DUBS HOLD OFF REBEL RISING

Late show sees off Cork as Farrell's side march on

- BY PAT NOLAN

DUBLIN are through to the last-eight of the Championship for the 22nd consecutive season after grinding their way past Cork.

It certainly wasn't the performance of champions in waiting from Dessie Farrell's side yesterday as they struggled for periods of the first half and were behind as late as the 55th minute, but they outscored a plucky Cork outfit by 0-7 to 0-3 coming down the stretch with Seán Bugler and Cormac Costello top-scoring with 0-5 each and Paddy Small weighing in with 0-4.

Chris Óg Jones was Cork's main attacking threat and arguably the best forward on the field as he finished with 1-4 from play, giving Seán MacMahon a difficult evening, though Stephen Cluxton denying him a second goal in the first half ultimately proved crucial.

The result means that Dublin will play one of Tyrone, Monaghan or Meath in the All-Ireland quarter-final next weekend, with 2003 the last time that they failed to reach that stage of the Championship or its equivalent.

There was no Con O'Callaghan as he was withdrawn from the published line-up and, although the likes of Bugler, Costello and Small showed up well at times, his loss was still felt and Dublin's chances of kicking on from here will weigh heavily on his fitness.