Kilmacud Crokes Edge Past Skerries Harps To Claim Opening Round Go-Ahead Ireland SFC1 win

Image courtesy Eamon O'Callaghan 

KILMACUD CROKES 2-15 

SKERRIES HARPS 3-10 

Kilmacud Crokes' quest for a fourth successive title began on a positive note as they overcame a stubborn Skerries Harps by two points in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Group 4 clash at Parnell Park on Friday night.

The champions struggled defensively in the first-half to a Skerries team that showed a serious intent for goals and they were rewarded for their approach thanks to two green flags raised by Paddy Kelly and a cracking Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan effort.

Shane Cunningham’s goal in the 37^th minute helped Crokes back on level terms and Mannion’s strong influence in the third quarter handed the holders a sufficient buffer to withstand some persistent late Skerries pressure by the final whistle.

Sligo’s Paddy O’Connor made an instant impact on his championship debut when pointing in the opening minute as their opponents struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard despite generous amounts of possession.

Harps kicked a trio of poor wides before their promising start was eventually rewarded as Criag Dias was dispossessed, allowing Kelly the chance to fire home via the outstretched arm of David Higgins in the Crokes goal.

The Kilmacud response was immediate as Paul Mannion raced down the right wing before finding Shane Cunningham, whose pass allowed Hugh Kenny to crash home under the crossbar.

That concession prompted a brief Skerries wobble, one that saw them conceded three points in quick succession with a Kenny point augmenting a smart brace from the lively O’Connor.

Harps regrouped to respond through points from Stephen Smith (free) and Killian McGinnis and they regained their lead by the end of the first quarter as O’Connor Flanagan left Higgins helpless from ten yards following a superb team move.

While Crokes responded through scores by Mannion and Shane Horan, their deficiencies at the back were exposed once again in the 24^th minute as Kelly finished calmly following a strong thrust down the middle by Adam Fearon.

Ethan Dunne added a point three minutes later to push Harps three points to the good with a booming free by Mannion in added time reducing Kilmacud’s deficit to 3-3 to 1-7 by the interval. 

That deficit was eroded within two minutes of the second-half thanks to Mannion (free) and O’Connor but back came Skerries with a trio of unanswered points via Kelly, Fearon and substitute Fionn O’Leary.

However, a defensive misjudgement in the 37^th minute was punished emphatically as Cunningham judged the bounce to perfection before unleashing a precise low finish inside the right-hand upright of Cormac Rocks, restoring parity in the process.

A glorious McGinnis point edged the seasiders back in front and the quality of point-taking continued as Mannion and Dara Mullin helped Crokes overtake their opponents.

While Kelly clipped over another smart score at the opposite end, Crokes were beginning to assume control as Mannion and Mullin showcased their pace to open up a three-point gap by the 51^st minute.

Skerries were further inconvenienced when the hugely impressive Fearon was dismissed two minutes later for retaliation but they showed few signs of despondency as they roared back into contention through a ‘mark’ by O’Connor Flanagan and a peach by McGinnis.

However, they fell just short in their quest for a share of the spoils as substitute Tom Fox doubled the Crokes lead in injury time, a suitably classy conclusion to a contest of great entertainment.

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 0-6 (4f); H Kenny 1-1; P O’Connor 0-4 (0-1 mark); S Cunningham 1-0; D Mullin 0-2; S Horan, T Fox 0-1 apiece. Skerries Harps: P Kelly 2-2; E O’Connor Flanagan 1-1 (0-1 mark); K McGinnis 0-3; S Smith (f), E Dunne, A Fearon, F O’Leary 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: D Higgins; J Murphy, M Mullin, A Quinn; M O’Leary, R O’Carroll, C O’Connor; C Dias, B Shovlin; S Horan, P O’Connor, D Mullin; P Mannion, S Cunningham, H Kenny. Subs: T Fox for Horan (39), P Purcell for Cunningham (49), L O’Kelly for Dias (58), L Ward for Kenny (59).

Skerries Harps: C Rocks; S Rocks, R Geoghegan, E Smith; P Wilde, E O’Connor Flanagan, A Fearon; K McGinnis, E Dunne; K Gilmore, G McEneaney, P Kelly; C Murphy, J Smith, S Smith. Subs: F O’Leary for Murphy (half-time), D Gielty for E Smith (49), D Redmond for Kelly (59).

Referee: Seán McCarthy (St Vincent’s).