DUBLIN SFC SEMI-FINAL Kilmacud Crokes 1-5 St Vincent's 0-8: A TERRIBLE ADVERTISEMENT for club football in Dublin between the county's premier outfits, littered with error until Mark Vaughan stepped up at the death to atone for an impressive catalogue of wides with a beautiful strike to force a replay.
Nobody could complain really. St Vincent's, shorn of their most naturally gifted yet impetuous player, the suspended Dermot Connolly, looked to hit their stride at the perfect moment only for Crokes to pin them inside their own half for the final 10 minutes.
There followed miss after horrible miss until Vaughan - in fairness he must have complete faith in his ability - sorted matters out.
Crokes initially looked more assured in defence with Paul Griffin ably supported in the fullback line by Nicky McGrath and Dublin prospect Kevin Nolan. The fortitude and the early dominance of Darren Magee at centrefield reduced St Vincent's to three frees from Tómas Quinn, until Pat Kelly took a fine point in first-half injury time.
By that stage Crokes had 1-3 as the late decision by manager Paddy Carr to name Mark Davoren at full forward ahead of captain and Dublin veteran Johnny Magee paid off.
Davoren's height and general nuisance value created plenty of scoring opportunities for Longford's finest forward, Brian Kavanagh, and Vaughan.
Davoren also finished off the goal on 15 minutes after Kavanagh batted down a dangerous ball into the square by the lively Cian O'Sullivan.
Quinn kept St Vincent's in touch but after three wides Vaughan opened his account with a straight-forward attempt. After another Quinn free, Pat Burke worked off a clever Davoren pass to cut over a fine point.
Kelly's late score made it a two-point game but on the evidence of the opening 30 minutes, St Vincent's county, provincial and All-Ireland crowns were under serious threat. Ger Brennan had an impact at centre back - making a decent case to former team-mate and new Dublin manager Pat Gilroy to give him greater responsibility in the county set-up in 2009.
The champions needed a stern response and they collectively upped the tempo right from second-half throw-in with a Kevin Golden free from the touchline bringing it back to the minimum before Quinn levelled matters and then put them in front for the first time since the sixth minute.
After that they seemed primed to take flight. Kelly again burst out of defence, fed Quinn who drifted inside and gave his team a two-point lead.
Crokes introduced Barry O'Rorke and Ross O'Carroll but neither made an impact against a physical St Vincent's defence.
Vaughan blasted over a 45 to ensure a nail-biting endgame. Then after another miss from the left touchline he showed no hesitation in stepping up from the right wing, his bad side, in the 62nd minute to sneak over a free. Golden then sent a late chance wide from distance.
It was the deserved result, nobody playing consistently enough to deserve passage to what will be a rescheduled county final.
KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; K Nolan, P Griffin, N McGrath; B McGrath, C O'Sullivan, A Morrissey; D Magee, N Corkery; P Burke (0-1), L McBarron, M Vaughan (0-3, two frees, 45); L Óg Ó hÉineacháin, M Davoren (1-0), B Kavanagh (0-1, free). Subs: B O'Rorke for L Óg Ó hÉineacháin (24 mins), R O'Carroll for N Corkery (34 mins), C Lambe for N McGrath (48 mins).
ST VINCENT'S: M Savage; P Conlon, E Brady, H Gill; T Doyle, G Brennan, P Kelly (0-1); H Coughlan, M Loftus; K Golden (0-1, free), R Trainor, N Billings; B Maloney, A O'Malley, T Quinn (0-6, five frees). Subs: N Dunne for N Billings (26 mins), P Lee for A O'Malley (half-time), W Lowry for H Coughlan (57 mins), C Brady for E Brady (60 mins).
Referee: G McCormack(Naomh Barrog).
