Dublin SHC: Jude's and Crokes into decider

October 11, 2014

Rory Jacob of Oulart-the-Ballagh is put under pressure by Crokes' Ryan O'Dwyer during the 2012 Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final at Parnell Park. INPHO

St Jude's will face Kilmacud Crokes in this month's Dublin senior hurling championship final after both teams came through their respective semi-finals this evening at Parnell Park.

In the first game, St Jude's came from behind to see off O'Tooles by a narrow margin of 0-15 to 0-14 and keep the club's hopes of a senior football and hurling championship double alive.

It was O'Tooles whom were the better team in the first-half, leading by 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval, with 0-7 from Conor Carton keeping them in front but his decision  to stroke over a penalty just before half-time ended up proving costly.

Frees from Fionn Ó Riain Broin and a splendid score from Danny Sutcliffe kept Jude's right in contention for the second-half, when their opponents would be shooting with the wind, but it was the Saints that were level in the early stages of the resumption through young dual star Paul Maguire's sideline puck.

A Carton free gave O'Tooles back the lead but through Broin (free) and Sutcilffe St Jude's were in front heading for the final quarter. Broin added to his tally but two more placed efforts from Carton squared the sides in the 53rd minute.

In a tense finish, it was Dublin star Sutcilffe that came up trumps for the sky blues, raising his third white flag to seal their county final berth.

The latter game saw Kilmacud Crokes a bit more comfortable in their disposal of champions Ballyboden St Enda's.

Points from Paul Ryan and Simon Lambert had Ballyboden in the ascendency early on but Crokes hit back through Barry O'Rorke, marksman Caolan Conway and Ryan O'Dwyer before further scores from Dillon Mulligan and Niall Corcoran had them into a 0-9 to 0-5 half-time lead.

The holders' hopes wouldn't be helped by the concession of a Seanie McGrath goal seven minutes into the resumption but, to their credit, they recovered well and got themselves back into contention quickly with points from Ryan, Niall McMorrow and Conal Keaney.

Ryan made it a one-point game with 15 minutes to go but Crokes, crowned All-Ireland 7s champions for the first time last month, found their extra gear in the closing quarter and punished their opponents' indiscipline at the back with more Conway frees which closed out the 1-16 to 0-12 victory.


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