Vaughan pushes Crokes into gear

Leinster Club Championship Round-up: Kilmacud Crokes strolled into the quarter-finals of the Leinster club football championship after a convincing 3-9 to 0-6 victory over Wicklow champions St Patrick's at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

St Patrick's had to plan without their key forward Paul Earls but Crokes looked vulnerable after losing county players Ray Cosgrove, to a hamstring strain, and Jonny Magee, minutes before throw-in with a migraine.

Yet, it was the ever-rising star of former minor player Mark Vaughan that made the difference. He finished with 2-3, including one excellent long-range free, but it was his first goal after 20 minutes that broke the Wicklow men's meek resistance.

Mick O'Keeffe landed four points, while replacement Kevin O'Carroll claimed the third goal in the final minutes to seal a resounding 3-9 to 0-6 victory built largely on some competent defending.

Kilmacud will have to wait a couple of weeks to discover their next opponents as they play the eventual winners of the Westmeath championship.

Surprisingly, Longford champions Clonguish failed to live up to expectations as they were swept aside by Offaly's representatives Rhone in Pearse Park on Saturday.

Niall McNamee kicked five points with goals coming from Paul Glennon, Roy Malone and Pascal Kellaghan in the 3-10 to 0-8 victory. They now must overcome Portlaoise for a place in the semi-finals.

Kildare's Allenwood beat Louth champions St Patrick's by 0-11 to 0-6 in Newbridge to qualify for a game against Skryne of Meath.

John Doyle landed five points from frees for the Kildare champions. David Hughes started the Allenwood scoring after less than a minute and they stayed in front until the end.

Also in the football championship, Rathvilly of Carlow saw off the challenge of Kilkenny's Muckalee with ease, winning 4-7 to 0-4.

Elsewhere, Carlow champions Naomh Bríd are through to the quarter-final of the Leinster club hurling championship after defeating Ardclough of Kildare at Newbridge on Saturday.

SCORERS

Kilmacud Crokes: M Vaughan (2-3, 0-1 free), M O'Keeffe (0-4, one free), K O'Carroll (1-0), C Murphy (0-1), F Armstrong (0-1). St Patrick's: S O'Brien (0-3, two frees), D Smullen (0-2, one free), B Cornyn (0-1).

Rhode: N McNamee (0-5, three frees), P Glennon (1-2), R Malone (1-1), P Kellaghan 1-1), A NcNamee (0-1). Clonguish: P Barden (0-3, two frees), C Clarke (0-2), J O'Brien (0-2), C Williams (0-1).

Allenwood: J Doyle (0-5, frees), D Hughes ( 0-3), N O'Callaghan (0-2), E Price (0-1). St Patrick's: K White (0-3), E Carroll (0-2), D Kirwan (0-1).

Rathvilly: N Curran (1-1), D O'Donoghue(1-1), D Nolan (1-1), F Kelly (1-0), B Murphy (0-2, one free), T Bulger (0-1), S Kavanagh (0-1). Muckalee: L Brennan (0-1), S Coonan (0-1), R Ruane (0-1), P Maher (0-1)

Naomh Bríd: D O'Leary (1-2), J Kavanagh (0-4, two frees), P Hickey (1-0), B Nolan (0-1), B Lawlor (0-1, free), S Watchorn (0-1). Ardclough: B Byrne (1-1), T Spain (0-2), C Buggy (0-1), A Whelan (0-1, free), A Carr (0-1).