By Shane Dawson @SLawrenceDawson
It took eighty minutes to separate Kilmacud Crokes and St Jude’s. The experience of Crokes ensured a four point victory after a frantic and, at times, chaotic game of hurling.
A last gasp Damien Kelly point broke St Jude’s hearts at the end of the sixty minutes to take this enthralling final in to extra time. St Jude’s were nearly home and dry before two late points from Sean McGrath and Kelly restored parity.
It was St Jude’s, making a debut appearance in a SHC final, who got off to the better start thanks to two early pointed frees from Fionn Riain O’Broin. The nimble corner forward would be his teams leading point scorer, not for the first time this year, in a fantastic display of hurling.
The Tymon North side maintained a lead for the opening quarter of the match before a Sean McGrath point from play brought the teams level, three points apiece. The Templeogue club were applying relentless pressure high up the field, dispossessing their opponents on numerous occasions before they could make a dent in their half.
Crokes took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to an easily pointed free from Sean McGrath with 16 minutes played. Moments later, full forward Oisin O’Rorke bisected the posts after receiving possession from a quickly taken McGrath free. Surprisingly, it was St Jude’s who were moving the ball around more efficiently than their much fancied opponents.
Mark Maguire could have created a goal scoring opportunity if it was not for some resilient Crokes’ defending in their full back line. Maguire gained possession after some intricate hand passing from Joe McManus and Ronan Joyce.
Jude’s had already been gifted a goal opportunity when Fionn Riain O’Broin nearly rounded off a complete performance with a three-pointer. However, Crokes’ ‘keeper Matt Collins pulled off an outstanding save to guide the sliotar away and eradicate any potential danger to his goal.
O’Riain Broin was St Jude’s most potent attacking option at times when Danny Sutcliffe had dropped deep. It was the number 13 who pointed his fourth free of the half on the stroke of half time to ensure the teams went into the interval level, five points apiece. This came three minutes after Sutcliffe had pointed a sweetly struck effort which drifted in from the left and over the black spot.
Second half
It took two minutes before the first point of the second half was scored. McGrath and O’Riain Broin were displaying a master-class in free taking. This time, it was the Crokes’ talisman who showcased his arsenal of talents by giving his team an early lead.
St Jude’s, and Dublin inter county star, Danny Sutcliffe began the second half just as he finished the second. Sutcliffe pointed a sensational point from the left of the pitch to bring the scores level for just the third time in 35 minutes.
The play opened up more in the second half with a plethora of sweetly struck scores seen from both teams. Crokes introduced a number of substitutions and it was Jude Sweeney, fresh off the bench, who scored a sublime effort to bring the score to 0-07 to 0-07.
With 48 minutes played St Jude’s had opened up a three point gap for the first time in the match. O’Riain Broin pointed yet another free to sit St Jude’s firmly in the driving seat. However, Crokes’ reply was immediate and effective. Midfielder Ross O’Carroll was released through on goal from a Damien Kelly pass and finished off his chance with aplomb with a crisp ground stroke low to the left of the St Jude’s ‘keeper Nolan.
The goal set up a grandstand finish. With less than ten minutes to play, the teams were level. It was St Jude’s who were gaining momentum with crucially timed points from Sutcliffe and O’Riain Broin. Both teams were emptying their benches in an attempt to maximise fitness to see them over the line.
After a Ross O’Carroll wide for Crokes, an O’Riain Broin free increased St Jude’s lead to two points as the end of the match rapidly approached. Crokes remained calm and composed. This was the experience of winning the 2012 Dublin SHC shining through. This was the ruthless will to win instilled by Ollie Baker since taking over the reigns in Stillorgan.
A late Sean McGrath free was followed by a Damien Kelly point. Cue scenes of adulation in Parnell Park for the partisan Crokes following. The match, confusingly, was destined for extra time. As Danny Harrington’s whistle reverberated around the Donnycarney venue, it wasn’t clear if extra time or a replay would be needed.
Extra time
All St Jude’s needed to do was to keep hold of possession in the dying seconds. A task easier said than done against a formidable opponent, Kilmacud Crokes. Ryan O’Dwyer and Cian MacGabhann got Crokes off to the perfect start in extra time.
St Jude’s had no answer to a rampant Crokes showing. O’Riain Broin uncharacteristically missed a free before Rob Hardy saw his long range effort drift wide of the post also. Just as the first half of extra time was coming to an end Sean McGrath was released through on goal by earlier goal scorer Ross O’Carroll.
McGrath capped off a productive performance by drilling the sliotar past the hapless Graham Nolan in the St Jude’s goal. The score line read 2-13 to 0-14 at the short break in extra time. Crokes opened up an unassailable lead which no doubt made tired St Jude’s legs even heavier.
Sean Fallon’s men battled gallantly in the second half of extra time. A Ronan Joyce point was preceded by a Paul Maguire goal from a set piece. As much as St Jude’s hassled and harried their opponents, Crokes had that little extra to ensure there would be further silverware in the Kilmacud Crokes clubhouse this year.
Points from Dillon Mulligan, Sean McGrath, and Ryan O’Dwyer brought the final score to 2-16 to 1-15. St Jude’s will be proud in their performance, knowing they gave it their all. However, it was experience, class, and fitness which saw Kilmacud Crokes crowned Dublin Senior Hurling Champions despite a dogged St Jude’s display.
Kilmacud Crokes Panel and Scorers:
M Collins; N Corcoran; Rory O’Carroll; J Clinton; C MacGabhann (0-01); J Doughan; B O’Carroll; D Mulligan (0-01); Ross O’Carroll (1-00); R O’Dwyer (0-02); D Kelly (0-01); S McGrath (1-06, 5 frees); C Conway (0-01); O O’Rorke (0-01); B O’Rorke (0-01); Subs: P Tighe; R Murphy; B Mulligan; J Sweeney (0-01); O’Loughlin; B Horan; J Burke (0-01); B O’Leidhin; M Geragthy; C Clinton; R Walsh; A De Paor; T Clarke; D O’Murchu; G McMorrow; C Lafferty; L McMullan; N O’Reardon.
Wides: 8
St Jude’s Panel and Scorers:
G Nolan; E McLoughlin; G McManus; C Mangan; R Hardy; A O’Beirne; R O’Brien; P Maguire (1-00); N Mangan; R Joyce (0-01); D Sutcliffe (0-03); M McGuire; F O’Riain Broin (0-10, 9 frees); T Devlin; J McManus (0-01); Subs: M Hartnett; P Aylward; P Garvey; V Walsh; J Ryan; B Moran; A McGovern; S Larkin; J Kennedy; N Cronin; C O’Riain Broin; L Kelly; M Hannon; P Larkin; O O’Donnell.
Wides: 9
