Solid Crokes should improve

Leinster Club football championship Final/ Kilmacud Crokes 0-10 Sarsfields 0-9: This group of Kilmacud Crokes footballers have been coming for some time. But their age profile suggests they still have plenty of time to improve. Still, they managed to capture the Leinster football title yesterday and they achieved that goal without having to come from behind in four games.

While the attacking class of Mark Vaughan and the revival of Ray Cosgrove has grabbed most of the headlines during the campaign, yesterday's victory was build on a rock-solid defence.

Johnny Magee patrolled the middle third like a grumpy ogre: you can try to go around him, but there is certainly no way through. He dropped off the Dublin panel this year, but manager Paul Caffrey may have to reassess that decision after the reliable performances of recent weeks.

Alongside him, brother Darren has also been a powerhouse since returning from his travels. He looks the perfect foil for Ciarán Whelan come next summer.

Behind the immense Magee block lies the panther-like Liam Óg Ó hÉineacháin. His distribution and reading of the game is on a par with the best centre backs.

Monaghan full back Colm Flanagan completes the steel spine.

With Sarsfields trailing 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time, manager Seán O'Sullivan launched Padraic Brennan into attack. He kicked four points, but only one from play, and Flanagan made him earn every ounce of possession. Brennan was supposed to be the man to turn the tide.

Crokes built the early lead out of the Magee platform. Johnny set Vaughan up for the first point after four minutes, as Gary Whyte tried to hit the big man late but ended up on the dirt. Mark Davoren and Cosgrove added two each in the next 15 minutes in Crokes' now trademark rapid acceleration from the blocks.

Sarsfields were too busy kicking silly wides to hold the pace. Morgan Sullivan did get on the scoreboard, but it was his profligacy that stuck in the mind.

In contrast, Johnny Magee capped a magnificent first-half display with a free from 55 metres. It was an intimidating statement of intent, as Crokes had seemed hard done by for not seeing the free brought forward at least 20 yards after a late foul by Martin Dunne on Cosgrove. Referee David Coldrick brandished a yellow card to the corner back but sent the ball back to Magee. Without a word he launched it over the bar.

Then, just like in the two meetings with Rhode in the Leinster semi-final, the Dublin champions lost their rhythm Granted, they were playing into a tough wind and Sarsfields responded by piling forward with intent.

Still, the composure to kill off a wounded team was absent. Again, it was a case of the scores drying up once Vaughan was crowded out to the wing. As usual, he was targeted remorselessly off the ball and picked up another yellow card for his troubles after a reckless challenge.

Three Brennan points and a well-worked score from Alan Smyth cut the deficit back to the minimum margin with eight minutes remaining.

Liam McBarron then took some responsibility in the Kilmacud attack, but two shots blazed wide. Finally, in the 57th minute, Pat Burke profited from some of Darren Magee's work to give them breathing space. Two points. The perfect scenario for Sarsfields to come looking for a late goal in injury time.

Crokes did their best to help them. Dan Nelligan was penalised for taking too long over a free out, and Dermot Earley was fouled from the subsequent throw-in. Gary White landed a straightforward free.

Then Johnny Magee put another ball in from deep, substitute Brendan Phelan broke possession to McBarron who this time found the target. Two points, just as three minutes of injury time was announced.

Burke may not kick a lot of scores, but his industry is immense. After screwing a shot badly wide, instead of going out of play it came to rest nicely at the corner flag. Everyone turned their backs presuming it was out, except Burke, who sprinted across to regather possession. Comical stuff, yet it killed two minutes.

Back came Sarsfields, with Brennan posting another free. But Kilmacud defenders Paul Griffin and Brian McGrath were cute enough in possession to ensure they didn't cough it up.

Kilmacud did it the hard way, but that too is the trademark of this team. They are capable of reaching a higher standard, and February's meeting with Salthill-Knocknacarra may provide the ideal stage to prove it.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nelligan; C Kelleher (capt), C Flanagan, N McGrath; B McGrath, L Og Ó hÉineacháin, P Griffin; D Magee, J Magee (0-2, one free); L McBarron (0-1), C Murphy, R Cosgrove (0-2); P Burke (0-1), M Davoren (0-2), M Vaughan (0-2). Substitutes: N Corkery for C Murphy (43 mins), B Phelan for M Davoren (57 mins).

SARSFIELDS: G Slicker; N Campbell, M McIntyre (capt), M Dunne (0-1); C Duffy, L Sex, N Hedderman; D Earley, A Barry; E Freaney, M O'Sullivan (0-1), G White (0-2, two frees); A Smyth (0-1), C Dempsey, P Campbell. Substitutes: P Brennan (0-4, three frees) for P Campbell (half-time), S McKenzie-Smith for A Barry, M Browne for E Freaney (both 49 mins), David Earley for A Smyth (57 mins).

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).