Mannion fires KIlmacud Crokes to victory

Kilmacud Crokes 1-13 Wolfe Tones 1-9

Paul Mannion continued his good form in Navan yesterday as Kilmacud Crokes overcame Meath champions Wolfe Tones in their AIB Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter final.

Lining out at centre forward, Mannion was heavily involved over the hour and was central to many positive aspects of the Kilmacud performance. He provided an outlet for his defense and then linked the play to his other forwards well, he was involved in the move that brought his sides only goal of the game when his through ball was worked to Ben Shovlin who finished at the second attempt after Wolfe Tones goalkeeper Cian Farnan had made the initial save. That goal gave the Stillorgan men a 1-3 0-1 lead but the Meath champions responded well and worked a goal of their own that was palmed to the net by their full forward Cian O'Neill.

Crokes finished the first half well and a Tom Fox point saw them lead by two at the break 1-5 to 1-3.

With Rory O'Carroll and Craig Dias leading from the front, the Dublin champions then got off to a bright start in the second half scoring the first three points to open up a gap that they held for the remainder.

Mannion continued his impact on the game by keeping the scoreboard ticking over which saw him finish with 0-6, five of which were from play as he showed his accuracy from distance on a number of occasions.

CIan Ward for sent off for a second bookable offence as Wolfe Tones tried to close the gap but Kilmacud closed the game out in a controlled manner.

Kilmacud will now face Laois champions Portarlington in the semi final.

Kilmacud Crokes: Conor Ferris (0-1, free); Michael Mullin, Rory O’Carroll, Andrew McGowan; Cian O’Connor, Dan O’Brien (0-1), Cillian O’Shea; Craig Dias (0-1), Ben Shovlin (1-0); Shane Horan, Paul Mannion (0-6, one free), Tom Fox (0-2, frees); Hugh Kenny, Shane Cunningham (capt; 0-1), Dara Mullin (0-1).

Subs: Ross McGowan for A McGowan (2 mins), Aidan Jones for Horan (41 mins), Callum Pearson for Kenny (45 mins), Conor Casey for Dias (48 mins), Conor Kinsella for Fox (55 mins).

Wolfe Tones: Cian Farnan; Shane Glynn (capt), Adam O’Neill, Brughach Ó Fionnagáin; Niall O’Reilly, Daniel O’Neill, Conor Sheppard; Pádraic Diamond (0-2), Alan Callaghan; Stephen Sheppard, Cian Ward (0-3, all frees), Oisín Martin; Thomas O’Reilly (0-2, one free), Cian O’Neill (1-0), Sarán Ó Fionnagáin (0-1, mark).

Subs: Fiachra Ward for Callaghan (48 mins), Caolán Ward for C O’Neill (49 mins), Tom Gavigan (0-1) for Martin (56 mins), Éanna O’Kelly-Lynch for N O’Reilly (57 mins)