Brogan shows the way

DUBLIN SFC SEMI-FINAL Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh 1-12 Ballymun Kickhams 1-9: THERE WERE moments at the start and end of this meeting when the unthinkable seemed to be unfolding before our eyes.

Ballymun Kickhams, a team littered with unknowns and veteran Dubliners like Paddy Christie and Ian Robertson, exploded out of the blocks.

Before St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh could settle, before the Brogan brothers and cousins, aided by Ross McConnell, Jason Sherlock and Garreth Smith could find their rhythm, they were chasing a four-point deficit.

Such is the quality on hand that they reeled Kickhams back in with ease. It began after 10 minutes when Sherlock combined with Adrian Darcy for a point.

Plunketts regained possession from the kick-out and Smith fed Alan Brogan who gave Sherlock a sight of goal. The finish was a reminder of his former excellence.

Darcy, Bernard Brogan and Smith (from a 45) added further scores over the next six minutes as the expected rout began to materialise. The match was ambling along at a snail's pace with Bernard Brogan particularly guilty of wastage in sight of the uprights and Sherlock withdrawn, but two more scores from Smith and Brogan kept them 1-7 to 0-6 clear.

Ballymun then staged a remarkable revival when Ted Furman was dragged down by Michael Brides. James Burke saw his penalty well stopped by Eoin Somerville but he buried the rebound.

Derek Byrne tied it up with a decent free before, entering the final 10 minutes, Alan Hubbard kicked his second point to put Kickhams in front.

Plunketts were unable to win any ball and Burke landed a free to make it 1-9 to 1-7 as time ticked on.

However, just like his Dublin team-mate Mark Vaughan in the earlier semi-final, Bernard Brogan recovered from a forgettable evening's work to clip four late points that ended Ballymun's dream with just seconds to spare.

OLIVER PLUNKETTS/EOGHAN RUADH: E Somerville; R O'Connor, C Evans, P Curtin; M Brides, James Brogan, S McGuinness; R McConnell, D Matthews; A Darcy (0-1), D Sweeney (0-1), A Brogan; J Sherlock (1-1), G Smith (0-2, 45), B Brogan (0-7, two frees). Substitutes: N Murphy for A Darcy (35 mins), C McDonnell for J Sherlock (43 mins)

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: S Currie; D Byrne, P Christie, E Dolan; S Lawlor, E Dolan, P McMahon; B McCullagh, E Reilly; R Shortall (0-2), T Furman (0-1), J Burke (1-1); D Byrne (0-2, frees), I Robertson (0-1), A Hubbard (0-2). Substitutes: K Connolly for I Robertson (half-time), C Moore for D Byrne (58 mins).

Referee; J Rutherford(Ballyboden St Enda's).