O’Rorke fires Crokes in SHC final

KILMACUD CROKES 2-19 O’TOOLE’S 0-13

Oisín O’Rorke’s accuracy was once again to the fore as Kilmacud Crokes defeated O’Toole’s in Sunday’s opening Dublin SHC semi-final at Parnell Park.

Two first half goals put Crokes on the road to glory with O’Rorke grabbing the first when kicking to the net from close range in the 11^th minute to push his side 1-2 to 0-3 ahead.

The Larriers had started well with two Niall Arthur’s frees and Arthur’s third points, this one from play, had O’Toole’s leading 0-3 to 0-2 before the in-form O’Rorke struck for the opening goal.

Oisín and his brother Barry continued to keep the scoreboard ticking for Crokes before the concluding the half on the up.

Ross O’Carroll followed up scoring a point from play by firing home his side’s second goal from a great Fergal Whitely crossfield delivery in the second minute of first half added time.

Niall Arthur replied with a free but Fergal Whitely finished the first half scoring with a point to give Ollie Baker’s men a 2-10 to 0-7 interval advantage.

Crokes continued to hold O’Toole’s at arm’s length in the second half.

Niall Arthur, Oisin O’Rorke, sub Andrew Morris and O’Rorke (free) again exchanged scores on the restart before Ger Arthur and his brother Niall got three in succession to cut the deficit to two clear goals, 2-12 to 0-12 after 40minutes.

However, Kilmacud bounced back with points from Ryan O’Dwyer and Ross O’Carroll.

Again the Larriers battled back with a Liam Ryan score but Crokes came again with Ryan O’Dwyer, Oisín O’Rorke (four, three frees) all on target for the southsiders to power 2-19 to 0-13 clear and into the final.

Match highlights:

Here is a post-match interview with Kilmacud Crokes defender Niall Corcoran:

SCORERS– Kilmacud Crokes: O O’Rorke 1-11 (0-9f), R O’Carroll 1-2, B O’Rorke, R O’Dwyer 0-2 each, F Whitely, D Mulligan 0-1 each. O’Toole’s: N Arthur 0-9 (0-7f), G Arthur, P Carton, A Morris, L Ryan 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: M Collins; N Corcoran, R Walsh, J Clinton; B O’Carroll, J Doughan, R Murphy; C Mac Gabhann, N Ó Riordain; R O’Carroll, R O’Dwyer, F Whitely; O O’Rorke, S McGrath, B O’Rorke. Subs: D Mulligan for Murphy (19), R O’Loughlin for Ó Riordáin (ht), A Considine for Whitely (44), D Kelly for McGrath (50), L McMullan for B O’Rorke (56).

O’TOOLE’S: B McLoughlin; C Gethings, P Brennan, C Mulligan; M Carton, K Ryan, M Cunningham; G Arthur, G O’Meara; C Carton, N Arthur, P Carton; G Morris, L Ryan, P Donoghue. Subs: A Morris for G Morris (ht), C Kimmage for Cunningham (ht), R Walker for Donoghue (48), A Lynch for C Carton (53).

REF: T Gleeson (Naomh Fionnbarra).