DUBLIN SFC: A summer has passed with thousands of words uttered on Kilmacud Crokes and Mark Vaughan - there will be no mention of committees here - so it was a relief that last night was about the players finally back playing, reports Gavin Cummiskey.
Despite a late scare - a '45 from Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton playing at half forward - Crokes were able to hold several front-liners in reserve and still coast to a 1-9 to 0-8 victory over Parnells thanks to a scoring blitz from Vaughan after half-time.
Crokes were off colour in the first half, going in two points behind despite having four Dublin panellists back in the starting line-up. Three of the four - Ray Cosgrove, Vaughan and Liam Óg Ó hEineacháin - warmed Pillar Caffrey's bench for much of the championship with Paul Griffin the only starter.
The defending champions missed the benched Magee brothers, Darren and Jonny, early on as, despite the presence of Fermanagh midfielder Liam McBarron, Parnells broke every ball around the middle.
Vaughan got the proceedings under way with a point on three minutes but two frees from Martin Whelan were sandwiched between scores from Gary Collins and Philip Keogh to leave it 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time.
As expected, they turned it around. Jonny Magee came in to close up the gaping hole in midfield and within seven minutes they were in front as Vaughan kicked three points in succession. Then Pat Burke took a pass form Ó hEineacháin to score the goal that put some distance between their less fancied opposition.
KILMACUD CROKES: D Nelligan; C Kelleher, C Flanagan, N McGrath; R Ryan, P Griffin, B McGrath; L McBarron, C Murphy; D Kelleher, L Óg Ó hEineacháin (0-2), R Cosgrove; M Vaughan (0-5, two frees), M Davoran, P Burke (1-0). Subs: J Magee for R Ryan (half-time), M O'Keeffe (0-2, one free) for P Burke (46 mins), D Magee for M Vaughan (49 mins).
PARNELLS: J Morgan; L Browne, B Byrne, J Sheehan; C Quinn, D Myler, C O'Reilly; P Keogh (0-3), M Whelan (0-2, two frees); G Collins (0-1), W Henry (0-1), I Brady; S Cluxton (0-1, '45), A Cromwell, M Keena. Subs: G Ryan for C O'Reilly (28 mins), S Mills for G Collins (60)
PSNI AFFILIATION: Today's meeting of the Comhairle Árd Oideachais, the GAA's governing body for third-level colleges, will consider the possible affiliation of Northern Ireland's PSNI College, reports Seán Moran.
The new police force's equivalent of Templemore Garda College is likely to be accepted as an affiliate to the CAO.
"This shouldn't be considered an occasion but rather part of a process," said one GAA source about the possible development. "This process includes seeing all of the unionist papers seeking accreditation to this weekend's All-Ireland and the number of prominent unionist politicians applying for tickets."
It is four years this November since the GAA repealed Rule 21, which prohibited members of the Northern security forces from membership of the association.
