Kilmacud Crokes Ease Past Lucan To Stake Final Place

KILMACUD CROKES 2-23 

LUCAN SARSFIELDS 1-13 

Kilmacud Crokes advanced to the final of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship when comfortably getting the better of Lucan Sarsfields by thirteen points at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The performance showed Kilmacud at their best with the crispness of their play proving too much for a Lucan team that failed to show a fraction of their encouraging form from the group stages.

Kilmacud were far more fluent in the opening-half as eight separate scorers helped contribute to an interval advantage of 0-14 to 0-8.

They effectively put the issue to bed in the third quarter as two goals in as many minutes from Conal Ó Riain and substitute Michael Roche helped build an unassailable advantage as they eased their way into the decider.

Crokes served early notice of their intent as they took just eight seconds to open the scoring through Conal Ó Riain and the doubled that lead a minute later thanks to a long-range free from netminder Eddie Gibbons.

While Sean Harkness replied for Lucan soon after, Kilmacud were proving hugely efficient up front as they tagged on two further scores from Alex Considine and Ronan Hayes by the 3^rd minute.

A Ben Coffey free stalled their momentum briefly but a vibrant Crokes continued to build on their lead through cracking scores from Ó Riain and late addition David Purcell.

While the mercurial Ciaran Dowling and Coffey ensured that Sarsfields remained in touching distance, their opponents pushed five points clear by the end of the first quarter with Oisín O’Rorke, Dara Purcell and captain Fergal Whitely all on target.

Despite O’Rorke landing his second free of the half in the 17^th minute, the contest was becoming increasingly more even as Coffey converted a brace of placed balls in quick succession.

Lucan were indebted to goalkeeper Cillian Murray in the 24^th minute as he bravely raced from his goal to block Ó Riain after the pace of Brendan Kenny and Brian Hayes had pierced the Sarsfields rearguard.

Paul Crummey and Coffey kept the Lucan scoreboard ticking over and the latter could have netted in added time but saw his low shot drag narrowly wide of Gibbons’ left-hand upright as Crokes entered the break leading by six points.

Points early in the second-half from David Purcell and Gibbons left Crokes leading by double scores and while Lucan were awarded a penalty in the 33^rd minute, Coffey’s resultant low strike was pushed to safety by Gibbons.

A couple of confidence-sapping wides ensured for Lucan and their uphill task became even steeper in the 38^th minute as Michael Riche and Ronan Hayes combined for Ó Riain to crash an unstoppable shot past the helpless Murray.

Matters deteriorated for Sarsfields two minutes later as David Purcell eluded Luke Walsh’s challenge, allowing him to release Roche for a powerful finish across Murray.

Lucan continued to battle and were rewarded for their efforts through a number of Coffey frees but the fact that their first score from play of the half arrived as late as the 51^st minute through Chris Crummey told its own story.

The did manage a consolation goal in the 58^th minute as Matt Coogan bundled home after Gibbons had repelled Dowling but Kilmacud highlighted their quality with stunning points from the hugely impressive David Purcell and Brendan Scanlan in the dying minutes.

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: C Ó Riain 1-2; O O’Rorke (5f), David Purcell 0-5 each; M Roche 1-1; E Gibbons (2f), F Whitely, A Considine 0-2 each; B Hayes, R Hayes, Dara Purcell, B Scanlan 0-1 apiece. Lucan Sarsfields: B Coffey 0-9 (8f, 1 ‘65’); M Coogan 1-0; C Crummey, S Harkness, P Crummey, C Dowling 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; B Kenny, B Sheehy, D Lucey; M Grogan, C Mac Gabhann, P Linehan; B Hayes, Dara Purcell; F Whitely, O O’Rorke, C Ó Riain; David Purcell, R Hayes, A Considine. Subs: M Roche for Dara Purcell (half-time), C Ó Cathasaigh for Mac Gabhann (41), R Costelloe for R Hayes (44), B Scanlan for Considine (54), C Ryan for Kenny (59).

Lucan Sarsfields: C Murray; C Stritch, P Rigney, L Walsh; C Crummey, J Bellew, M McCaffrey; R Smith, C Walsh; P Crummey, K Fitzgerald; S Harkness; C Keher, B Coffey, C Dowling. Subs: J Behan for Stritch (27), M Coogan for Fitzgerald (42), L Garrigan for Keher (46), D Flannery for P Crummey (54).

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Naomh Fionnbarra).