Powerful Plunkett’s progess to SFC final

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT'S/EOGHAN RUADH 1-11 ST JUDE'S 0-4

Plunkett's dream of a first Dublin SFC title took another step forward when they comfortably dealt with the challenge of Jude's in Saturday's semi-final at Parnell Park.

The Navan Road men led 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time before controlling the second half to run out clear-cut ten-point victors.

The only goal of the clash came in the final minute of normal time when Alan Brogan put a superb ball into younger brother Bernard who showed great strength to round Paul Cunningham before sliding the ball low to the net off his left foot to beat John Brian Carthy.

It was the icing on the cake for the northsiders after a second half when their counter-attacking play came to the fore.

Up front Gareth Smith was a constant headache for Jude's and his team play opened up several scoring opportunities for his side.

They slotted the opening three points of the second period through Bernard Brogan, the hard-working Conor Walsh and Smith to stretch their lead to 0-8 to 0-3 and never really looked in trouble thereafter.

Jude's could only muster a sole point from Ronan Joyce in the second half as Plunkett's congested all routes to their goal.

While scores were at a premium in the first half the opportunities that were converted were of quality.

Craig Dunleavy's opening score was cancelled out by an excellent Declan Donnelly effort and despite Smith edging Plunkett's ahead some excellent interplay by Jude's eventually resulted in Joey Donnelly bringing Jude's level, 0-2 each, by the 18th minute.

Crucially though Plunkett's concluded the half on the up with scores from James Brogan, the dynamic Niall Walsh and a Bernard Brogan free to enjoy a two-point half-time lead.

SCORERS  – St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER: B Brogan 1-2 (0-1f), G Smith 0-4 (0-1f, 0-1 ‘45’), N Walsh 0-2, J Brogan, C Walsh, C Dunleavy 0-1 each. St Jude’s: D Donnelly, J Donnelly, R Finnegan, R Joyce 0-1 each.

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT'S/ER: A O’Mara; E Clarke, R O’Connor, D Kelly; J Brogan, D Lally, S Lyons; C Dunleacy, P McNulty; C Walsh, N Walsh, D Brogan; G Smith, B Brogan, A Brogan. Subs: P Brogan for D Brogan (half-time), R McConnell for McNulty (38), P Lee for N Walsh (55), S O’Connor for P Brogan (58), D Matthews for Dunleavy (60+1).

ST JUDE'S: JB Carthy; R Finnegan, P Cunningham, O Manning; M Sweeney, T McKeown, C Guckian; C Murphy, K Doherty; R Joyce, B McManamon, J Donnelly; D Donnelly, K McManamon, P Maguire. Subs: N Cronin for Guckian (ht, injured), T Lahiff for J Donnelly (40), S Ryan for McKeown (44), E Dalton for Maguire (51).

REF: M Bissett (Whitehall Colmcille).