Dublin ratings:
Stephen Cluxton: Vital contributions in both halves. In the first half he kept out Paul Geaney’s penalty with a brilliant left-handed save and in the second he showed stunning reactions to get a fingertip to Paul Murphy’s piledriver and deflect it onto the bar. 8
David Byrne: Dispossessed in the first half and Clifford capitalised with a point. He was given a man-marking role in the second half reshuffle and kept Paul Geaney scoreless. Tenacious display from the Naomh Olaf defender. 7
Jonny Cooper: Struggled against David Clifford until he was sent off just before the break. His off-the-ball foul on the Kerry forward presented Geaney with his penalty chance. Cooper was booked and then sent off for fouls on Clifford. 5
Michael Fitzsimmons: Did a good job on Geaney in the first half and then took responsibility for marking Clifford in the second after Cooper had been sent off. Conceded a point but otherwise this was a good defensive display. 7
Jack McCaffrey: See Star Man
James McCarthy: Perhaps doesn’t have the pace he once did was but McCarthy is still a vital player. Cleared Paul Geaney’s shot off the line with Cluxton beaten. Retreated to pick up Tommy Walsh in the closing stages. 6
John Small: Booked in the first half. Small picked up the in-form Stephen O’Brien and restricted him to just one point in the game. Typically tenacious display from the Ballymun defender. 7
Brian Fenton: Still hasn’t lost a Championship game but came mighty close yesterday. Wasn’t a major player in the game and played second fiddle to the Kerry midfield. 6
Michael Darragh MacAuley: Out-fielded by Jack Barry in the first half and those rampaging trademark runs were absent yesterday. Called ashore with 20 minutes to go. 6
Niall Scully: Superb ball to Jack McCaffrey for the Dublin goal was his major contribution. Otherwise he worked hard but his distribution was poor at times. 5
Con O’Callaghan: Alarm bells went off in the Kerry defence whenever he got on the ball. Might have done better with a goal chance in the first half but did score a fine point and won a free for Dean Rock. Played inside in the second half and there’s better to come in the replay you’d suspect. 7.5
Brian Howard: Won six kick-outs including a superb mark to relieve the pressure on his defence and send McCaffrey through for his goal. Sent a hit-and-hope effort wide before he was replaced by Diarmuid Connolly late on. 7
Paul Mannion: Registered his first score after 15 seconds but only managed one more in the game. Tadhg Morley gave him no room to breathe in the game. Pushed out to the margins, he kicked one wide and hit another short. 6
Dean Rock: Another superb display from the Ballymun Kickhams scoring machine. As reliable as they come, he managed 10 points yesterday and had a very difficult late free that could have won it. Might have tried to go short to work a better angle but you can’t blame Rock for trying. 8
Ciaran Kilkenny: A peripheral figure for once. Kilkenny was unable to break free from Gavin Crowley who dominated their contest. Unable to hurt the Kerry defence with his running or passing. 6
Substitutes:
Paddy Small: Worked hard on the left wing after replacing MacAuley 52 minutes in. One shot dropped just under the Kerry crossbar, he won two frees. The first was converted by Rock, the second drifted just wide at the death. 7.5
Diarmuid Connolly: Came on after 68 minutes. Wide with one shot. Not on long enough to be rated.
Cormac Costello: Had a ‘point’ ruled out by Hawkeye. Not on long enough to be rated.
Star Man
Jack McCaffrey (Dublin)
HE was racing forward right from the throw-in and wreaked havoc in the Kerry defence almost every time he went on the attack. Burst onto Scully’s pass to hammer the ball into Kerry net in the first half and added three points – left foot, right foot and fisted - in the second half when he was Dublin’s main attacking threat breaking from the half-back line. Also fulfilled his defensive duties against Gavin White in a superb all-round display for the reigning All-Ireland champions. 9
