Mannion leads Kilmacud Crokes to SFC1 glory

KILMACUD CROKES 2-12 ST JUDE’S 0-13

A Paul Mannion-inspired Kilmacud Crokes were crowned Dublin senior football champions in Parnell Park on Monday night.

Mannion gave an exhibition of marksmanship, kicking 1-6 from play as Crokes won in pillar to post fashion.

As Dublin champions they advance to face Meath champions, St Peter’s of Dunboyne, in Navan in two Sundays’ time.

The Dublin star signalled his intent early with two superb points and it was his goal in the 57^th minute that finally sealed the fate of Jude’s when he threaded the ball through the legs of advancing keeper Liam Mailey.

Crokes’ defence was excellent, precise in their tackling and use of possession with the likes of Liam Flatman, Ross McGowan, Cian O’Conor and Cillian O’Shea to the fore.

It's a defence that conceded just on goal in their entire successful SFC1 run and that a wondergoal by Ballyboden St Enda's James Madden in their opening group game of the round-robin phase.

Crokes led 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval but could have been further in front as they missed five scoring chances in the opening 15 minutes when they held the upperhand.

Jude’s only point form play came in the 24^th minute through midfielder Seamus Ryan with freetaker Niall Coakley getting their other two points.

However, Jude's improved after the break.

Kevin McManamon pointed within 15 seconds of the restart following a good ball from Mark Sweeney.

But typically Crokes responded off their next attack with Mannion on target after Shane Horan made the initial incision.

Jude's best spell came then as they pressurised the Crokes kickout but they couldn't sustain it and keeper David Nestor began finding his targets again.

Points from Padraic Clarke, Tom Lahiff and the industrious Chris Guckian made it 0-8 to 0-7 after 37 minutes as the decibel levels rose at the Donnycarney venue.

But again it was a Mannion score than settled Crokes again before his side capitalised on a defensive lapse for Cian O'Connor to pick out Pat Burke unmarked and he rifled to the roof of Liam Mailey's net to make it 1-9 to 0-7 with 20 minutes remaining.

Jude's, however, showed the resilience that paved the way for SFC1 victories en route to Monday's final against Ballymun Kickhams and St Vincent's.

McManamon ignited their charge with a point before Coakley (free) and Tom Devlin, just on as a sub, cut the gap to two points.

The hard-working Callum Pearson cllipped a point with his left and when Clarek replied there was two in it again with ten minutes to play.

Craig Dias angled over his second point of the night and Coakley responded with a free - two between them and three minutes of normal time left.

Then the killer blow. Fittingly Mannion delivered it.

Good play from Flatman and a clever ball inside from Dias picked out Mannion and his fleet of foot saw him through on goal and he slide his finish to the net. 

Crokes were champions for the eighth time in their history.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 1-6, P Burke 1-0, C Dias, C O’Connor (0-1 ‘45’) 0-2 each, S Cunningham, C Pearson 0-1 each. St Jude’s: N Coakley 0-4 (0-4f), P Clarke 0-3 (0-1f), K McManamon 0-2, S Ryan, S Guckian, T Lahiff, T Devlin 0-1 each,

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; L Flatman, A McGowan, C O’Sullivan;C O’Shea, R McGowan, C O’Connor; C Dias, C Casey; S Horan, S Cunningham, C Pearson; P Mannion,D Mullin, P Burke. Subs: K Dyas for Horan (50), T Fox for Mullin (58), S Williams for Burke (60).

ST JUDE’S: L Mailey; O Manning, C Fitzpatrick, C O’Reilly; T Lahiff, N O’Shea, C Guckian; M Sweeney, S Ryan; K Doherty, S King, R Joyce;N Coakley, Mc Manamon, P Clarke. Subs: N Mangan for Joyce (37), T Devlin for King (45), B McManamon for Doherty (50), A Sweeney for O’Reilly (60).

REF: S McCarthy (St Vincent’s).