Mannion spot on to see Crokes past Syls in SFC1 quarters

KILMACUD CROKES 2-17 ST SYLVESTER’S 0-15

It took a late Paul Mannion penalty for Kilmacud Crokes to eventually see off the St Sylvester’s challenge in this Dublin SFC1 quarter-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

In the final minute of normal time the Dublin senior star fired to the net from the spot and then in the third minute of added time Callum Pearson added Crokes’ second goal.

Crokes advance to face Ballyboden St Enda’s in their semi-final with holders St Vincent’s meeting St Jude’s in the other semi-final.

Kilmacud Crokes made a great start to proceedings to open up a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after only 12 minutes with Mannion, Andrew McGowan, Shane Horan, Pearson, Craig Dias, Shane Cunningham as well as Pat Burke on target.

They were 0-10 to 0-4 to the good at the break but Syls showed plenty of spirit to battle back on several occasions with the accuracy of Kerry native Ed Walsh and his cousin, former Dublin senior Micheál McCarthy to the fore.

The tactic of moving Jack Hazley into the target man role, where he played to good effect in their previous game versus Jude’s at times, paid dividends once again.

However, Mannion’s penalty extinguished any fading hope Syls had with Pearson’s late, late goal putting a further gloss on the final scoreline.

SCORERS– Kilmacud Crokes: C Pearson 1-3, P Mannion 1-2 (1-0 pen), S Cunningham 0-4, P Burke (0-2f), S Horan 0-2 each, C O’Connor 0-1 (‘45’), A McGowan, C Dias, S Williams 0-1 each. St Sylvester’s: E Walsh 0-7 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘45’), M McCarthy 0-6 (0-1f), J Hazley 0-2.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; L Flatman, A McGowan, A Jones; C O’Connor, R McGowan, R Ryan; C Dias, C Casey; S Horan, P Mannion, S Cunningham; C Pearson, D Mullin, P Burke. Subs: C O’Shea for Ryan (44), S Williams for Burke (46), N Nolan for Jones (54), K Dyas for Horan (60), J Murphy for Flatman (62).

ST SYLVESTER’S: M Shiel; J Peacock, J Walsh, P White; G McArdle, G Hazley, C McArdle; J Hazley, K Archibald; R Palmer, A Hartnett, D Brennan; M McCarthy, E Walsh, A Wright. Subs: A Cunningham for Wright (44), J Kennedy for Hartnett (51).

REF: J King (Garda).

DUBLIN SFC1 SEMI-FINALS: St Jude’s v St Vincent’s; Ballyboden St Enda’s v Kilmacud Crokes.

DUBLIN SFC2 SEMI-FINALS: St Mary’s Saggart v Fingallians; Nh Olaf/Thomas Davis v Cuala.

DUBLIN IFC SEMI-FINALS: Scoil Ui Chonaill v Round Tower Lusk; Nh Fionnbarra v Nh Barróg.