Crokes and Boden to do it all again on Tuesday 6th Oct
The character of this years All Irl Club Football champions has never been in doubt, especially following many character-enhancing games last season. All of this resilience and will-to-win was required as Crokes held out against a formidable and well-balanced Ballyboden team in Parnell Park tonight. In an absorbing, hard-hitting derby game, played in front of a large crowd, the reigning champs led for the first 50 minutes but in the end it took a last minute free from super-sub, Brian Kavanagh, to ensure they got a second bite of the cherry.
Crokes led 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time in a tense, low-scoring encounter where both teams squandered good chances in between some well-taken scores. In fact it took almost 15 minutes for Boden to open their account but they kept in touch thereafter and edged ahead as the game entered the final minutes. However, the now legendary never-say-die spirit of the Crokes boys ensured that the spoils were shared in a nail-biting finish.
***** See Irish Times report at this link *****
The replay has been fixed for Tuesday evening next (6th Oct) at 7.30pm in Parnell Park. Another pulsating encounter is guaranteed as Crokes strive for a similar outcome to last years semi-final, albeit against different opponents. Few will want to miss this reprise!In the earlier semi-final a very impressive St Judes team reached their first ever Dublin final on a scoreline of 0-15 to 1-7 against St Marys (Saggart). Judes had stormed into a commanding 0-11 to 0-4 half-time lead and it looked all over. Marys had other ideas and in the second half they pushed the Templeogue men all the way, helped by repeated misses from the much better but nervy boys in blue. Congrats Judes on reaching this notable milestone in the club's history!