Photo essay: The Dublin trio became the first members of a unique club when they won their ninth Celtic crosses last weekend
Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton fires the winning free into the Hill 16 end in the 2011 All-Ireland final against Kerry. Photograph: Brian Lawless/SportsfileMichael Fitzsimons charges past Kerry's Kieran Donaghy in the 2011 All-Ireland final. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
The first of four Mayo finals in the sequence, this narrow win again saw Cluxton calling the shots with the accuracy of his kick-outs and the effective marshalling of the defence. Once again he won the goalkeeping All Star. McCarthy also had a good season after battling an injury sustained in Ballymun’s run to the All-Ireland club final, and he too was nominated for an All Star and had a good final, seeing off Alan Dillon.
Dublin's James McCarthy resists pressure during the 2016 All-Ireland final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/InphoThe drawn match was a terrible Dublin performance and prompted a purge by Gavin. Fitzsimons came in for the replay and gave a terrific performance, earning the man-of-the-match award and effectively reclaiming his place on the team. It was mixed for McCarthy, who had won his All Star the previous year when Dublin were ambushed by Donegal.
Another skin-of-the-teeth win against Mayo buttressed by good displays from all three. Cluxton made a game-changing save in the 43rd minute from Jason Doherty and his kick-outs were spot on. Fitzsimons had plenty to do, marking Andy Moran, but was steady and went on to win his first All Star.
The least complicated of the finals. Dublin had to survive a blitz opening by Tyrone but steadied and a nerves-of-steel restart by Cluxton managed to connect with McCaffrey in full flight to set up a score. He missed with only two kick-outs all day. McCarthy marked Colm Cavanagh and even followed him when the Tyrone centrefielder was switched to full forward. He would end the year with another All Star.
The historic five-in-a-row was achieved against Kerry, who had so traumatically missed out on the achievement 37 years previously. Surviving the drawn match was a trial with just 14 men for half the match. The replay was won well in the end. Cluxton saved from Stephen O’Brien in the 54th minute and was as accurate as ever on the restarts. He went on to win a sixth All Star and his first Footballer of the Year award.
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