Kilmacud Crokes regain Dublin SHC title

Kilmacud Crokes 2-16 St Judes 1-15

Kilmacud Crokes regained the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship title following their hard-fought 2-16 to 1-15 extra-time victory over St Jude's in Parnell Park.

Winners in 2012, Crokes eventually confirmed their favourites’ tag when pulling away from their southside rivals in extra-time to confirm their sixth county title and first since 2012.

Fionn Ó Riain Broin opened the scoring for St Jude’s when converting a 2nd minute free and that lead was doubled three minutes later as the former Coláiste Eoin student added to his tally from another placed ball.

Kilmacud struggled for primary possession in the initial stages but the finally opened their account after Sean McGrath released Barry O’Rorke for a well-taken score after eight minutes.

After Ó Riain Broin and Caolán Conway had traded scores, the former spurned a glorious goal chance in the 14th minute when his low drive superbly repelled by Matt Collins in the Crokes goal.

That save appeared to galvanise the Stillorgan outfit and after McGrath had levelled matters at the end of the first quarter, Crokes inched themselves two points clear following successive scores by McGrath and Oisin O’Rorke.

The half ended promisingly for St Jude’s however and after Danny Sutcliffe had registered a sublime point from under the stand, Ó Riain Broin ensured a 0-5 apiece stalemate by half-time with his fourth free of the night in added time.

Despite McGrath restoring his side’s lead within three minutes of the resumption, the irrepressible Sutcliffe highlighted his massive influence when landing a sumptuous score from the resultant puck-out.

In the 37th minute, Ó Riain Broin added momentum to St Judes’ challenge with another free following a foul on substitute John Ryan as Crokes struggled to gain any dividend from their malfunctioning forward line.

The Templeogue outfit were playing the more compelling hurling and it was of little surprise to see them race three points clear by the 49th minute after a trio of Ó Riain Broin frees.

However, their momentum was stalled through a well-taken goal by Ross O’Carroll a minute later but in keeping with their doggedness on the night, St Jude’s responded immediately though Sutcliffe and Ó Riain Broin.

Joey McManus and Ó Riain Broin looked to have secured victory for their side with late scores by a McGrath ‘65’ was followed up by Damien Kelly’s levelling score in injury time.

Given the reprieve they received, it was not surprising to see Crokes regroup for extra-time and they enjoyed successive scores through Ryan O’Dwyer and Cian Mac Gabhann in the opening three minutes.

A McGrath goal in the 69th minute propelled Crokes further clear with Paul Maguire's goal five minutes from time arriving too late to alter the complexion by the final whistle.

KILMACUD CROKES: M Collins; N Corcoran, Rory O'Carroll, J Clinton; C Mac Gabhann (0-1), J Doughan, B O'Carroll; D Mulligan (0-1), D Kelly (0-1); Ross O'Carroll (1-0), R O'Dwyer (0-2), C Conway (0-1); B O'Rorke (0-1), S McGrath (1-6, four frees, one '45'), O O'Rorke (0-1). Subs: J Sweeney (0-1) for O O'Rorke (29), J Burke (0-1) for Conway (45), R O'Loughlin for Rory O'Carroll (47), B Ó Leidhin for B O'Rorke (57), B Mulligan for B O'Carroll (61), C Clinton for Mulligan (76), R Walsh for Kelly (80).
ST JUDE'S: G Nolan; E McLoughlin, G McManus, C Mangan; R Hardy, A O'Beirne, R O'Brien; P Maguire (1-0, free), N Mangan; R Joyce (0-1), D Sutcliffe (0-3), M McGuire; F Ó Riain Broin (0-10, nine frees), T Devlin, J McManus (0-1). Subs: J Ryan for McGuire (35), S Larkin for O'Brien (48), P Aylward for N Mangan (53), A McGovern for J McManus (59), V Walsh for Aylward (70).
Referee: Danny Harrington (Naomh Mearnóg)