Crokes prevail but Cosgrove off

Kilmacud Crokes ... 0-8 Ballyboden St Enda's ... 0-6: Stillorgan's Kilmacud Crokes secured their first Evening Herald Dublin Senior League Division 1 football title since 1997 in the mud of O'Toole Park yesterday.

They overcame a much improved Ballyboden in the second half, and they prevailed despite playing with only 14 men for the most of that second period when Dublin's Ray Cosgrove was dismissed.

Cosgrove received a straight red card when he became involved with Boden's Armagh defender Andrew McCann, who got a yellow card for his role in the incident from referee Gerry Grehan.

It was all pretty harmless stuff, but Dublin supremo Tommy Lyons, will now have to plan without his All-Star attacker for the start of the National League.

The Glenalbyn men were far superior in the opening half, at the end of which they should have been leading by far more than three points - 0-4 to 0-1.

Helped by the accuracy of Derek Byrne, Boden responded well on the resumption, with the teams being level at 0-6 each in the 40th minute. Mick Dillon's side earned glory with crucial points from Conor Murphy in the 49th minute and Liam Óg Ó hEineacháin, six minutes from time.

Yet Boden kept hovering. "Remembering what happened to us against UCD in the championship, my heart was in my mouth in the last few minutes," admitted Crokes boss Dillon.

Scorers: Kilmacud Crokes - P Ward, L Óg Ó hEineacháin (1f) 0-2 each, R Cosgrove, C Galvin, D Magee, C Murphy 0-1 each. Ballyboden St Enda's - D Byrne 0-4 (2f), C Doyle, C Keaney 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: R Davis; C Flanagan, C Deegan, C Kelleher; B McGrath, D Magee, P Griffin; C Galvin, L McBarron; J Behan, E Coyle, L Óg Ó hEineacháin; P Ward, C Murphy, R Cosgrove. Sub: J Magee for Behan.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: J Bates; I Clarke, D Kiernan, A Gardiner; E McNulty, G O'Reilly, A McCann; D Homan, C Smith; C Doyle, C Moran, C Keaney; D Byrne, L Callan, P Healy. Subs: S Hiney for Smith; C Hore for Doyle; K Murray for Callan.

Referee: G Grehan (St Jude's)

• Donnycarney side Craobh Chiarain, clinched the Evening Herald Dublin Senior Hurling League Division 1 title by beating Crumlin at Clonshaugh yesterday.