Crokes fall at semi-final hurdle

Kilmacud Crokes 1-13 Clough-Ballacolla 1-16

Dublin Champions KIlmacud Crokes suffered a tough defeat on Saturday evening in MW Hire O'Moore Park to Laois champions Clough-Ballacolla.

The home side got off to a dream start with four points inside the opening few minutes which gave them a platform that they maintained for the remainder of the half.

Their main threat was Stephen Maher who got the games opening goal after a strong run and finish past Eddie Gibbons. Maher went on to finish with 1-8 (6f) over the course of the evening.

Fergal Whitely responded for the Stillorgan men but Ballacolla tacked on the next four points to open up a gap and lead 1-6 0-4 at the first half water break.

Kilmacud will rue some missed opportunities which saw them hit six wides in the first half alone. Oisin O'Rourke and Ronan Hayes did find their range before half time but they still trailed by four points - 1-9 to 0-8.

Crokes needed a spark and looked to get it in the 43rd minute when Oisin O'Rourke finished brilliantly to the net after showing good hands to create the space to get his shot off.

However it was Ballacolla and Maher who finished the stronger as they maintained their lead and despite late efforts from Kilmacud they were unable to get the scores they needed to force extra time.

SCORERS – Clough-Ballacolla: Stephen Maher 1-8 (six frees), Stephen Bergin 0-3, Jordan Walshe 0-2, Willie Dunphy 0-1, Aidan Corby 0-1, Brian Corby 0-1 Kilmacud Crokes: Ronan Hayes 0-5 (four frees), Oisin O’Rorke 1-1, Fergal Whitely 0-3, Caolan Conway 0-2, Cian O Cathasaigh 0-1, Mark Howard 0-1

CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Diarmaid Conway, Darren Maher, Eoin Doyle; Brian Corby, Mick McEvoy, Lee Cleere; Aidan Corby, Willie Hyland; Robbie Phelan, Jordan Walshe, Mark Hennessy; Stephen Bergin, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Maher. Subs: Cillian Dunne for A Corby (50), Ronan Broderick for McEvoy (56), Tom Delaney for Hyland (59), Sean Corby for Doyle (62)

KILMACUD CROKES: Eddie Gibbons; Davy Crowe, Bill O’Carroll, Jamie Clinton; Cian O Cathasaigh, Mark Grogan, Brian Sheehy; Oisin O’Rorke, Dillon Mulligan; Dara Phelan, Fergal Whitely, Caolan Conway; Lorcan McMullan, Ronan Hayes, Alex Considine. Subs: Mark Howard for McMullan (39), Padhraic Linehan for Mulligan (47), James Dillon for O’Carroll (58)