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Determined Kilmacud survive late comeback

DUBLIN SFC SEMI-FINALS: Kilmacud Crokes 1-10, St Vincent's 1-9: KILMACUD CROKES, led by inspired performances from Brian Kavanagh…

Mon Oct 11 2010 - 01:00

DUBLIN SFC SEMI-FINALS: Kilmacud Crokes 1-10, St Vincent's 1-9:KILMACUD CROKES, led by inspired performances from Brian Kavanagh and Barry O'Rorke (the two forwards accounted for 1-8 of Crokes' final tally) were worthy winners, albeit by a single point, over St Vincent's in yesterday's Dublin SFC semi-final at Parnell Park.

The 2008 All-Ireland champions were much the sharper throughout the game and with the O’Carroll brothers, Rory and Ross, imposing figures in their defence, it’s the Stillorgan men who will return to the the same venue next Sunday to face St Brigid’s.

Crokes held a commanding 1-10 to 0-6 lead with eight minutes left; however Diarmuid Connolly’s goal kick-started a late St Vincent’s comeback but time just ran out for the 2007 All-Ireland champions.

St Vincent’s had opened the proceedings with a free in the second minute from their marksman Mossy Quinn with Connolly doubling the northside club’s advantage two minutes later.

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But Crokes responded by scoring 1-2 without reply.

Kavanagh, who finished the day with an impressive 1-4 to his name, was fouled with the full-forward picking himself up to drill his penalty past Michael Savage in the St Vincent’s goal while Declan Kelleher and Barry O’Rorke, who was impressive throughout, added a point apiece.

Midway through the half Crokes’ Pat Burke Jnr had a wonderful chance to score his side’s second goal following fine play from O’Rorke and Kavanagh but the corner forward dragged his shot wide of the left post.

Moments later Crokes’ Ross O’Carroll pulled off a fantastic goal-line save after St Vincent’s Ciaran Dorney’s powerful shot seemed destined for the back of the net.

Crokes’ response was swift with Declan Kelleher pointing and O’Rorke adding a brace before Kavanagh’s fine effort gave them a deserved 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

Crokes continued to dominate after the restart with Kavanagh and O’Rorke unstoppable in front of the posts. St Vincent’s never gave up and Ruairí Traynor finished off a fine solo run with a point before Connolly found the net. Quinn added three unanswered frees but Crokes held out.

KILMACUD CROKES:D Nestor; N Corkery, R O'Carroll, C Lamb; B McGrath, R O'Carroll, K Nolan; P Duggan, C O'Sullivan; Liam Óg Ó hÉineacháin, D Kelleher (0-2), A Morrissey; B O'Rorke (0-4, one free), B Kavanagh (1-04, one pen, two frees), P Burke. Subs: C Dias for Morrissey (48 mins), R Cosgrove for O'Rorke (58 mins), M Vaughan for Kelleher (60 mins).

ST VINCENT'S:M Savage; P Conlon, E Brady, W Lowry; H Gill, S Byrne, T Doyle; C Brady, S Lawlor; T Diamond, A O'Malley (0-1), C Dorney; R Traynor (0-1), D Connolly (1-02), T Quinn (0-5, four frees, one sideline). Subs: A Baxter for Dorney (42), J Gill for Brady (43).

Ref:B O'Shea (St Mark's).