Crokes finish with a flourish to edge out Na Fianna

Sun, 8th October 2017

KILMACUD CROKES 0-17 NA FIANNA 0-15

Beaten finalists of last year, Kilmacud Crokes, came from four points in arrears at half-time to book their spot in the Dublin SHC semi-finals following this hard-fought victory at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

Crokes will face Lucan Sarsfields in their last-four encounter in two weeks’ time but had to show all their experience to get past a more youthful Na Fianna.

Na Fianna led 0-11 to 0-7 at the break thanks to the free-taking of Colin Currie after leading by 0-6 to 0-0 inside the opening seven minutes.

The St Mobhi Road side led until five minutes from the end of normal time when Kilmacud finally made a winning surge.

Points from Ronan Hayes, Oisín O’Rorke and Fergal Whitely brought the sides level, 0-15 each.

With two minutes remaining Ross O’Carroll edged Crokes in front before Ronan Hayes tagged on the insurance point.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: O O Rorke 0-6 (5f), F Whitely 0-3, C Conway, R Hayes 0-2 each, Ross O’Carroll, D Kelly, S McGrath, B O’Rorke 0-1 each. Na Fianna: C Currie 0-9 (0-8f), D Burke, S Ryan 0-2 each, G King, T Watters 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: E Dalton; N Corcoran, B O’Carroll, J Clinton; R Murphy, Ross O’Carroll, D Kelly; L McMullan, C MacGabhann; N Ó Ríordáin, F Whitely, C Conway; O O’ Rorke, B O’Rorke, S McGrath. Subs: R Hayes for McMullan (26), A Considine for Ó Ríordáin (41), R O’Loughlin for Murphy (51), S O’Dwyer for B O’Rorke (59).

NA FIANNA: J Treacy; S Burke, S Barrett, C Doran; P Buggy, O Meleady, P O’Dea; F Breathnach, G King; S Murphy, E McHugh, S Ryan; D Burke, T Watters, C Currie. Subs: C McHugh for Murphy (41), J Boland for Watters (49), D Meleady for King (inj, 60).

REF: D Aston (Neamh Mearnóg).