The 16th Man

“DON’T BELIEVE the hype!” pronounced Public Enemy in their 1988 anthem and it’s a message that Dublin footballers would do well to heed.

The link in the preceding sentence may have been extremely tenuous but it remains true for the Blues, that the relief of not carrying the weight of expectation this year has allowed them to defeat a seasoned and much-fancied Tyrone side.

In recent years Dublin have flattered to deceive. The annual predictions of Sam Maguire returning to the capital inevitably fell flat, particularly last year when Kerry took great joy in handing Dublin a dose of footballing reality.

This year, however, has been different. An early exit from Leinster saw the team written off as one in transition as attendances at Dublin games fell dramatically, to coincide with the level of expectation. The fact that the early qualifying round performances were somewhat flat only added to the notion that Dublin were going nowhere this year.

Without the usual intense media intrusion Pat Gilroy was able to mould the team in his image and replaced a side of flash harrys with one of quiet industry.

When Armagh fell to an accomplished Dublin performance it was indicative of a team on the rise but most pundits saw Tyrone as too high a hurdle to overcome.

Tyrone had breezed through Ulster, dispatching Antrim, Down and Monaghan with relative ease and the signs looked ominous that Mickey Harte’s men were Dublin bound in September.
So what happened? Well, Pat Gilroy’s charges outfought, outran, outscored and outplayed Tyrone. It was simple.

Accusations that Tyrone were too old were rejected by Mickey Harte in the aftermath. He knew he had been beaten fair and square by the better side.
Tyrone failed to get to grips with Dublin early on. Bernard Brogan (2) and Bryan Cullen had pointed before Martin Penrose could muster a response for Tyrone. 
It was a brief reprieve as Brogan and Cluxton kept the score-board ticking over for the Metropolitans so that they led 0-06 to 0-2 with 20 minutes played.
The Tyrone machine took time to grind into gear but the almost inevitable onslaught saw a Tyrone resurgence before the break. Penrose and Owen Mulligan’s accuracy from the dead ball was all the more impressive, given the incessant jeering from the Hill and when Philip Jordan pointed on 29 minutes Tyrone took the lead.

Philly McMahon responded in kind for Dublin but another Penrose effort saw Tyrone lead at the break, 0-08 to 0-07.
There was a sense that while competing well, Dublin might have blown their chance. It was telling that not many pundits tipped the Dubs at the break. Don’t believe the hype!
Despite Bernard Brogan levelling almost immediately Tyrone regained the upper hand. Mulligan and Jordan put two between the sides but Dublin’s new-found resilience ensured the lead was short-lived. Brothers Alan and Bernard Brogan pointed to level, before the younger of the two fired the Blues in front once again.

The teams went tit for tat before Eamonn O’Gara opportunistically hit the net after Paul Flynn’s effort rebounded off the post.
The Hill sensed a scalp and Dublin played with confidence and added two points in the latter stages.
It was no more than their endeavour deserved. Dublin are a different beast now and the underdogs tag clearly suits them. It is a total transformation from recent years. The hype will undoubtedly rise again but Cork will still be favourites to beat them in the semis.
Dublin know that any positivity garnered from victory over Tyrone must be taken with a pinch of salt. Don’t believe the hype must be the mantra!
Now on the 22nd August they take on Cork, favourites for the Sam Maguire. Dublin, should bear in mind another Public Enemy number as they prepare for battle, “Fight the Power,” and of course, “Don’t believe the hype!”

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