Dublin SFC semi-final/Kilmacud Crokes 1-10 Na Fianna 1-4: Kilmacud Crokes strolled into the Dublin football final, where they will face Ballyboden St Enda's, thanks mainly to the scoring prowess of Mark Vaughan at Parnell Park yesterday. All Mick Galvin's big names were on display apart from the injured Dessie Farrell but they were unable to hurt a team that outfoxed them.
Kilmacud's first-half lead, built up through their full-forward pairing of Vaughan and Mark Davoren, was reduced to a single score by a well-worked goal from Henry Barry. Kieran McGeeney was sent through on goal by Senan Connell but instead of pulling the trigger or laying off to Jason Sherlock he picked out Barry on the far post. With the score 0-5 to 1-1 at the break, Kilmacud had to start again.
Vaughan, just a year out of the Dublin minors, supplied the required impetus with a well-taken point, despite Enda Ledwith hanging out of him, within a minute of the restart. Sherlock gave his side a glimmer of hope by sending Barry clear on goal only for Ciarán Kelleher to drag him down. Referee Gerry Grehan awarded a penalty but refused to even caution Kelleher. Sherlock tried to place the ball in the bottom right corner but goalkeeper Dan Nelligan saved.
Darren Magee and Michael Colleran swapped points before Crokes stepped it up. Liam Og Ó hEineachain pointed and Vaughan then showed his soccer skills with a low strike from over 20 yards to beat Stephen Grey.
McGeeney and midfield partner Ronan Clerkin continued to drive their side forward but with Connell wrapped up by Paul Griffin and Sherlock struggling to find space, Na Fianna struggled.
On another day the Armagh captain would have been sent off for upending Ray Cosgrove. But Grehan had judged the mood accurately and booked him.
The score which put the game beyond Na Fianna's reach came from the hard-working Jonny Magee who, with five minutes to go, waltzed through to stretch the lead to six. Na Fianna's only response was an Ian Foley free.
KILMACUD CROKES: D Nelligan; F Kennedy, C Kelleher, C Flannagan; P Griffin, L Og Ó hEineachain (0-1), B McGrath; J Magee (0-1), D Magee (0-1), D Kelleher (0-1), L McBarron, C Murphy, M Vaughan (1-4, two frees), R Cosgrove, M Davoran (0-2). Subs: N McGrath for C Kelleher (48-50 mins).
NA FIANNA: D Grey; A Behan, N Clancy, T Lynch; N Cooper, S McGlinchy, E Ledwith; K McGeeney (0-1), R Clerkin; H Barry (1-0), S Connell (0-1), K Donnelly; D Macken, J Sherlock, P McGeeney. Subs: M Colleran (0-1, free) for H Barry (35 mins), I Foley (0-1, free) for D Macken, A Downes for N Clancy (both 46 mins), D Lynch for P McGeeney (53 mins).
Referee: Gerry Grehan (St Jude's).
