LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL Kilmacud Crokes 0-13 Garrycastle 0-10:IN THEIR now established pattern, Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes eked out a second-half win in yesterday's AIB Leinster club football semi-final.
On a cold and wintry afternoon at Parnell Park last year’s finalists Garrycastle put it up to their opponents, but lost focus at vital times, including in the last 10 minutes when Crokes stretched the lead that had fluctuated between the teams at no more than a point for three quarters of the match to a winning margin of three.
For most of the hour the match was evenly contested and the Westmeath side looked capable of winning, but there was a sense in the exchanges that whereas Garrycastle thrived most when their opponents’ performance dipped for much of the first half, Crokes always looked to have something in hand, especially once man of the match Brian Kavanagh sprang to life.
The Dubliners started well by racking up early points, as they settled first after initial mistakes on both sides. Mark Vaughan started instead of Niall Corkery, whose knee injury is likely to keep him out of the final, and although there was evidence of the back problem that has confined the former Dublin player to the bench for so much of the season, he played a useful role and kicked a fine point to start the scoring.
Garrycastle, however, came into the tie. Dessie Dolan, who was generally well-marshalled by Brian McGrath began to exert an influence, kicking a 45 and playing in Rory McGowan for the equaliser.
Their defence was also playing well. Seánie O’Donoghue anchored well at centre back and the counterattacks from Mark McCallon in particular put Kilmacud under mounting pressure. John Gaffey was also performing effectively on Kavanagh, who has been Kilmacud’s weapon of choice throughout the campaign.
Garrycastle played Paul Dillon and Paddy Mulvihill in a two-man full forward line and although it worked reasonably well, Kevin Nolan was assigned the free role to follow the withdrawn corner forward, Shane Mulvihill, leaving the dependable Ross O’Carroll (brother Rory got a 15-minute run in the second half on his now regular commute from France) and Conor Lamb to mind the house.
Having Nolan gambolling around the middle cost the Westmeath side two points, although the first in the 21st minute – converted off the crossbar after Vaughan had pulled the ball across the goalmouth – should have been a goal.
Kilmacud continued to play fitfully, losing possession to misplaced kicks and intercepted passes, and would have been happy enough to take the break at only two points down, 0-5 to 0-7 – assuming they could raise their game in the second half.
“Coming out after half-time we sorted out a few things and the lads found an extra gear to get a bit of daylight between us,” said Kilmacud manager Paddy Carr afterwards.
The daylight came courtesy of another slow start to the half by their opponents, but Kavanagh was also now in the game. Having finished the first half with two points from play, he doubled that tally within six minutes.
Vaughan set up one of them, engineered a 45 (which he then missed) and when Declan Kellegher kicked his second, the lead had changed hands and wouldn’t revert; in fact Garrycastle regained parity for just two minutes before Liam Ó hÉineacháin kicked a point to restore the lead.
Craig Dias and Paddy Duggan gave the winners a solid base at centrefield against David O’Shaughnessy and Aidan Brown and Garrycastle switched O’Donoghue to the middle to add some presence.
In the end although Garrycastle missed some opportunities to level again, it was the winners who proved more wasteful, missing a succession of chances to stretch the lead to three before a late Kavanagh free eventually did so.
Carr paid tribute to the opposition, but repeated his unhappiness at the suspension of Adrian Morrissey, who is also scheduled to miss the final against Rhode.
“There is certainly a real sense of injustice and fury . . in our dressingroom over the treatment of Adrian Morrissey. He was sent off in a game when he shouldn’t even have been spoken to. That’s the truth and I know it and everyone who was at that match knows it.
“We will do everything we can. This is not about football; this is about basic justice.”
His counterpart Antony Cunningham was left to lament missed opportunities. “It’s a fine line. There were a few chances we probably should have converted, but the best of luck to Kilmacud in the next round.”
KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; C Lamb, Ross O'Carroll, K Nolan (0-2); R Ryan, B McGrath, C O'Sullivan; P Duggan, C Dias; L Ó hÉineacháin (0-1), D Kellegher (0-2), P Burke (capt); B O'Rorke (0-1, free), B Kavanagh (0-6, two frees), M Vaughan (0-1). Subs: Rory O'Carroll for Ryan (45 mins), M Coughlan for O'Rorke (48 mins), R Cosgrove for Burke (56 mins).
GARRYCASTLE: C Mullin; M McCallon, J Gaffey, A Fox; J Dolan, S O'Donoghue, K Henson; A Brown, D O'Shaughnessy; R McGowan (0-2), D Dolan (0-4, one 45 and two frees), J McAteer; S Mulvihill, P Dillon (0-3, two frees), P Mulvihill (0-1). Subs: E Mulvihill for McAteer (39 mins), P Rattigan for Fox (47 mins), G Dolan for McGowan (54 mins), J Duignan for S Mulvihill (58 mins), A Daly for Brown (59 mins).
Referee: D Coldrick(Meath).
