Sutcliffe points Jude’s into SHC final

ST JUDE'S 0-15 O'TOOLE'S 0-14

A superb Danny Sutcliffe point three minutes from time saw Jude's into their first Dublin SHC final following this one-point semi-final victory over O'Toole's in Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

In the 57th minute wing-back Rob Hardy intercepted an O'Toole's attack before finding team-mate Sutcliffe up the standside from where the Dublin senior angled over the winner in this tense battle.

The Larriers had a late opportunity to force extra-time but Conor Carton, who otherwise had a fine evening from deadball, fired narrowly wide with a 66-metre free in the final minute of normal time.

There was little between the sides throughout with the momentum alternating between the sides but it was the southsiders who upped their performance more in the second period to run out winners.

Jude's opened with scores from Mark Maguire and Ronan Joyce which were shortly afterwards cancelled out by point from Conor Carton (free) and Andrew Morris.

By the midpoint of the half points from Conor Carton (three frees) and the hard-working Ger O'Meara had O'Toole's 0-6 to 0-4 in front.

Just inside the last ten minutes of the half Jude's keeper Graham Nolan pulled off an excellent save to deny Peadar Carton a goal - it was a save that was to prove very important in such a tight contest.

O'Tooles led 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time but they had been awarded a penalty in the 29th minute which Conor Carton elected to point after a great fetch under pressure by Peadar Carton.

Within five minutes of the restart Jude's had reeled in their opponents following points from Stephen Larkin and Paul Maguire as Sutcliffe began to exert a greater influence on proceedings.

Conor Carton edged O'Toole's back in front with another free before Paul Maguire brilliantly converted a sideline for the Tymon North men, 0-11 each, with less than 20 minutes to play.

Again Carton pushed his side ahead before Fionn O Riain Broin brought equality with a free. Sutcliffe, from play, gave Jude's the lead and O Riain Broin strengthened the Jude's cause with another free from a difficult angle to see his side into a 0-14 to 0-12 lead.

But typical of the game O'Toole's rallied with points from Christy Mulligan and Carton (free) following a foul on Liam Ryan so make it level once again, 0-14 each, with five minutes of normal time remaining.

The game was there to be won and it was the influential Sutcliffe who pointed what was to prove to be the winner with just over three minutes to play and steer his side into the final where they will face Kilmacud Crokes.

SCORERS - St Jude’s: F Ó Riain Broin 0-5 (0-4f), D Sutcliffe 0-3, R Joyce, P Maguire (0-1 sideline) 0-2 each, M Maguire, T Devlin, S Larkin 0-1 each. O’Toole’s: C Carton 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’, 0-1 pen), A Morris, G O’Meara, M Carton, C Mulligan 0-1 each.

ST JUDE'S: G Nolan; E McLoughlin, G McManus, C Mangan; R Hardy, P Aylward, A O’Beirne; N Mangan, P Maguire; P Joyce, D Sutcliffe, J Kennedy; M Maguire, T Devlin, F Ó Riain Broin. Subs: S Larkin for Aylward (22), J Ryan for N Mangan (43), J McManus for Larkin (52).

O’TOOLE'S: B McLoughlin; R Walker, K Ryan, Paddy Carton; O Darcy, P Brennan, G O’Meara; G Morris, A Morris; C Carton, M Carton, Peadar Carton; P Bradshaw, L Ryan, C Mulligan. Subs: M Cunningham for Bradhsaw (ht), C Kimmage for Ryan (57).

REF: G McGrath (Setanta).