DUBLIN did not receive due recognition for their stunning upset of Limerick.
That is the view of former Cork star Eoin Cadogan ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the Rebels and the Dubs at Croke Park.
Thanks to their two-point win over John Kiely’s side, the Sky Blues are one of the final four teams remaining in the hunt for the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Much of the post-match analysis honed in on how Limerick malfunctioned in their quarter-final as they suffered their earliest exit since 2017.
But Cadogan was hugely impressed by a Dublin side who defied a numerical handicap following the first-half dismissal of their captain Chris Crummey.
He said: “Probably not enough credit has gone to Dublin, to be honest with you. They went in as massive underdogs with 15 on 15.
“And to lose a leader in the likes of Chris Crummey so early on, a lot of people would have said, ‘That’s it’. But tactically they got a huge amount right.
“John Kiely referenced it afterwards — their ball retention off their own puckout has been excellent. Seán Brennan has gone back into goal and his execution and his finding of players is top-class. They know exactly what they’re about.
“I actually said this two months ago — there’s a clarity in terms of how they want to play, where they’re supposed to set themselves up and how they’re trying to work the ball through the lines.
“They’re very comfortable doing it because they have the athleticism inside to match Cork as well.”
Under Niall Ó Ceallacháin, who steered Na Fianna to All-Ireland success in January, Cadogan feels Dublin have addressed some of the basic errors that cost them in the Leinster SHC.
The former Cork dual ace explained: “Seeing them against Kilkenny and seeing them against Wexford, they were leaking goals heavily.
“They were all small fundamentals, like two men going up for a ball, players slipping out the back. I think they shipped five goals against Kilkenny and four against Wexford. They’ve tidied up all those small individual and collective mistakes.
“Cork are coming up against an All-Ireland-winning club manager, Niall Ó Ceallacháin, who’s an incredibly shrewd operator. I’ve seen him on the sideline, he’s a likeable guy.
“I’ve heard his interviews, there’s no blaming anyone else. It’s very much team- and player-oriented and there’s a huge amount to like about him.”
Having claimed their first Munster title since 2018, Cork are now odds-on favourites to end a 20-year wait for All-Ireland glory.
But when asked if the hype train on Leeside is gathering momentum, Cadogan insisted: “Genuinely — and I mean this honestly — it’s very quiet. We’ve got caught up in all this talk previously and it’s natural.
“From a player’s perspective, there’s probably unfinished business from last year. They’re a much more mature group than what people might give them credit for.
“The hype is going to be there. Players don’t get caught up in that. The hype is for supporters and people like me, who can go and cheer them on and enjoy and savour the atmosphere of going to Croke Park, walking down Jones’ Road.
“The players have a job to do and that’s literally the mentality of these guys.”
Beaten finalists in last summer’s extra-time thriller against Clare, Cork are desperate to go a step further in 2025. The prize for tomorrow’s winners is a meeting with Tipperary or Kilkenny in the decider on July 20.
Cadogan added: “They’re a year older. They’re hungry. They can’t not be. No different than Dublin, Tipperary or Kilkenny for that matter.
“When you’re asking me about Cork, they have to be hungry.
“This group have an opportunity to try and put a performance in on Saturday to get over the line and get another crack at an All-Ireland final.
“They have a massive stumbling block in Dublin, but I hope they’ve been forewarned.
“Everyone has seen what Dublin are capable of.”
l EOIN CADOGAN was speaking in his role as a Gaelic games ambassador for BoyleSports.
