Kilmacud Crokes Triumph Over Cuala in Exciting Senior 1 Hurling Championship Opener

KILMACUD CROKES 3-20 

CUALA 1-19

Two goals in the final quarter proved telling as Kilmacud Crokes defeated their southside neighbours Cuala by seven points in their entertaining Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship Group 1 clash at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.

A Kevin Kirwan goal at the start of the second-half helped Cuala edge their way back from a four-point interval deficit and a Jamie Conroy score in the 37^th minute saw the Dalkey side take the lead.

However, a Ronan Hayes goal five minutes later helped settle Kilmacud and they drove home their advantage through further goals by Brendan Scanlan and Ronan Costelloe as the contest evolved.

There was never too much to separate the teams in a free-flowing first-half that saw Seán Brennan deliver a superb save to deny Ronan Hayes in the first minute as Crokes opened up brightly through early points from Oisín O’Rorke and Brendan Scanlan.

Cuala hit back through a brace of scores from the lively Liam Murphy before Kilmacud regained their marginal lead as Alex Considine added two points of his own in quick succession.

Brian Hayes clipped over two sumptuous points to push his side three points clear by the 12^th minute but Colm Cronin and the influential Cillian Sheanon struck back in an instant to keep the contest delicately poised.

An excellent Jack Twomey point from an acute angle left the teams deadlocked at 0-8 apiece by the 18^th minute but inspired by a wonderful solo score from Brendan Kenny, Kilmacud pushed three points clear.

That margin could have been doubled in the 24^th minute but Scanlan arrowed his penalty wide after Brennan had fouled O’Rorke close to goal and the Dublin netminder more than availed of that let-off when converting a free from deep in his own half.

The half finished with O’Rorke popping over two further frees, leaving his side well placed at 0-13 to 0-9 by the interval.

That buffer was eroded within three minutes of the restart as Kirwan rose highest to gather a Murphy delivery before firing home from close range and a Cormac Spain point from midfield ensured parity by the 34^th minute.

Points from Sheanon and Conroy helped Cuala into a deserved lead but much of their positive play was undone in the 42^nd minute as Ronan Hayes swept home from close range after an Eddie Gibbons free had caused consternation in the Cuala defence.

Crokes maintained their narrow lead thanks to scores from Brian Hayes and Costelloe while Sheanon, who scored five points from play over the hour, kept Cuala’s scoreboard ticking over at the opposite end.

However, a second Crokes goal proved fatal to their chances with Kenny once again catching the eye with an inspired run from deep and while his effort crashed off Brennan’s crossbar, Scanlan was on hand to fire home the rebound in the 46^th minute.

Murphy chipped in with three points in as many minutes to leave just three points between the teams but Cuala’s fate was sealed in the 55^th minute as Costelloe added a third goal on a counter-attack instigated by the classy Brian Hayes.

The contest finished as it has begun with Brennan making another wonderful save to repel Ronan Hayes but despite some late pressure on the Crokes goal, Cuala were unable to claw their way back into contention by the final whistle.

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: O O’Rorke 0-6 (5f); R Hayes 1-2; B Scanlan, R Costelloe 1-1 each; A Considine, B Hayes 0-3 each; B Kenny, M Grogan, M Roche, C Ó Riain 0-1 apiece. Cuala: L Murphy 0-6 (4f); C Sheanon 0-5; J Conroy 0-3; K Kirwan 1-0; S Brennan (f), A Power, J Twomey, C Cronin, C Spain 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; C Ryan, B Sheehy, B Kenny; B O’Carroll, C Mac Gabhann, M Grogan; B hayes, D Purcell; O O’Rorke, R Costelloe, B Scanlan; R Hayes, A Considine, M Roche. Subs: P Linehan for Considine (36), C Ó Riain for Roche (45), D Lucey for Mac Gabhann (54), B Ó Conaill for B Hayes (55).

Cuala: S Brennan; D Ryan, E O’Callaghan, M Conroy; A Power, D Ó Floinn, R Malone; C Spain, C Cronin; J Malone, C Sheanon, J Conroy; J Twomey, L Murphy, K Kirwan. Subs: C Groarke for Twomey (48), C O’Toole for J Malone (59).

Referee: Colm McCarthy (St Vincent’s).