Crokes prevail in Dublin SHC final despite dogged St Jude's display

Kimacud Crokes 2-16 St Jude's 1-15

It took eighty minutes to separate Kilmacud Crokes and St Jude’s. The experience of Crokes ensured a four point victory after a frantic and, at times, chaotic game of hurling.

A last gasp Damien Kelly point broke St Jude’s hearts at the end of the sixty minutes to take this enthralling final in to extra time. St Jude’s were nearly home and dry before two late points from Sean McGrath and Kelly restored parity.

It was St Jude’s, making a debut appearance in a SHC final, who got off to the better start thanks to two early pointed frees from Fionn Riain O’Broin. The nimble corner forward would be his teams leading point scorer, not for the first time this year, in a fantastic display of hurling.

The Tymon North side maintained a lead for the opening quarter of the match before a Sean McGrath point from play brought the teams level, three points apiece. The Templeogue club were applying relentless pressure high up the field, dispossessing their opponents on numerous occasions before they could make a dent in their half.

Crokes took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to an easily pointed free from Sean McGrath with 16 minutes played. Moments later, full forward Oisin O’Rorke bisected the posts after receiving possession from a quickly taken McGrath free. Surprisingly, it was St Jude’s who were moving the ball around more efficiently than their much fancied opponents.

Mark Maguire could have created a goal scoring opportunity if it was not for some resilient Crokes’ defending in their full back line. Maguire gained possession after some intricate hand passing from Joe McManus and Ronan Joyce.

Jude’s had already been gifted a goal opportunity when Fionn Riain O’Broin nearly rounded off a complete performance with a three-pointer. However, Crokes’ ‘keeper Matt Collins pulled off an outstanding save to guide the sliotar away and eradicate any potential danger to his goal.

O’Riain Broin was St Jude’s most potent attacking option at times when Danny Sutcliffe had dropped deep. It was the number 13 who pointed his fourth free of the half on the stroke of half time to ensure the teams went into the interval level, five points apiece. This came three minutes after Sutcliffe had pointed a sweetly struck effort which drifted in from the left and over the black spot.

Second half

It took two minutes before the first point of the second half was scored. McGrath and O’Riain Broin were displaying a master-class in free taking. This time, it was the Crokes’ talisman who showcased his arsenal of talents by giving his team an early lead.

St Jude’s, and Dublin inter county star, Danny Sutcliffe began the second half just as he finished the second. Sutcliffe pointed a sensational point from the left of the pitch to bring the scores level for just the third time in 35 minutes.

The play opened up more in the second half with a plethora of sweetly struck scores seen from both teams. Crokes introduced a number of substitutions and it was Jude Sweeney, fresh off the bench, who scored a sublime effort to bring the score to 0-07 to 0-07.

With 48 minutes played St Jude’s had opened up a three point gap for the first time in the match. O’Riain Broin pointed yet another free to sit St Jude’s firmly in the driving seat. However, Crokes’ reply was immediate and effective. Midfielder Ross O’Carroll was released through on goal from a Damien Kelly pass and finished off his chance with aplomb with a crisp ground stroke low to the left of the St Jude’s ‘keeper Nolan.

The goal set up a grandstand finish. With less than ten minutes to play, the teams were level. It was St Jude’s who were gaining momentum with crucially timed points from Sutcliffe and O’Riain Broin. Both teams were emptying their benches in an attempt to maximise fitness to see them over the line.

After a Ross O’Carroll wide for Crokes, an O’Riain Broin free increased St Jude’s lead to two points as the end of the match rapidly approached. Crokes remained calm and composed. This was the experience of winning the 2012 Dublin SHC shining through. This was the ruthless will to win instilled by Ollie Baker since taking over the reigns in Stillorgan.

A late Sean McGrath free was followed by a Damien Kelly point. Cue scenes of adulation in Parnell Park for the partisan Crokes following. The match, confusingly, was destined for extra time. As Danny Harrington’s whistle reverberated around the Donnycarney venue, it wasn’t clear if extra time or a replay would be needed.

Extra time

All St Jude’s needed to do was to keep hold of possession in the dying seconds. A task easier said than done against a formidable opponent, Kilmacud Crokes. Ryan O’Dwyer and Cian MacGabhann got Crokes off to the perfect start in extra time.

St Jude’s had no answer to a rampant Crokes showing. O’Riain Broin uncharacteristically missed a free before Rob Hardy saw his long range effort drift wide of the post also. Just as the first half of extra time was coming to an end Sean McGrath was released through on goal by earlier goal scorer Ross O’Carroll.

McGrath capped off a productive performance by drilling the sliotar past the hapless Graham Nolan in the St Jude’s goal. The score line read 2-13 to 0-14 at the short break in extra time. Crokes opened up an unassailable lead which no doubt made tired St Jude’s legs even heavier.

Sean Fallon’s men battled gallantly in the second half of extra time. A Ronan Joyce point was preceded by a Paul Maguire goal from a set piece. As much as St Jude’s hassled and harried their opponents, Crokes had that little extra to ensure there would be further silverware in the Kilmacud Crokes clubhouse this year.

Points from Dillon Mulligan, Sean McGrath, and Ryan O’Dwyer brought the final score to 2-16 to 1-15. St Jude’s will be proud in their performance, knowing they gave it their all. However, it was experience, class, and fitness which saw Kilmacud Crokes crowned Dublin Senior Hurling Champions despite a dogged St Jude’s display.

Kilmacud Crokes Panel and Scorers:

M Collins; N Corcoran; Rory O’Carroll; J Clinton; C MacGabhann (0-01); J Doughan; B O’Carroll; D Mulligan (0-01); Ross O’Carroll (1-00); R O’Dwyer (0-02); D Kelly (0-01); S McGrath (1-06, 5 frees); C Conway (0-01); O O’Rorke (0-01); B O’Rorke (0-01); Subs: P Tighe; R Murphy; B Mulligan; J Sweeney (0-01); O’Loughlin; B Horan; J Burke (0-01); B O’Leidhin; M Geragthy; C Clinton; R Walsh; A De Paor; T Clarke; D O’Murchu; G McMorrow; C Lafferty; L McMullan; N O’Reardon.

Wides: 8

St Jude’s Panel and Scorers:

G Nolan; E McLoughlin; G McManus; C Mangan; R Hardy; A O’Beirne; R O’Brien; P Maguire (1-00); N Mangan; R Joyce (0-01); D Sutcliffe (0-03); M McGuire; F O’Riain Broin (0-10, 9 frees); T Devlin; J McManus (0-01); Subs: M Hartnett; P Aylward; P Garvey; V Walsh; J Ryan; B Moran; A McGovern; S Larkin; J Kennedy; N Cronin; C O’Riain Broin; L Kelly; M Hannon; P Larkin; O O’Donnell.

Wides: 9

S.DAWSON 28/10/14

Dublin Senior Football Final line up decided after two raucous semi final matches

The Final of the 2014 Dublin Senior Football Championship will be contested by St Oliver Plunkett’s E.R. and St Vincent’s after their respective semi final victories in Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

The first semi final of the day saw Plunkett’s face stiff opposition from St Jude’s. The men from Dublin 7 recorded a comprehensive 1-11 to 0-04 victory over their south Dublin opponents. The opening quarter yielded just four points, two apiece, in a cagey start to this semi final encounter.

Antrim inter-county star Mark Sweeney was pulling the strings for Jude’s in the middle of the park, creating a scoring opportunity for corner back Rob Finnegan to kick his team into a first half lead. However, three unanswered scores from James Brogan, Niall Walsh, and Bernard Brogan ensured Plunkett’s led at the half time break, 0-05 to 0-03.

The second half was completely dominated by Plunkett’s. Their quick counter-attacking style of football implemented by Pat McDonagh and his management team was a joy to behold. St Jude’s had no answer to their impressive tactics and were second to every ball as Plunkett’s outclassed their opponents in all departments.

Bernard Brogan pointed the first score of the second half before Conor Walsh and Gareth Smith followed suit with points of their own. St Jude’s solitary point of the second half came from the boot of Ronan Joyce with 40 minutes played.

A late Bernard Brogan goal rounded off a complete performance from St Oliver Plunkett’s. St Jude’s ‘keeper John Brian Carthy had no chance to stop a clinical effort from Brogan as he stroked the ball low into the corner of the net. Soon after, Plunkett’s corner forward Gareth Smith pointed a ’45 to finish the match off in comprehensive fashion.

Confidence will be high in the Plunkett’s camp after their dominant ten point victory as they continue in search of a first Dublin Senior Football Championship in the club’s history.

If Plunkett’s are to succeed in claiming this years Dublin title, they will have to overcome a regimented St Vincent’s. The Marino outfit grinded out a hard fought seven point victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Not for the first time in this years Championship, Diarmuid Connolly stole the headlines with yet another masterful goal, top scoring with 1-06 to his name. The match swung in the balance for the majority of the 60 minutes unlike the earlier one-sided encounter.

The first score of the match came within the opening 30 seconds when former Dublin Minor Sam Molony pointed a confident early shot over the black spot. Both teams exchanged frees in a physical opening quarter of the match. Ultimately though, it was Connolly who would be the difference between the two sides.

The Dublin inter-county star kicked four points, two off either foot, to galvanise a St Vincent’s team going in search of back to back county titles. However, Ballyboden battled diligently and led at the interval, 0-08 to 0-06. It was an entertaining first half with free flowing football aplenty in the Donnycarney venue.

The second half began with Diarmuid Connolly embarking on a marauding run through the ‘Boden defence. Connolly’s agile footwork and astounding strength ensured he found himself in range of Daire Walsh’s goal. Connolly unleashed an unstoppable left footed strike into the net to kick Vinnies into an early second half lead.

However, ‘Boden didn’t let their heads drop and their reply was efficient and immediate. Two points from first half substitute Daniel Davey were preceded by a pointed free from Andrew Kerin. As the match neared its conclusion, it was the current All Ireland Senior Football champions who pulled away with points from Tomas Quinn, Diarmuid Connolly, and Shane Carthy.

Although St Vincent’s were in the ascendancy, ‘Boden, yet again, clawed their way back into this end to end semi final thanks to a goal from Conal Keaney. With 52 minutes played the ‘Boden full forward latched on to a hopeful long range pass into the square from Aran Waters.

Keaney’s goal shortened Vinnies lead to just two points as ‘Boden hoped to set up a breathtaking finish. However, Tommy Conroy’s men upped their intensity and pointed five consecutive scores to ensure a hard fought seven point victory, 1-17 to 1-10 in favour of St Vincent’s.

Dublin Senior Football Championship Final

St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh vs St Vincent’s.

Monday 27th October, throw in 19:45, Parnell Park.

S.DAWSON 20/10/14

St Jude’s and Kilmacud Crokes emerge victorious from Dublin SHC semi-finals

St Jude’s and Kilmacud Crokes will contest this year’s Dublin Senior Hurling Championship final which will be played in two weeks time after their respective semi final victories over O’Tooles and Ballyboden St Enda’s in Parnell Park yesterday evening.

It was a historic victory for St Jude’s as the club reaches new levels contesting a Dublin SHC final for the first time in their 36 year history. A 56^th minute Danny Sutcliffe point secured victory for St Jude’s over O’Tooles in an exhilarating game of hurling played in the Donnycarney venue.

O’Tooles will be distraught after battling gallantly throughout the 60 minutes only to be undone by a terrific score from Dublin inter-county star Sutcliffe. It was his third score of the match in a semi final played at a frantic pace.

The Templeogue outfit raced into an early two point lead thanks to points from Mark Maguire and Ronan Joyce. O’Tooles reply was accurate and immediate. A point from Andy Morris was preceded by a pointed free from Conor Carton, who would showcase a master class in free taking throughout the match.

O’Tooles could have added a goal to their tally from the hurl of Peadar Carton if it was not for an outstanding save from St Jude’s ‘keeper Graham Nolan, who somehow directed the sliotar wide from Carton’s close range shot. O’Tooles had a two point lead going into the interval after an evenly balanced opening half.

St Jude’s enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half as both teams exchanged points with the physicality levels increasing as the match entered the last quarter. Jesse Kennedy, who was named at corner back, marshalled the St Jude’s half forward line well, along with playmaker Danny Sutcliffe. Add to this the assured accuracy of Fionn O Riain Broin from dead ball situations and this was an extremely difficult game plan to breakdown.

Conor Carton’s final point of the match in the 54^th minute levelled the scores for the seventh time. However, it was Sutcliffe who would steal the headlines for St Jude’s as his point proved to be the match winner. St Jude’s emerged victorious after a colossal battle with O’Tooles and they will now face Kilmacud Crokes in this year’s final after their comfortable seven point victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Crokes’ corner forward Caolan Conway was instrumental in his team’s victory throughout this eagerly anticipated semi final. Conway pointed seven points to ensure his team would see off the resilient challenge of Ballyboden. At half time Crokes had a lead of four points, 0-09 to 0-05.

An early second half goal from the hurl of Sean McGrath put an end to a short spell of momentum ‘Boden had created. However, Ballyboden, inspired by a notable performance from Dublin inter-county star Conal Keaney, scored four consecutive points to reduce Crokes’ lead to a solitary point as the match neared its conclusion.

Crokes always looked the hungrier of the two sides. Similar to when these two teams met in the group stages of this years Championship, Crokes registered a resounding victory. Four late unanswered points from McGrath, Conway, and a brace from Damien Kelly meant the Stillorgan outfit would be able to look forward to a final appearance, hoping to emulate their 2012 Dublin SHC final victory.

After two scintillating semi final encounters, this years final is sure to be an enthralling encounter between two of Dublin’s finest hurling clubs in recent years. 

S.DAWSON 14/10/14