Crokes Win Senior Semi Final

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The Kilmacud Crokes senior hurlers reached the Dublin county final for the first time since 1996 with a 4-12 to 2-7 semi final victory over Crumlin in Parnell Park on Sunday 26th October 2008.

 

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Playing with a strong wind Crumlin drew first blood when Darren Whelan, Dublin minor star of 2007) put over a free.  Thanks to two similar score from Eoin Fitzgerald Crokes were ahead by the fourth minute.  Through a fifth minute goal the Crumlin men regained the initiative.  Five minutes later another Fitzgerld free brought the Crokes tally to three.  In the sixteenth minute Ross O’Carroll pointed.  In the first twenty minutes Crumlin recorded a number of wides and their goalkeeper rained several long balls down on top of the Crokes defence which Niall Cocoran in particular hovered up admirably. 

 

In the twenty first minute Crumlin scored two overs in quick succession.  Fitzgerald converted another free, this one in off the upright.  Another long Crumlin puck out broke and Crumlin were two clear again.  In the twenty fourth minute Aodahn de Paor, who had his best game for some time, sent a long free into the Crumlin goalmouth.  Neil Casey broke it down, James Burke picked up and finished to the net.  A few minutes later Ross O’Carroll set up Fitzgerald for a point and just before half time a Crumlin free made it 1-6 to 1-5 in favour of Crokes at the break.

 

Within three minutes of the resumption Crumlin were level, from a free.  In the thirty fourth minute good combination involving Ross O’Carroll, Fitzgerald and Fergal Armstrong set up Conor Clinton and the youngster goaled from twelve yards.  Two minutes later Armstrong sent a long free into the goalmouth.  Fitzgerald doubled on Casey’s break and the umpire raised the white flag.  A harsh free against Crokes corner back Damien Byrne reduced the margin to three. 

 

Over the next few minutes the Crumlin keeper had a few jittery moments but managed not to concede a goal although a Fergal Armstrong point was engineered from a side line he was forced to give away.  A fortieth minute Fitzgerald free from 52 metres on the left made it 2-9 to 1-7.  When Burke fired home a Casey break it was 3-9 to 1-7.  Then the centre forward was at the end of an Armstrong, Brian Motherway, O’Carroll, Clinton move and it was 3-10 to 1-7.  Next on the score sheet was busy centerfielder Adrian Grogan with a good point.  In the forty ninth minute Clinton ran through the Crumlin defence to register his second major.  A Crumlin goal immediately after and it was 4-11 to 2-7.  In the fifty third minute Fitzgerald converted a 65 to conclude the day’s scoring.

 

The Kilmacud team will be happy to have overcome the hurdle in front of them but know the ante will be very much upped in Saturday’s final (3.15pm throw in) against Ballyboden who accounted for Lucan in a high quality second semi final. 

 

For www.hill16 report click HERE

 

R Sweetnam, W Ryan, D Mahony, D Byrne, A de Paor, N Corcoran, D de Paor, F Armstrong (0-1), A Grogan (0-1), C Clinton (2-0), J Burke (2-1), B Motherway, N Casey, E Fitzgerald (0-8, f-5, 65-1), Ross O’Carroll (0-1).  Subs:  S ORorke for D de Paor (54); H Gannon for Armstrong (56); D McGovern for R O'Carroll (61); B O'Rorke for Casey (61), P Graham, MacD O’hOgain, R Mangan, A Tiernan, E de Paor, S Gillen, B Hoyne, F Garvey, R O’Loughlin and N Butler.

 

You can view images of the Crokes v Crumlin match by clicking HERE or on the flashing camera above!

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