Kilmacud Crokes battle past St Brigids to claim a spot in the PTSB Dublin SHC1 Semi-Finals

KILMACUD CROKES 2-22 

ST BRIGID’S 0-17

Goals in the third quarter from Alex Considine and Oisin O’Rorke proved pivotal as Kilmacud Crokes progressed to the last four of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship when accounting for 14-man St Brigid’s by eleven points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

St Brigid’s, inspired by the excellence of Cian O’Sullivan’s four points in the opening quarter, lead by 0-11 to 0-10 at the break but their task was an uphill one following the dismissal of corner-back Jack O’Neill in the 24th minute.

That gradient became steeper as they conceded two goals upon the restart and while they continued to battle through the scoring returns of O’Sullivan and Paul Winters, they never looked likely to reel in their opponents from that point. 

Despite starting in the uncustomary position of midfield, O’Sullivan sparkled in the early stages, opening the scoring with a point from distance in the 2nd minute. 

While his Dublin teammate Fergal Whitely levelled matters soon after, O’Sullivan popped over another excellent point in the 4th minute with Caolan Conway restoring parity for Crokes on this occasion. 

A third O’Sullivan score was followed up by Winters as Brigid’s continued to impress and while Finnian Donohoe clipped over for Kilmacud, O’Sullivan’s class was once again in evidence as he added another glorious point from under the stand. 

Conal Ó Riain and Winters (free) traded scores by the end of the first quarter with the St Brigid’s lead halved as Brian Hayes burst through to crash over the crossbar in the 16thminute. 

Successive scores by Ronan Hayes (free) and Brendan Kenny saw Crokes take the lead for the first time two minutes later but that advantage was short lived as their opponents replied in kind through Winters (free) and James O’Connell. 

The tightness of the exchanges continued with Winters and Dara Purcell pointing for their respective teams before O’Neill’s discipline let him down with a needless swipe across Kenny that necessitated a red card from referee Thomas Glesson. 

Their numerical disadvantage wasn’t immediately obvious with a brace of frees from Winters edging the Blanchardstown side into a narrow interval lead.    

Winters doubled the St Brigid’s lead through a 32nd minute free with the influential Conway replying from deep for Crokes before his team struck for the game’s opening goal in the 34thminute. 

Brian Hayes and Ronan Hayes combined well down the middle and while the former saw his shot well saved by Alan Nolan, Considine was on hand to sweep home from eight yards.

A trio of poor wides in the immediate aftermath of that goal undermined St Brigid’s comeback hopes and their woes deepened further as O’Rorke burst onto a Brian Hayes pass before beating Nolan with ease.

Purcell began to shine with a brace of points and while O’Sullivan matched that at the opposite end, Kilmacud began to click through the gears courtesy of scores by Tom Stakelum, Whitely and a monstrous effort from goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons. 

A further blitz of scores through Stakelum, Eoin Keys, Ó Riain and Whitely saw the contest end with a whimper as Winters completed the scoring with his ninth point of the contest.   

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: O O’Rorke 1-1 (0-1f), R Hayes 0-4 (4f); F Whitely, D Purcell 0-3 each; A Considine 1-0; C Conway, C Ó Riain, T Stakelum 0-2 each; F Donohoe, B Hayes, B Kenny, E Gibbons, E Keys 0-1 apiece. St Brigid’s: P Winters 0-9 (6f); C O’Sullivan 0-6; J O’Connell, T Hannon 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; D Geraghty, D Lucey, B Lynch; C Ó Riain, M Grogan, C Ó Cathasaigh; B Hayes, C Conway; F Whitely, R Hayes, F Donohoe; B Kenny, A Considine, D Purcell. Subs: O O’Rorke for Kenny (25), G Veale for Donohoe (half-time), T Stakelum for Grogan (38), S Purcell for B Hayes (49), E Keys for R Hayes (54).

St Brigid’s: A Nolan; M Coyne, E Leen, J O’Neill; J Hannon, C Doyle, A Dunphy; D Ryan, C O’Sullivan; D Breslin, T Hannon, P Winters; J O’Connell, R McLoughlin, A McGuirk. Subs: D McLoughlin for O’Connell (37), L Doolin for Coyne (42), C McIntyre for McGuirk (45), B Moran for Breslin (57). 

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Naomh Fionnbarra).