Kilmacud Crokes defeat Mount Leinster Rangers in tight battle - Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

KILMACUD CROKES 0-22 MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS 1-16

Kilmacud Crokes produced a solid final quarter display when overcoming Mount Leinster Rangers by three points in their AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final in Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday afternoon. 

Crokes were forced to start without the injured David Lucey and Brendan Kenny and they were far from their county final best in the opening half as they entered the break leading by just 0-12 to 1-8 with Chris Nolan netting from a penalty in the 29th minute. 

The lead exchanged hands numerous times after the interval but Kilmacud did enough to pull through with Ronan Hayes finishing the game with nine points to his name. 

Kilmacud served early notice of their intent as Dara Purcell opened the scoring within ten seconds before Caolan Conway doubled their lead in an instant with a fine score from distance. 

Chris Nolan converted a 5th minute free to get the hosts on the board and the lively start continued as Kilmacud’s Brian Hayes and Kevin McDonald of Mount Leinster traded points midway through the first quarter. 

The visitors were playing the more fluent hurling initially as Alex Consdine and team captain Oisin O’Rorke added to their tally but a Nolan brace ensured Mount Leinster remained in touch as the contest evolved. 

Nolan’s fourth free of the half was just reward for Rangers’ improved play as they drew level in the 16th minute and that momentum was maintained as Nolan and Edward Byrne added to the home tally. 

Crucially, the visitors ended a barren period of five minutes through a Ronan Hayes free and regained their lead by the 24th minute courtesy of points by Purcell and Conal Ó Riain. 

However, Mount Leinster struck back through a Nolan penalty that saw both Mark Grogan and Conway booked before Crokes finished the half on the front foot thanks to points by Brian Hayes and Ronan Hayes (free) to lead by the bare minimum at the break.  

A brace of Nolan frees within two minutes of the restart saw Rangers regain a narrow advantage but Kilmacud replied through two Ronan Hayes frees and a Brian Hayes score to push two points clear by the 40th minute. 

Back came the hosts with three unanswered points with Nolan landing a sublime effort from play before Donagh Murphy and Ruairí Murphy tagged on scores to enhance the hosts’ hopes. 

Both Considine and Brian Hayes spurned presentable goal chances towards the end of the third quarter but Crokes enjoyed a three-point burst of their own with two frees by Ronan Hayes augmented by a point from substitute Sean Purcell. 

With Ó Riain impressing from wing-back, the visitors began to open up daylight in the final quarter as Ronan Hayes, substitute Kenny and Considine pointed to move five points clear by the 57th minute.     

Back came the hosts through Donagh Murphy and the influential Fiachra Fitzpatrick but Crokes were able to withstand some late Mount Leinster pressure to book a semi-final clash with Ballyhale Shamrocks in a fortnight’s time.  

Scorers - Kilmacud Crokes: R Hayes 0-9 (8f); B Hayes 0-3; D Purcell, A Considine 0-2 each; C Ó Riain, C Conway, B Kenny, O O’Rorke, F Donohoe, S Purcell. Mount Leinster Rangers: C Nolan 1-9 (0-7f, 1-0 pen); R Murphy (1f), D Murphy 0-2 each; K McDonald, F Fitzpatrick, E Byrne 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; B Sheehy, P Linehan, C Ó Cathasaigh; B Lynch, M Grogan, C Ó Riain; B Hayes, C Conway; F Whitely, R Hayes, F Donohoe; O O’Rorke, A Considine, D Purcell. Subs: G Veale for Donohoe (half-time), S Purcell for O’Rorke (45), B Kenny for Conway (54), B Scanlan for Considine (62). 

Mount Leinster Rangers: D Grennan; M Doyle, E Kealy, C Fitzpatrick; D Byrne, K McDonald, T Brennan; F Fitzpatrick; R Coady; J Dundon, D Murphy, P Coady; C Nolan, T Joyce, E Byrne. Subs: R Murphy for P Coady (39), Jon Nolan for Joyce (45), Jamie Nolan for R Coady (50), D Tobin for Dundon (57). 

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).