Kilmacud Crokes Ease past St Brigids To Secure Go-Ahead SHC 1 Quarter Final Spot

Sat, 2nd September 2023

KILMACUD CROKES 5-30

ST BRIGID’S 0-14

Two sublime goals at the end of the first-quarter helped Kilmacud Crokes get the better of St Brigid’s by thirty-one points in their one-sided Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship Group 1 clash at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Kilmacud were showing signs of getting on top early on in proceedings before Conal Ó Riain unleashed a pin-point shot from thirty metres that flew into the top left hand corner of Alan Nolan’s net in the 15^th minute.

Worse was to follow within thirty seconds for St Brigid’s as a sumptuous Dara Purcell flick instigated a move down the Crokes right flank with Sean Purcell on hand to put the finishing touches to a movement of the highest quality.

For St Brigid’s, it was a day to forget as they struggled to contain a rampant Crokes side with the absences on the day of the likes of Paul Winters, Andrew Dunphy, Johnny McGuirk and Eoghan Dunne undermining their challenge from the outset.

Crokes could well have netted in the opening minute but for Nolan making a fine sprawling save to deny Michael Roche but they gained some reward for some early pressure through a smart Sean Purcell score.

Roche doubled that lead in the 5^th minute and while James O’Connell replied at the opposite end for St Brigid’s, it proved their sole score from play of the half.

Fergal Whitely popped over two classy points prior to the brace of goals that effectively settled the contest with Cian O’Sullivan proving a more than adequate replacement for Paul Winters from placed balls for the Blanchardstown side as he converted six first-half frees.

O’Sullivan was unfortunate to see his low shot cannon to safety off Eddie Gibbons’ upright in the 20^th minute while Whitely continued to impress as he clipped over another three scores from play to leave Crokes entering the break with a dominant 2-15 to 0-7 interval advantage.

There wasn’t much in the way of relief for St Brigid’s after the break as Roche eventually found the net after an excellent run from impressive midfielder Brian Hayes in the 33^rd minute.

Kieran O’Sullivan managed to pop over two points from play at the other end but a fourth Kilmacud goal arrived in the 37^th minute as Mark Grogan raced through onto Roche’s pass to angle a powerful drive across the helpless Nolan.

Matters deteriorated for St Brigid’s as Brian Moran received two yellow cards by the 42^nd minute as Crokes pushed on through points by Oisin O’Rorke, Hayes and Dara Purcell.

Another incisive run by Hayes in the 55^th minute allowed substitute Fionn Ó Ceallaigh to crash home a fifth goal for the holders while Whitely added three second-half points to bring his personal tally to 0-8 by the final whistle.

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: O O’Rorke 0-9 (6f), F Whitely 0-8, S Purcell, M Roche 1-2 each, M Grogan, F Ó Ceallaigh 1-1 each, C Ó Riain 1-0, B Hayes, D Purcell 0-2 each, B Kenny, E Gibbons (f), S Veale 0-1 apiece. St Brigid’s: C O’Sullivan 0-11 (9f, 1 sideline), K O’Sullivan 0-2, J O’Connell 0-1.

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; B Kenny, D Lucey, C Ryan; B O’Carroll, M Grogan, C Ó Riain; B Hayes, D Purcell; F Whitely, O O’Rorke, C Conway; B Scanlan, M Roche, S Purcell. Subs: S Veale for Ó Riain (40), C Crehan for Scanlan (43), C Mac Gabhann for Kenny (47), F Ó Ceallaigh for Roche (50), B Hynes for Gibbons (51).

St Brigid’s: A Nolan; W Walsh, S Brady, J O’Neill; M Kavanagh, B Moran, C Doyle; A McGuirk, C Kellett; C McIntire, C O’Sullivan, J O’Connell; D Doyle, D Breslin, K O’Sullivan. Subs: T Mohan for McIntire (30+1), D Fraine for Doyle (40), R McLoughlin for Walsh (53), L Purtill for O’Connell (59).

Referee: Mark Ryan (St Patrick’s Palmerstown)