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KILMACUD CROKES 0-20
LUCAN SARSFIELDS 0-19
14-man Kilmacud Crokes finished in an impressive manner as they edged a brave Lucan Sarsfields by the slimmest of margins in their absorbing PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship semi-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
Crokes were second best for decent chunks of the encounter but managed to show their true worth in the final quarter to pip their battling opponents in the closing minutes.
It was Lucan that played the more compelling hurling in the opening-half with five Ben Coffey points helping build a deserved 0-11 to 0-7 advantage at half-time.
The 39th minute dismissal of Brian Sheehy offered further hope to Lucan but the impact from the Kilmacud bench proved telling with Ger Veale impressing with a crucial two-point salvo.
We were treated to a glut of scores in the early stages with Charlie Keher’s point inside twelve seconds cancelled out at the opposite end by Brian Hayes.
Lucan’s bright start was reflected in further points from Ciaran Dowling and Ben Coffey before Brendan Kenny halved the Crokes deficit with a smart score in the 4th minute.
Coffey had a wonderful opportunity to enhance Lucan’s lead after being bundled over close to goal by Brian Sheehy but his powerfully struck penalty arrowed wide of Eddie Gibbons’ left-hand upright.
The talented wing-forward made light of his misfortune when delightfully pointing from a sideline ball in the 8th minute but Kilmacud were soon back on level terms through successive points by Dara Purcell and Cian Ó Cathasaigh.
These proved isolated moments of encouragement for a Crokes team that struggled to make much of an impression in attack, allowing their opponents to build a healthy lead through points from play by goalkeeper Sean McClelland, Chris Crummey and John Bellew.
While Crokes struck back thanks to points from Alex Considine and Conal Ó Riain, they remained on the back foot as Paul Crummey and Coffey (free) restored Lucan’s four-point buffer midway through the second quarter.
The scoring dried up from that point with both sides guilty of some errant shooting with Ronan Hayes and Coffey exchanging frees to leave Sarsfields deservedly ahead by the interval.
Lucan’s Donal Flannery and Kilmacud’s Purcell exchanged scores in the opening minute of the second-half before Fergal Whitely twisted and turned his way to his first score of the contest in the 33rd minute.
With the breeze at their backs becoming increasingly strong, Crokes reduced their deficit to a more manageable two points through substitute Ben Lynch two minutes later
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