Ross O’Carroll goal steers Crokes into SHC decider

KILMACUD CROKES 1-13 LUCAN SARSFIELDS 0-13

A late Ross O'Carroll goal proved crucial as Kilmacud Crokes defied Lucan in Sunday's Dublin SHC semi-final at Parnell Park.

Centre-back O'Carroll was in the right place at the right time to finish to the net past sub keeper David Quinn, who had just replaced Kevin Roche, as the sliotar came back of an upright for the only goal of the game.

That pushed Crokes into a 1-11 to 0-12 lead in the 59th minute before Fergal Whitely fired over to put a clear goal between the sides.

Kevin O'Reilly converted a '65' and a late sideline cut into the danger zone raised alarm bells in the Crokes defence but the Stillorgan side edged home courtesy of Oisín O'Rorke's late free.

Crokes led 0-9 to 0-5 after playing with wind advantage in the opening half, however, the momentum looked to be turned Lucan's way early in the second half when they reeled off six unanswered points to lead 0-11 to 0-9 by the 52nd minute.

Tommy Somers got the sequence going with two pointed frees, both for fouls on Ciaran Dowling, before the energetic Johnny McCaffrey pointed from play.

Kevin Fitzgerald's well angled point from the standside brought the sides level within seven minutes of the restart as Lucan took control.

Paul Crummey's second point of the contest, following good recovery work by CJ Smith, and a Somers' free from over 70 metres had Lucan two to the good, 0-11 to 0-9, with eight minutes remaining.

However, Crokes battled back with two Oisin O'Rorke frees to level it again inside the last five minutes.

A Kevin O'Reilly free nosed Lucan back in front before O'Carroll struck for the crucial goal and set up a repeat of last year's final against Cuala.

In the opening half Crokes finished the period on top with four of the last five points of the half to lead 0-9 to 0-5 after Lucan had been well in contention throughout with Chris Crummey dominating in the air from centre-back for long spells of the first period.

Cian Mac Gabhann put over a 75-metre free before Peter Kelly replied with a fine score in the 25 minute.

But Crokes then got three on the bounce with Caolan Conway, Mac Gabhan again (free) and Ross O'Carroll, his second from play, from 60 metres to lead by four at the break.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: R O'Carroll 1-2, O O'Rorke 0-4 (0-4f), C Mac Gabhann 0-3 (0-3f), F Whitely, C Conway, B O'Rorke, S McGrath 0-1 each. Lucan Sarsfields: T Somers 0-4 (0-4f), K O'Reilly 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 '65'), P Crummey 0-2, J McCaffrey, M McCaffrey, P Kelly, K Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: E Dalton; N Corcoran, B O’Carroll, J Clinton; D Kelly, R O’Carroll, C Mac Gabhann; L McMullan, C Conway; R Hayes, F Whitely, N Ó Riordáin; S McGrath, B O’Rorke, O O’Rorke. Subs: R Murphy for McMullan (40), A Considine for Ó Riordáin and R O’Dwyer for B O’Rorke (43), S O’Dwyer for Considine (53). 

LUCAN SARSFIELDS: K Roche; P Claffey, B Aird, P Smith; J Bellew, C Crummey, J McCaffrey; R Smith, C Dowling; P Kelly, M McCaffrey, P Crummey; T Somers, K Fitzgerald, CJ Smith. Subs: K O’Reilly for Somers (48), D Quinn for Roche (58).

REF: S Stack (Parnell's).