Mannion fires Crokes to Leinster win over Dunboyne

Sun, 11th November 2018

KILMACUD CROKES 2-17 ST PETER’S, DUNBOYNE (Meath) 0-7

Two goals early in the second-half from Paul Mannion saw Kilmacud Crokes cruise to victory in Sunday’s AIB Leinster Club SFC quarter-final in Páirc Tailteann, Navan.

The Dubs will face Laois champions, Portlaoise, in two weeks’ time in Parnell Park, after the O’Moore County men defeated a very highly-rated Moorefield in their provincial last-eight clash.

Crokes were 0-10 to 0-5 clear at the break and within 12 minutes of the restart were out of sight.

They could have been further in front with Dara Mullin's goal attempt being 'cleared' over the crossbar as it looked goal-bound by Dunboyne defender Cian O'Dwyer.

Mannion’s first goal came in the 38^th minute from the penalty spot, after he was fouled himself, and when he added his second four minutes later his side were 2-10 to 0-5 clear.

The Dublin forward was withdrawn with ten minutes remaining owing to his on-going hamstring strain with 2-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5f) lodged in his account.

Kilmacud Crokes led 0-10 to 0-5 at the break having led 0-7 to 0-1 by the 19^th minute.

Dunboyne scored the opening point of the game but went another 20 minutes before adding their second.

In the interim Crokes set about building a decent advantage. Dara Mullin opened their account in the fourth minute following good work by Shane Cunningham.

Points from Pat Burke (free), Mullin (a goal effort parried over) and Burke again (free) edged Crokes 0-4 to 0-1 clear by the 11^th minute.

Following his Dublin SFC1 final heroics Paul Mannion was coming in for close scrutiny and he was fouled on several occasions resulting in scores.

Mannion tagged on two frees himself and when Andrew McGowan ranged forward to score it was 0-7 to 0-1 to the Dublin champions.

Former Dublin U21 All-Ireland winner, Robbie McCarthy, got a point from the Meath champions in the 28^th minute to make it 0-8 to 0-3.

But before the interval Burke had converted two more frees to give his side a five-point interval cushion.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 2-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5f), P Burke 0-4 (0-4f), D Mullin A McGowan, C Pearson, C O'Connor, S Williams, C O'Shea 0-1 each; C O'Dwyer 0-1 (own-point). Dunboyne: S Lowndes 0-2, C Finn, D McEntee (0-1f), R McCarthy, S Lavin, C Lowndes 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; L Flatman, A McGowan, R McGowan; C O'Connor, C O'Shea, R McGowan, A Jones; C Dias, C Casey; S Horan, S Cunningham, C Pearson; P Burke, P Mannion, D Mullin. Subs: R Ryan for Jones (39), K Dyas for Horan (44), S Williams for Mannion (51), T Fox for Cunningham (53), M Vaughan for Burke (53), N Nolan for Dias (56)

DUNBOYNE: C Flynn; C O'Dwyer, S Lavin, L Byrne; G McCoy, C Finn, C Lowndes; J Donnelly, S McEntee; N Jones, S Lowndes S Ryan; R McCarthy, R Jones, D McEntee. Subs:C Doran for Ryan (22), J Scannell for Donnelly (41), D Gallagher for N Jones (46), M Dunne for D McEntee (53), S Comiskey for McCarthy (53), S Moran for O'Dwyer (56)

REF: M Deegan (Laois).