A 54th minute goal from Mark Vaughan paved the way for a Kilmacud Crokes victory after the Dublin champions had been given a second half scare by Louth side Newtown Blues. Crokes prevailed by 1-13 to 1-9 at the end of an entertaining encounter at Parnell Park with Vaughan's late goal and a brace of points from Longford Senior player Brian Kavanagh ensuring the Southside outfit used their 'get out of jail' card well. Newtown Blues had almost booked a semi-final place after scoring 1-5 within a six-minute spell holding a 1-9 to 0-11 lead by the 53rd minute, thanks to a Hugh McGinn goal. A wind assisted Kilmacud Crokes had led by 0-9 to 0-3 at the interval, but found it tough in the second half, until Vaughan and Kavanagh rallied late to secure a semi-final berth. Kilmacud Crokes - D Nestor; K Nolan, P Griffin, C O Luain; B McGrath, R O'Carroll, A Morrissey; D Magee, N Corkery; R Cosgrove 0-1, M Davoren, P Burke; M Vaughan 1-8, J Magee, B Kavanagh 0-4. Sub - B O'Rorke for Cosgrove. Newtown Blues - M Harte; T Costello, A O'Brien, N Costello; C Reynolds, R Hughes, E Judge; B Kermode 1-0, K Lynch, J Murray, J Carr, H McGinn 0-6; C Judge 0-3, E Judge, B Sharkey. Subs - S Moonan for Sharkey; B Phillips for N Costello, J Kermode for Murray; D Nugent for Hughes (49); I McManus for T Costello (59). Ref - J Curley (Meath). Tweet

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