Leinster MFC final: captain Con leads Dubs to glory
July 20, 2014
Colm Basquel of Dublin scores his side's second goal of the game during the Leinster MFC against Kildare ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
Kildare 1-12
Con O'Callaghan played a captain's part as Dublin eased to a 10-point victory over holders Kildare in today's Leinster MFC final at Croke Park.
The rising dual star scored 1-7 from full forward as Cyril Kevlihan's charges followed up on their 25-point semi-final demolition of Offaly with another impressive display. If Dublin can carry this form into the All-Ireland series, they will be strong contenders for a second Tom Markham Cup in three years.
Brendan Hackett's Kildare had the better of the early exchanges and led by 0-4 to 0-1 after eight minutes with Sean Dempsey and Evan Flynn among the scorers. But the Metropolitans hit back with points from O'Callaghan and Jack Burke, and the first green flag of the afternoon from their captain to move into a 1-3 to 0-5 lead.
O'Callaghan extended the Dubs' advantage before Kildare regained the lead when Dempsey netted, 1-5 to 1-4.
But that was the last time that the Lilywhites led as the winners moved up a gear to stamp their authority on proceedings. Points from Chris Sallier and O'Callaghan (two) opened up a 1-7 to 1-5 lead before Colm Basquel scored Dublin's second goal in the 20th minute.
Three minutes later, Aaron Byrne registered another three-pointer as the Dubs went on to hold a commanding 3-9 to 1-8 advantage at the break.
Basquel and Dempsey traded points on the restart before Warren Egan became the last of Dublin's starting forwards to get his name on the scoresheet. Further scores from Eoghan McHugh and Byrne pushed Dublin 10 points clear, 3-13 to 1-9, by the 40th minute.
Sean Dempsey narrowed the gap from frees, but the Dubs weren't to be denied as late points from Byrne and O'Callaghan sealed a comfortable win.
Dublin: E Whelan; C Murphy, J Mullins, E Murchan; A Fee, S Clayton, G O'Reilly (0-1); A Foley, E McHugh (0-1); W Egan (0-1), C Basquel (1-2), J Burke (0-1); A Byrne (1-2), C O'Callaghan (1-7), C Sallier (0-1). Subs: D Monahan for Murphy, A Elliot for Egan, D McIlgorm for Foley, B Howard for Sallier, A McGowan for Fee, C Kavanagh for O'Reilly.
Kildare: T Foley; S Healy, M Hyland, A Scully; J Flynn, P Mescal, C Earley; E Boyle (0-2), C Kavanagh (0-1), E Flynn (0-1); C Hartley (0-1), R Feely; M Kelly (0-2), S Dempsey (1-5), S Lawlor. Subs: B McCormack for Lawlor, M Bursey for Feely, J Corrigan for Kelly, P Murray for Hartley, J Healy for Earley.
Ref: J Hickey (Carlow). Tweet
