Dublin coasted to victory after the break, to set up a semi-final clash with Offaly or Westmeath on June 25.

Gavin handed Con O’Callaghan and Niall Scully full senior championship debuts, while former hurling panellist Mark Schutte made a late appearance off the bench.

Dublin led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time, in front of 13,238 spectators in Portlaoise.

Try as they might, Dublin couldn’t put any real daylight between themselves and dogged opponents, who often packed 14 men behind the ball.

It was a frustrating spectacle for spectators but Carlow fans afforded their heroes a rousing reception as they left the pitch at the break.

Carlow, in truth, would have acknowledged that going 15 on 15 with Dublin was asking for trouble.

They cut their cloth to suit their measure instead, and were competitive in the first half on the scoreboard.

Carlow never looked like getting inside for a goal chance, while all of their five first half points were long-range efforts.

Turlough O’Brien’s charges weren’t prepared to take any chances but they did show occasional flashes of abandon, with midfielder Seán Murphy cutting through in an attempt to trouble the Dublin defence.

It was Carlow, playing with the breeze in the first half, who opened the scoring through Brendan Murphy in the very first minute but Dublin moved ahead with two frees from Dean Rock.

Carlow’s response was to equalise, as Paul Broderick kicked a monstrous free from 50m, having missed one from a more inviting angle earlier.

Jack McCaffrey, one of Dublin’s best players in that first half, opened his account in the 13th minute to put the Sky Blues 0-3 to 0-2 ahead.

They would lead from there all the way to the finish but this was hard work for Dublin, who were four clear on three occasions approaching the break.

Carlow cut the deficit in first half stoppage time when Darragh Foley kicked a huge free from the hands – but Dublin were still far too good.

They kicked on after the break and outscored Carlow by 0-11 to 0-2 in the second period.

By full-time, eight different players were on the scoresheet for the winners, who eased into the last four.

Bernard Brogan made an impressive contribution with two points from play off the bench and after Rock was withdrawn, Cuala’s All-Ireland club hurling winning star O’Callaghan was on target with two placed balls.

Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-6f, Ciarán Kilkenny 0-3, Jack McCaffrey, Con O’Callaghan (2f) & Bernard Brogan 0-2 each, Niall Scully, Diarmuid Connolly (45), Paul Mannion & Conor McHugh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Carlow: Paul Broderick 0-3, Danny Moran, Brendan Murphy, Seán Murphy & Darragh Foley (f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Jonny Cooper; Eric Lowndes; Jack McCaffrey, Cian O’Sullivan, James McCarthy; Brian Fenton, Ciarán Kilkenny; Niall Scully, Diarmuid Connolly, Con O’Callaghan; Paul Mannion, Dean Rock, Kevin McManamon. Subs: Bernard Brogan for McManamon (46), Shane Carthy for McCaffrey (53), Mark Schutte for Scully (58), Conor McHugh for Rock (58), David Byrne for O’Sullivan (63), Denis Bastick for Fenton (67).

CARLOW: Craig Kearney; Chris Crowley, Shane Redmond, Conor Lawlor; Danny Moran, Daniel St Ledger, Gary Kelly; Brendan Murphy, Seán Murphy; Eoghan Ruth, Darragh Foley, Alan Kelly; Paul Broderick, Seán Gannon, John Murphy. Subs: Ciarán Moran for Seán Murphy (blood – 21-24m), Mark Rennick for A Kelly (41), Shane Carr for Ruth (53), Jamie Clarke for G Kelly (59), Kieran Nolan for Crowley (64), Barry John Molloy for Moran (68), Ciarán Moran for Broderick (69)

Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone).