Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 0-23

Rathdowney-Errill (Laois) 0-22

(after extra-time)

Fifteen points from captain Sean McGrath gave Kilmacud Crokes the narrowest of victories over Rathdowney-Errill in an extra-time thriller at Parnell Park.

All but two of the full forward's remarkable haul came from placed balls as Ollie Baker's charges progressed to a Leinster club SHC semi-final against the winners of the Kilkenny SHC final between Clara and Ballyhale Shamrocks on November 23.

Crokes looked to have won it in normal time, but four late points from Ross and Darren King, and Paddy Purcell, levelled the scoring at 0-17 apiece and forced extra-time. The Dublin champions had also led by four points at half-time, 0-11 to 0-7, but with Ross King accurate from frees (he finished with 0-13 to his credit), they couldn't shake off the visitors.

Three more McGrath frees and a point from play by Ross O'Carroll had the winners 0-21 to 0-19 ahead at the end of the first period of extra-time. Conor Clinton came off the bench to score a crucial point in the second period as Crokes squeezed through.

Kilmacud Crokes - M Collins; N Corcoran, Rory O'Carroll, J Clinton; C MacGabhann, J Dougan, B O'Carroll; D Mulligan, Ross O'Carroll (0-1); R O'Dwyer (0-1), D Kelly (0-1), J Sweeney; C Conway (0-3, 1f), S McGrath (0-15, 13f, 1'65), B O'Rorke (0-1). Subs: R Murphy for B O'Carroll, B Mulligan for C MacGabhann, O O'Rorke for B O'Borke, C Clinton (0-1) for B Mulligan, J Burke for D Mulligan, P Bergin for S McGrath.

Rathdowney-Errill - N Brennan; A Delaney, B Campion, J Corrigan; J Fitzpatrick, P Mahon, L O'Connell; S Dollard, P Purcell (0-2); E Meagher (0-1), J Ryan, J Purcell (0-2); M Kavanagh, R King (0-13, 10f), T Dowling (0-2). Subs: D King (0-1) for E Meagher, D Bowe for J Ryan, L Tynan for M Kavanagh, E Burke (0-1) for S Dollard, E Meagher for D Bowe.

Referee - P O'Dwyer.

 

Tweet

Most Read Stories