Dubs will need to raise a gear against Tyrone

WHILE the Dublin senior footballers enjoyed a comfortable win over Monaghan in the All-Ireland Championship quarter-final, manager Jim Gavin knows a big performace will be required when they face Tyrone in the semi-final in three weeks time.

“1-11 from play and a lot of wides in the second half will not be good enough the next day that’s for sure,” said the Dubs boss after the match.

Dublin’s experience showed in this encounter as Monaghan pushed men back into defence to make life difficult for the defending champions.

Yet Dublin’s work rate got them through this contest and by the interval they established a 0-11 to 0-3 advantage and looked well in control.

Paul Mannion got the Dubs off to a great start with a point after 28 seconds of play while Dean Rock was another to impress, registering 1-8, including 0-8 from deadballs.

The Dubs never looked in any real danger and when Paddy Andrews found a way through on 41 minutes – rounding his marker and passing to Rock who fired to the back of the net there was no looking back.

This score put Dublin on their way with Paul Mannion and Andrews both kicking three points apiece while James McCarthy and Con O’Callaghan were on target.

Templeogue/Synge Street’s Eoghan O’Gara came off the bench to kick a good score while Paul Flynn and Jack McCaffrey found the range.

On the plus side Ballyboden St Enda’s Michael Darragh Macauley came off the bench and put in a impressive show as did Paul Flynn who worked hard.

Dubs captain Stephen Cluxton created history by becoming the first player to play in the most senior football championship matches.

“I thought that we played, in the first half very well,” said Dubs boss Jim Gavin.

“The team looked controlled and composed and went in deserved winners at half time. So we need to be controlled in those phases and I thought we did that when it was required in the first half. No doubt that will be required from us in three weeks also if we are going to take this Tyrone team on,” he added.

Certainly a big display will be required from the Dubs if they are to topple Tyrone who beat Armagh at the weekend. Games between the teams have been very tight in recent years.