Dublin and Derry haven't the most fabled of relationships but they each have played a key part in the other's stories. If Dublin go on to win this year's All-Ireland title they will reflect on Saturday as a day when they learned a few key lessons about themselves.

"I described it," said Pillar Caffrey, "as a day when we had to get out the shovel and dig out the performance. Showers of rain beforehand militated against a lot of stylish football. You know, Derry got a great start and had a storming finish and we weathered both of those."

If Pillar seemed uncommonly relaxed perhaps the mood reflected the strain which Dublin have being under for a year as they sought to get back to the place where it all ended in 2006.

Anything less than a semi-final appearance this year would be construed as failure. Dublin are where they want to be. Not that the bunting will be dancing from the Caffrey household.

"Several tests this year in fairness to the squad. We are back where we were last year. That's where we wanted to be; there's lots of things to do in the next couple of weeks," said Caffrey.

Collie Moran, Dublin's genial captain, had one of those days which illustrated why he was given the armband even when he was in sickbay. He has grown into the season and his work digging and baling on Saturday was key to Dublin's survival. He had seen enough of Derry to worry him.

"They are a quality side and we knew they would push us hard today. We're just grateful really for Stephen Cluxton and the two saves he made today and for Barry Cahill who got a block on the line at the end.

"We seemed to be comfortable in defence at times in the second half, making them shoot from wide angles and getting blocks in. They got a couple of frees and it was game on again and they got us back down to three and it was nervy but I think we held possession pretty well."

On a day when a lot of Dublin passes came skidding off the wet turf they had eventually managed to find their groove by half time.

"Coming in at 10 points to eight up was a good result for us at that stage."

Reflecting on the pain of last year, Moran hoped that the slightly more arduous road Dublin have taken this summer would serve them well. "That was a tougher quarter-final. Last year we won by about 15 points and it didn't do us any favours.

"Derry have shown their pedigree in the teams they put out. To get over them and be put to the collar in the final stages will stand to us.

"We seemed to be in control with 15 minutes to go. They got one or two frees and it was game on. Barry (Cahill) made a great block. Relief. We gave away possession a couple of times in that last couple of minutes though. Maybe a little more composure would be good."

Derry's Kevin McCloy reflected on a decent season which ended with a failure underpinned by a slight lack of conviction on the big stage.

"We came down here classed as underdogs, nobody really expected much from us and we just said we'd give it a lash, see what happens. It paid off but every time we got up there and got a score they seemed to come right back at us. Picking off scores.

"They were two up at half-time and they got the next score in the second half. Fair play to them. We managed to get back into the game but just a bit too late. We had chances. I wouldn't say we should have won the game, but we definitely could have."

Paddy Crozier, Derry's manager, has put in an unlikely season's work moulding a side which seemed dissolute and divided into one which took a few huge scalps and almost made an All Ireland semi-final. He had the last words.

"At the end of the day we gave it our all out there. Very disappointed. We're gutted. Disappointed young men in there."

And the future Paddy? "I don't know what Dublin are going to do. I know what we are not going to do though. Play in a semi-final. They're in it. We are not. Best of luck to them."

He reflected slightly ruefully on the things which make a difference at this level. No complaints though. "Referee?

" Well we scored eight points in the first half and we didn't get any frees. I think that speaks for itself. We got two in the second half. That's the way football goes. We can't be complaining about that."

"Goal chances? No doubt about that. If we had a taken them when we were six points down, but fair play to the men they came back and gave it their all. Any other day Paddy Bradley would have put that away at the end.

"You've got to take the good with the bad."