Castleknock stun Kilmacud Crokes in Quarter-Finals of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship

CASTLEKNOCK 0-17 KILMACUD CROKES 0-14

Castleknock became the first team to confirm their place in the last four of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship when overcoming Kilmacud Crokes by three points at a blustery Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Castleknock had the better of the first-half with six players contributing on the scoreboard as they held a marginal 0-9 to 0-8 interval lead. 

The contest remained similarly tight after the break and with extra-time a distinct possibility, substitute Ger McDermottroe made a vital contribution with three late points to secure his side’s deserved victory. 

Despite playing against the breeze, it was Castleknock that made the more impressive start and they deservedly took the lead in the 5th minute as Kevin Stephenson burst through to split the uprights. 

Another patient build-up allowed Dylan Clarke the chance to double the lead with a fisted effort soon after while a brilliant score by Rob Shaw pushed ‘Knock three points to the good by the 9th minute. 

Another wing-back, Aidan Jones, opened the Crokes account two minutes later but the early midfield control provided by Senan Forker and Stephenson saw the latter restore Castleknock’s three-point buffer in an instant. 

The Kilmacud attack was in need of some inspiration at this stage, particularly with Dara Mullin missing from their line-up, and it arrived towards the end of the first-quarter through a Paddy O’Connor two-pointer. 

Eoin O’Sawyer replied with a jinking score for Castleknock but a sublime two-pointer by Cian O’Connor and a Conal Ó Riain point helped Crokes take the lead for the first time in the 17th minute. 

Paddy O’Connor added two points in quick succession to reflect Kilmacud’s growing confidence but Shaw has never lacked confidence when it comes to shooting and he kicked another superb point in the 23rd minute to help stall Crokes’ momentum. 

Shaw turned provider six minutes later as Eoin Walsh halved Castleknock’s arrears and with James Murphy black-carded in injury time, John Vahey kicked the resultant two-point free to edge his team in front at the turnaround.  

The Dublin 15 outfit maintained the initiative as Shaw curled over a cracking two-pointer within three minutes of the restart as they continued to impress through the assured displays of Dylan Clarke and Ciarán Kilkenny. 

Points at the opposite end from Dara Dempsey and Paul Mannion (free) added fresh life to the Crokes challenge but another orange flag, this time by Clarke, kept their opponents with a three-point buffer. 

Back came Kilmacud through three points from placed balls by Mannion as parity was restored with ten minutes remaining as the 2023 champions began to enjoy a monopoly on possession. 

McDermottroe and Mannion exchanged scores as the stalemate continued midway through the final quarter but with Crokes resembling the walking wounded in the closing stages, Castleknock finished strongly through a McDermottroe brace and an insurance score by dual star Cian Boyle.  

Scorers – Castleknock: R Shaw 0-4 (1 P2); D Clarke (1 P2); G McDermottroe (1f) 0-3 each; J Vahey (F2), K Stephenson 0-2 each; E Walsh, E Sawyer, C Boyle 0-1 apiece. Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 0-5 (3f, 1 F2); P O’Connor 0-4 (1 P2); C O’Connor 0-2 (P2); A Jones, C Ó Riain, D Dempsey 0-1 apiece.

Castleknock: J Vahey; A Hughes, R O’Shea, T Quin; R Shaw, C Kilkenny, E Walsh; S Forker, K Stephenson; C Chawke, S Akram, D Clarke; L Cahill, B Galvin, E Sawyer. Subs: S Boland for Walsh (40), G McDermottroe for Cahill (47), C Boyle for Galvin (50), D Warnock for Clarke (59).

Kilmacud Crokes: R Murray; M Mullin, T Clancy, J Murphy; A Jones, A McGowan, L Fearon; B Shovlin, N Comerford; C O’Connor, P Mannion, C Ó Riain; D O’Brien, P O’Connor, D Dempsey. Subs: M O’Leary for Ó Riain (half-time), C Dias for Fearon (42), S Horan for C O’Connor (47), C O’Shea for McGowan (55), P Purcell for Dempsey (59).        

Referee: Ian Howley (O’Dwyer’s).