DUBLIN boss Niall Ó Ceallacháin vowed to take the criticism on the chin after a Cork goal blitz killed their hopes of reaching the All-Ireland SHC final.
The keeping of a clean sheet was a vital component of the Dubs’ shock victory over Limerick in the quarter-finals.
But they were put to the sword by a ruthless Cork side, whose attack feasted on quality ball as they raced into a 4-13 to 1-11 lead before half-time.
Ó Ceallacháin said: “If you concede four goals, you’re going to be in a tricky spot and that’s obviously where we were.
“Did we set up right at the back? I’m sure that question is going to come.
“We found it very hard for long periods in that second half. I thought we showed a bit of fight to get back into it but it felt like each time we did, there was a sucker-punch of a goal.”
Dublin were up against a heavy bombardment on a day when Cork’s inside forwards racked up 5-5 from play between them.
When asked if he could have provided extra protection to his full-backs, Ó Ceallacháin said: “It’s a fair question when you concede seven goals. I’ll tell you straight out that we intentionally didn’t.
“I’ve been proven wrong now so I can be fairly criticised, but the way we see it is there’s just no point in going with a zonal back six against a team like Cork. You won’t concede seven goals so you won’t see a scenario like that, but you will lose the game.
“Is it a risky set-up? It absolutely is. Should I be criticised? Absolutely. It didn’t work. They were very sharp and they were excellent. But what I would say is with the alternative, you won’t lose by 20 points but you will lose the game.”
For Ó Ceallacháin, it was a sobering way to end his first season in charge.
He added: “Obviously it was a huge win a couple of weeks ago. We can be fairly criticised now that we didn’t follow up two weeks later. We have to be better.”
