Crokes Overcome St Vincent’s in round 2 of the Go-Ahead Ireland SFC 1

Image courtesy Eamon O'Callaghan

KILMACUD CROKES 0-17

ST VINCENT’S 0-8

Kilmacud Crokes delivered a controlled and disciplined display when comfortably accounting for St Vincent’s by nine points in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Group 4 clash at a showery Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Not for the first time, the influence of Paul Mannion could not be overestimated with the Dublin start producing an exceptional performance until his replacement in the 47th minute, accumulating seven points, four of which came from open play.

The holders, backed by the elements, failed to fire in the early stages, falling behind to a well-taken point by Albert Martin in the 4th minute.

Shane Cunningham restored parity four minutes later, splitting the posts from a Dara Mullin pass before Kilmacud gained the lead as Paul Mannion coolly converted an 11th minute free from 46 metres.

St Vincent’s spurned a couple of presentable chances to level matters soon after but were back on level terms by the end of the first quarter following a free by Paul Reynolds Hand.

With scoring chances at a premium, there was little to enthuse those in attendance but an excellent Paddy O’Connor in the 20th minute helped spring the contest into life.

Mark O’Leary and Mannion clipped over points in the ensuing two minutes to push the holders three points clear before Martin’s ambitious effort into the breeze in the 25th minute had just enough energy to clear the crossbar, despite the best efforts of Devon Burns in the Kilmacud goal.

Crokes were proving hugely efficient towards the end of the half as Mannion added two points in quick succession, the second a booming strike from distance and O’Connor’s second point of the half extended their lead to five points by the interval.

Mannion’s free within two minutes of the restart brought Kilmacud’s run of scores to four points with Cian Dunne landing a critical free for Vinnies three minutes later to stem that flow of scoring.

Hugh Kenny should have effectively ended the contest soon after when hitting the upright from close range from O’Leary’s pass and their opponents were offered further encouragement as Dunne cracked over a superb ‘45’ in the 39th minute.

Typical of Crokes, they responded to these scores with points of their own through Mannion and Cunningham with Mannion adding another pearl to his collection in the 42nd minute.

Dunne kicked a sublime point of his own at the opposite end but this was an isolated moment of positivity for the Vinnies attack as they struggled to place any concerted pressure on the Kilmacud defence.

It was one-way traffic for the remainder of the contest as O’Connor and Dara Mullin added to their tallies with late points from Darragh Cummins and Dunne of mere consolation value by the final whistle.

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 0-7 (3f); P O’Connor, D Mullin (2f) 0-3 each; S Cunningham 0-2; D Burns (f), M O’Leary 0-1 apiece. St Vincent’s: C Dunne 0-4 (2f, 1 ‘45’); A Martin 0-2; P Reynolds Hand (f), D Cummins 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: D Burns; J Murphy, M Mullin, D O’Brien; M O’Leary, R O’Carroll, C O’Connor; B Shovlin, L O’Kelly; T Fox, P O’Connor, D Mullin; P Mannion, H Kenny, S Cunningham. Subs: A Quinn for O’Brien (41), P Purcell for Fox (44), L Ward for Mannion (47), S Horan for Cunningham (53), J Quigley for Kenny (60).

St Vincent’s: A Smyth; A Cummins, S Keogh, J McCusker; J Brady, D Cummins, C Wilson; J Curley, G Burke; P Reynolds Hand, M l’Estrange, S O’Leary; K O’Brien, C Dunne, A Martin. Subs: B Costello for Dunne (Temp Sub, 15-18), J Kelly for Curley (26), Costello for O’Brien (39), P Gilroy for l’Estrange (40), N Mullins for Martin (45), M O’Rowe for O’Leary (55).

Referee: Shay Farrelly (Ballinteer St John’s).