Crokes battle back to claim victory - SHC round-up (Thursday)

Kilmacud Crokes recovered from the hammer blow of the concession of two early goals to eventually run out five-point victors, 2-17 to 2-12, over St Jude's in their Dublin SHC Group 3 clash at Parnell Park on Thursday night.

Crokes trailed 2-2 to 0-1 by the tenth minute following goals by Paul Maguire and Joe McManus but eventually found their feet and this victory sees them and St Vincent's secure quarter-final slots with one round of games to go.

Oisin O'Rorke ignited the Crokes fightback with three points in quick succession before Naomhán Ó Riordáin to their tally.

Oisin O'Rorke was their top-scorer with 1-7 (0-4f, 0-1 '65') while first half sub Sean McGrath also played a huge role following his introduction shortly before the half-time interval.

At the break Jude's were 2-4 to 0-9 in front but the momentum was with the Stillorgan men.

McGrath scored 1-3 from play while Oisin O'Rorke's second half goal was central to Crokes victory.

Na Fianna kept their hopes of progress to the last-eight alive when they edged out O'Toole's 0-12 to 0-11 in their Dublin SHC Group 4 tie in Parnell Park.

The St Mobhi Road men had lost to Craobh Chiarain on their opening night and needed full points to stay in contention in the group.

The deadball accuracy of Colin Currie, a Dublin minor last year, was central to Na Fianna's hopes and he accounted for half of their scoring tally.

However, the sides were level 0-5 each approaching half-time with the Arthur brothers Niall and Ger finding the range for O'Toole's before Na Fianna nosed by in front, 0-6 to 0-5, before the break.

O'Toole's restarted the better with points from Michael Carton, Niall Arthur and a Brendan McLoughlin free.

But the introduction of AJ Murphy injected greater energy into Na Fianna's game and he finished with two points, including one excellent sideline.

Na Fianna had to do it the hard way after having Sean Burke sent off in the last quarter but they found the winning scores in the final minutes with AJ Murphy and Dublin senior footballer Conor McHugh, only on the field, firing over the insurance scores.

A dominant St Brigid's comprehensively defeated Ballinteer St John's 3-20 ti 0-11 in their Dublin SHC Group 2 duel in O'Toole Park.

All Brigid's goals came in the opening half and by the interval they led 3-7 to 0-8 with Johnny McGuirk, Aodhan McEnerney and Ciaran Kellett all raising green flags.

Paul Winters finished with a tally of 0-8 (0-5f) for Brigid's while Glenn Whelan was St John's best performer with 0-5 from play.