Sunday, February 22, 2009

Crokes reach All-Ireland Final


Kilmacud Crokes 2-11 Corofin 0-11


Cometh the hour, cometh the man. When the game looked as if it might slip away from Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes, Mark Vaughan stood up & scored 1-02 in the final 10 minutes to ensure passage to the Club Finals on St. Patrick's Day. Vaughan was superb through the game finishing with a personal tally of 1-06 including some audacious scores.

Corofin started strongly & it took a 10th minute goal from Pat Burke to steady Crokes nerves which had seen them trail by 2 points 0-03 to 0-01.  Burke finished following a determined run by Adrian Morrissey blasting home & giving the keeper no hope. Corofin playing with a very strong 1st half wind were the better team during this opening spell with the lively Joe Canney proving very hot to handle.  Burke's goal was crucial & for the rest of the half the Dublin champions grew in strength.  The O'Carrolls at the back began to dominate & with Kevin Nolan & Brian McGrath to the fore it was over to the Vaughan led forwards who were dominant.  Much praise also to Mark Davoren who was aconstant threat & should have been rewarded with more before the end of the half when he was hauled to the ground & looked on in amazement when his opponent was let off with just a ticking.  Crokes led 1-05 to 0-05 at half time with the wind at their backs to come.

Corofin were far from dead & nerves were jangling in the stand as the Westerners put up a dogged fight.  Twice in the 2nd period Corofin pulled level but they were unable to take the lead.  Crokes shaked matters up with the introduction of veterans Ray Cosgrove & Jonny Magee but it was over to Vince to lead them home.  With 5 minutes to go Vaughan kicked brilliantly with his left, 1 he will want to remember, quickly followed by a dead ball free from a 45 & finally the goal, when his sheer strength & determination saw him brush off challenges along the end line before kicking home from a narrow angle.

There was some concern as over eager Crokes kids were marshalled off the sideline but Crokes progress to their 1st All-Ireland final since 1995.  A chance now for Pat Burke to match his Dad's medal & for Dublin to retain the title won by St. Vincent's last year.

Kilmacud Crokes: David Nestor, Rory O'Carroll, Ross O'Carroll, Conor Lambe, Brian McGrath, Paul Griffin, Kevin Nolan (Ray Cosgrove (50)), Darren Magee, Niall Corkery, Liam McBarron (Jonny Magee (55)), Brian Kavanagh (0-01), Adrian Morrissey, Pat Burke (1-02) (Barry O'Rorke (60)), Mark Davoren (0-02), Mark Vaughan (1-06) (K O'Carroll (60)).

Corofin: B Power, G Delaney, K Fitzgerald (D Keane (35)), K McGrath, T Goggins, D Burke, A Burke, G Higgins, A Donnellan, G Sice (0-01), D Hanley (0-01), J Canney (0-02), S Monaghan (0-02) (P Hanley (60) (0-01)), K Comer, A O'Donovan (0-04) (T Costello (55)). 

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