CROKES THROUGH TO LEINSTER SEMI V GARRYCASTLE

Another great performance in Portlaoise today from Paddy’s men - the adversity continues but this team thrives on it!!  See Hill16 report below.  Next up it's Garrycastle from Westmeath in the semi-final on Sunday week (21st Nov, Parnell Park)

KILMACUD CROKES 2-7 PORTLAOISE (Laois) 2-4

Kilmacud Crokes recovered from a nightmare opening to dethrone 2009 Leinster club senior football holders, Portlaoise, in the Laois champions’ backyard of O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

Crokes trailed 2-2 to 0-1 inside the 11 minutes of the start but their will to win and determination saw them outplay their hosts from the majority of the remainder of this keenly contested AIB Leinster Club SFC quarter-final and progress to a provincial semi-final meeting in Parnell Park against Westmeath’s Garrycastle in two weeks’ time.

Portlaoise were awarded a penalty in the fifth minute which Paul Cahillane tucked away clincially and six minutes later centre-forward Tommy Fitzgerald flicked a Cahillane ‘45’ to the net as the home side powered into a seven point lead.

To make matters worse Crokes had to take off midfielder Niall Corkey in the 20th minute owing to injury but his replacement Craig Dias went on to play a central role in their dramatic comeback. The loss of Dublin senior Corkery added to their list of absentees - Darren Magee, Paul Griffin, Mark Davoren (all injured) and Rory O’Carroll (working in France).

Crokes did not panic and before the break a Dias goal, following good interplay between Adrian Morrissey and Declan Kelleher, and points from Pat Burke and Barry O’Rorke (free) either side of the goal had the Stillorgan side back in contention by half-time, 2-3 to 1-3.

Portlaoise managed just a solitary point in the second period - a Cahillane point in the 37th minute but Crokes driven on by the likes of Ross O’Carroll and Cian O’Sullivan began to reel in their opponents.

Brian Kavanagh was proving a wily operator at full-forward and got fouled for two frees which he converted himself and following a Kelleher point in the 53rd minute, following great work by O’Sullivan, the Dubs were only a point in arrears - 2-4 to 1-6.

Sub Mark Vaughan then struck over an outstanding pointed free from close to the touchline when he swerved the ball right to left from the hand to bring the sides level inside the final five minutes.

It was Crokes who were applying all the late pressure and were rewarded with a 58th minute winning goal from Kelleher who scrambled the ball to the net after his initial attempt had cannoned back into his arms off the crossbar.

In the dying embers of the game Crokes keeper David Nestor pulled off a great reflex save to deny Brian Glynn while their also held out as Portlaoise laid seige to their goalmouth in the final seconds.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: D Kelleher 1-1, B Kavanagh 0-3 (0-3f), Craig Dias 1-0, P Burke, B O’Rorke (0-1f), M Vaughan (0-1f) 0-1 each. Portlaoise: P Cahillane (1-0 pen) 1-1, T Fitzgerald 1-0, B Fitzgerald (0-1f), C Rogers, B Glynn 0-1 each.