Two first-half goals help Crokes back to SFC1 decider

KILMACUD CROKES 2-9 BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 0-9

Kilmacud Crokes are back in the Dublin SFC1 final for the first time since 2012 following their six-point victory over Ballyboden St Enda's in Saturday's semi-final at Parnell Park.

Two first-half goals did the damage for the Stillorgan men as Boden struggled to find their form which had made them such impressive winners over Na Fianna in their quarter-final.

Crokes made the perfect start when Craig Dias tapped the ball to the net in the second minute after a move involving Conor Casey, Pat Burke, Dara Mullin who played it on the ground to Dias who side-footed to the net.

By the 17th minute Boden had battled back to level terms, 1-1 to 0-4 with points from Colm Basquel, two Ryan Basquel frees and a point from play by Robbie McDaid.

With very little clean ball won at midfield Crokes were much the better in securing breaking ball which led to them being on the front foot. At the other end Boden were guilty of some poor shooting options and kicked five efforts short into David Nestor's grateful hands in the first period alone.

Five minutes before the break Dublin senior Andrew McGowan drove forward to fire over with the outside of his right foot to push Crokes 1-3 to 0-5 up before they struck for their second goal when Shane Horan finished clinically to the net.

Boden almost replied two minutes later but following a powerful run angling in on the Crokes goal Michael Darragh Macauley's thunderbolt crashed off the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

It was one of the few occasions that Boden pierced the Crokes defence.

Before the break Dara Mullin carved an opening for himself to kick a point as Kilmacud entered the interval 2-4 to 0-5 clear.

Points from Shane Cunningham and a Paul Mannion free from over 40 metres edged Crokes further in front, 2-6 to 0-5, by the 40th minute.

But with just over 15 minutes to go Boden began to eventually get on top around the middle and build some momentum.

Ryan Basquel pointed from play before they tagged on three frees, two by Colm and one from Ryan Basquel, all following fouls on Colm Basquel to reduce the deficit to 2-6 to 0-9.

Boden could have got closer but shot two wides during their best passage of the contest.

Crucially then Mannion broke the chain of Boden scores with a monster free from 47 metres to settle Crokes and they secured victory with points from Cian O'Connor (free) and Andrew McGowan.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 0-3 (0-3f), C Dias, S Horan 1-0 each, A McGowan 0-2, C O'Connor (0-1f), P Burke (0-1f), S Cunningham, D Mullin 0-1 each. Ballyboden St Enda's: R Basquel 0-5 (0-4f), C Basquel 0-3 (0-2f), R McDaid 0-1.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; R McGowan, A McGowan, L Flatman; C O'Connor, C O'Sullivan, C O'Shea; C Casey, C Dias; S Cunningham, P Mannion, S Horan; P Burke, D Mullin, C Pearson. Subs: T Fox for Burke (52), K Dyas for Horan (58), S Williams for Cunningham (61), K Dias for C Dias (63).

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: D Gogan; B Dwan, C Flaherty, S Clayton; S Gibbons, D Nelson, A Waters; MD Macauley, D O'Mahoney; R McDaid, C Basquel, D O'Reilly; C Keaney, R Basquel, A Flood. Subs: S Durkin for Dwan (24), R McGarry for Flood (ht), D McCabe for O'Mahoney (44), S Malony for O'Reilly (51), T Hanifin for Gibbons (53), J Holland for McDaid (62).

REF: D Sheppard (Round Tower, Lusk).