Seniors go out in atrocious conditions

It was a travesty to ask the teams to play in these atrocious conditions, the pitch was like an ice rink and a ploughed field after the first match, the rain was torrential and the result was therefore a lottery.  The Dublin County Board dictates’ that demand that the premier club football competition must be sandwiched into a narrow timeframe on these dismal October evenings are an insult to club teams and the time and effort they put into their preparation.

It is especially unfair that worthy winners Kilmacud Crokes  must play their semi-final on Sunday.    

Brendan  

Mannion makes difference for Kilmacud in Donnycarney deluge

By Niall Scully -   Thursday October 18 2012

KILMACUD CROKES 1-6, ST SYLVESTER'S 0-6 - 

They could have done with the Warsaw roof in Parnell Park last night. The bar of Palmolive was splish-splashing all around the Donnycarney tub.

The crowd in the stand were all huddled at the back, avoiding the heavy downpours. It was a game for getting down and dirty.

In the second half, the Crokes midfielder, Pat Duggan, tumbled to his knees, and he slid along the mud like a fella up on the Kilternan Ski Slope.

It was a pity that such a high profile contest had to endure such conditions. A dry sod on a dry night could have produced some duel.

Now Crokes will have to make sure the gear is washed for next Sunday's Evening Herald Dublin SFC semi-final blockbuster against the champs, St Brigid's (2.15).

Duggan's midfield partner, Darren Magee, is delighted to be in the last four.

"It was a hard battle. We just stuck to our game plan and kept plugging away.

"We had a lot of possession. The aim will be to make better use of it for Sunday. The next couple of days will be all about rest and recovery, and sorting out any niggles we might have picked up."

Majestic

So, the show goes on for the remarkable O'Carroll brothers, Rory and Ross, who won the Dublin SHC 'A' title with Crokes last Sunday. Rory was majestic at full-back last night and the brother was not far behind him.

It was all about doing the basics well. It was never going to be a party. It was 0-3 each at half-time. Mark Vaughan was foiled of an early Kilmacud goal by a Dominic McDonnell save at the scoreboard end.

The golden goal came from Dublin U21 Paul Mannion, six minutes into the second period. Mannion had a fine outing. He owns a cultured left peg that could butter the spuds.

As the ball spilled from a cluster of players - the story of the hour - Mannion pounced, and without handling the ball, he calmly rolled it low to the net. The soccer skills that saw him capped at U18 international level were very evident.

The goal gave the Stillorgan side a bottle of confidence, and they were in charge for much of the second period. As Syls chased the lead, the gaps began to open up.

The Malahide men were finding it hard to open doors. The splendid Crokes all-round defending was summed up by a super Adrian Morrissey tackle in front of the sideline terrace.

Mannion, Vaughan and Craig Dias hit the three telling second-half points for Crokes. Two late Darren Clarke strikes brought it back to a goal, but Kilmacud were the worthy victors.

SCORERS - Kilmacud Crokes: P Mannion 1-2; M Vaughan 0-3 (2f, 1 45); C Dias 0-1. St Sylvester's: M McCarthy (2f), D Clarke (1f) 0-2 each; N Dunne, C Daly 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: G Morris; R Ryan, Rory O'Carroll, Ross O'Carroll; C O'Sullivan, B McGrath, K Nolan; D Magee, P Duggan; C Dias, L óg ó hEineachain, A Morrissey; M Vaughan, P Mannion, P Burke. Subs: S Williams for Vaughan (58); B O'Rorke for Morrissey (58); J Magee for Mannion (62); M Coughlan for ó hEineachain (63).

ST SYLVESTER'S: D McDonnell; D Galvin, G McArdle, C McIntyre; B Sexton, K Cleere, R Walsh; R Hazley, P Bracken; J Coughlan, M Brennan, R Cleere; C Daly, M McCarthy, N Dunne. Subs: D Clarke for Daly (35); A Foy for Bracken (45); S O'Connor for Brennan (54).

REF: G McCormack (Naomh Barróg).

- Niall Scully