SHOCK AND AWESOME

O Ceallachain's belief bears fruit as Dubs stun Limerick

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

FEW bar Dublin hurling's most hardcore fans paid any attention when the team's manager set his sights on reaching a first All-Ireland semi-final since 2013.

Two Saturdays ago, at a rain-sodden St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Niall Ó Ceallacháin made the declaration after the defeat of new Joe McDonagh Cup champions Kildare.

"We really want to be in that last four," said the man who, just five months earlier, had led Na Fianna to the promised land of a first-ever All-Ireland club title.

Ó Ceallacháin believed, his players believed, but there seemed little evidence they could pull off one of the greatest shock results ever in the game to achieve that goal.

But they did, producing a sustained level of high performance and bravery that saw them overcome the blow of losing their centre-back and captain Chris Crummey just 15 minutes in to beat the greatest team of the last decade.

That the quietly-spoken Ó Ceallacháin thundered at the decision as he confronted referee Liam Gordon at half-time, earning a yellow card for his remonstrations, underlined how important the loss of Crummey was for his high challenge on Gearóid Hegarty.

Dublin still found a way. Their quick-fire brace of second half goals were vital to the triumph, as was Seán Brennan's breathtaking close-range save from Aaron Gillane.

"It's a great day for Dublin hurling, but it's also good for hurling," Dónal Óg Cusack told RTÉ. "We've spoken about it for years. It would be brilliant to see a strong Dublin team, a full Hill 16 all there on time supporting Dublin in an All-Ireland final, will only do the game well."

Cusack's county men of Cork will have something to say about that on July 5 but Dublin are 70 minutes away from a first final appearance since 1961.