Kilmacud Crokes beat Na Fianna in todays football Semi Final.
It was the holders who started the brighter, Shane Walsh openedx the scoring with a superbly struck 45′, while Paddy O’Connor got his first point of the day shortly after with a well taken effort.
Na Fianna struggled early on and Crokes’ good start continued throughout first Walsh and then points from Mannion and O’Connor to make it five unanswered points.
The Glasnevin side had to wait until the 17th minute for their first score of the game which came from the boot of David Lacey. an another followed soon after their keeper David O’Hanlon slotted over a free to cut the deficit to three. While Connor McHugh added another free to bring them back into the contest.
Johnny Cooper was given a black card by referee Darren Delaney just before half time for an off the ball incident with Crokes’ full forward Dara Mullin and Crokes made Na Fianna pay.
Just before the break, a powerful run forward from Mullin ended up with Mark O’Leary volleying the ball into the back of the net It was Crokes’ first score for almost 18th minutes.
Rory O’Carroll had a goal chance immediately after the break but David O’Hanlon made a good save to deny the 34 year old.
Conor McHugh got the first point of the second half before it was quickly cancelled out by a fine Hugh Kenny effort. Sligo’s Paddy O’Connor impressed throughout picking up two more points early after the restart.
The men from Mobhi Road cut the deficit back to three with 15 minutes to go following three points in quick succession but when Fiachra Potts was sent-off for a strike on Crokes subsitute Tom Fox the writing was on the walls.
Kilmacud were able to hold on for victory to set-up a decider with Cuala while Na Fianna’s wait for a first Senior Football title since 2001 goes on.
Full Time: Kilmacud Crokes 1 – 12 Na Fianna 0 – 12
Kilmacud Crokes : Devon Burns, Dan O’Brien, James Murphy, Micheal Mullin, Theo Clancy, Andrew McGowan, Mark O’Leary, Ben Shovlin, Rory O’Carroll Craig Dias, Paul Mannion, Paddy O’Connor, Hugh Kenny, Dara Mullin, Shane Walsh.
Substitutes: David Higgins, Paraic Purcell, Craig Dias, Paddy O’Connor, Joe Quigley, Theo Clancy, Anthony Quinn, Luke O’Kelly Luke Ward, Jeff Kenny, Dan Murphy.
Na Fianna : David O’Hanlon, Fiachra Potts, Eoin O’Dea, Adam Rafter, Eoin Murchan, Jonny Cooper, Tom Brennan, James Doran, Donal Ryan, David Lacey, Aaron Byrne, Conor McHugh, Ciaran Reddin.
Substitutes: Stephen Murray, Darragh Kennedy Seamus Smith, Vinny Flynn, Seab Caffrey, Conor Baxter, Oscar Donohoe, Gus Farrell, Niall Cooper, Killan Deeley, Conor Dolan.
Referee: Darren Delaney
