Crokes face very experienced Portlaoise in Leinster semi-final

Kilmacud Crokes face Laois champions Portlaoise in their AIB Leinster Club SFC semi-final this Sunday in Parnell Park (2.0) eager to take another step on the provincial road.

Portlaoise have monopolised senior football in the O'Moore County for over the last decade, winning 11 of the past 12 club SFC titles, and defeated last year's provincial winners, Kildare's Moorefield (1-14 to 1-11), in their quarter-final.

Crokes cruised to victory the same day against Meath's Dunboyne (2-17 to 0-7) with two goals early in the second-half from Paul Mannion steering his side to victory at Páirc Tailteann, Navan two weekends ago.

Crokes were 0-10 to 0-5 clear at the break and within 12 minutes of the restart were out of sight.

They could have been further in front with Dara Mullin's goal attempt being 'cleared' over the crossbar as it looked goal-bound by Dunboyne defender Cian O'Dwyer.

Mannion’s first goal came in the 38^th minute from the penalty spot, after he was fouled himself, and when he added his second four minutes later his side were 2-10 to 0-5 clear.

The Dublin forward was withdrawn with ten minutes remaining owing to his on-going hamstring strain with 2-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5f) lodged in his account.

Kilmacud Crokes led 0-10 to 0-5 at the break having led 0-7 to 0-1 by the 19^th minute.

Portlaoise showed all their experience when knocking out Moorefield with Paul Cahillane scoring 0-7 (0-3f), Craig Rogers 1-2 and Brian 'Bruno' McCormack 0-2.

“Portlaoise have always been a good footballing team. And from past experience, when they beat us in 2004, we would never take them lightly," says Crokes co-manager Johnny Magee.

“Even though they haven’t been as successful as they’d like to be in Leinster over the last ten years, I think they’re still joint top of the provincial winners in Leinster."

Magee's men are a less experienced outfit at provincial club level than Portlaoise but possess plenty of young emerging talent.

“This Sunday is another big step for these lads as well – to face not just a very good footballing team in Portlaoise, but a very experienced side who have played winter football year in and year out for nine of the last ten years, bar 2016.”

The other Leinster Club SFC semi-final pits Mullinalaghta (Longford) against Eire Og (Carlow) in Pearse Park on Sunday (1.30).

Saturday, November 24

AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Semi-Finals

Bord na Mona O Connor Park (1.30) Shamrocks (Offaly) v Horeswood (Wexford) Ref: Fergal Kelly (Longford)

St Conleth’s Park Newbridge (1.30) Two Mile House (Kildare) v Courtwood (Laois) Ref: Fergal Smyth (Offaly)

AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Semi Finals

Kennedy Park New Ross (1.30) Tullogher Rosbercon (Kilkenny) v Dundalk Young Irelands (Louth) Ref: David O’Connor (Dublin)

Manguard Plus Kildare Centre of Excellence (1.30) Milltown (Kildare) v St Brigid’s (Offaly) Ref: David Fedigan (Louth)

Sunday, November 25

AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Semi Finals

Parnell Park (2.0) Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Portlaoise (Laois) Ref: David Coldrick (Meath) *(This game is deferred showing on TG4)

Glennon Bros Pearse Park (1.30) Mullinalaghta (Longford) v Eire Og (Carlow) Ref: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

Extra-Time and Winner on the Day, if necessary, in all above games

(1)If level at end of normal time, - 2 periods of 10 minutes will follow, and,

(2) If still level - 2 periods of 5 minutes will follow, and,

(3) If still level - Free-taking competiton to decide the outcome as approved by Ard Chomhairle.