Kilmacud Crokes clinch Division 1 cup crown with impressive attacking display against Thomas Davis

Dublin LGFA Div 1 Cup final

Daire Walsh

KILMACUD Crokes produced a strong second-half display at Kiltipper Road last Wednesday evening to secure the Dublin LGFA Adult Cup Division 1 title at the expense of Thomas Davis.

Four points adrift (3-4 to 2-3) at the interval, the Stillorgan outfit proceeded to register 2-8 without reply on the resumption.

There was a late rally from Davis but it wasn’t enough to deny Crokes the silverware.

All-Ireland medallist Eabha Rutledge was scorer-in-chief for the victors with 1-6, but Julia Buckley’s 2-2 haul also proved crucial.

Ciara McGuigan, another former Sky Blues star, led the way for Davis with an impressive tally of 2-3, but the Tallaght side ultimately came up short on home soil.

While Crokes lined out minus the services of Dublin triumvirate Aoife Kane, Kate McDaid and Lauren Magee, the likes of Rutledge, Buckley and Michelle Davoren ensured there was an abundance of experience in their ranks.

Within the Davis team, McGuigan was joined by her ex-Jackies team-mate Olwen Carey as well as current inter-county panellists Tammy Quinn Corbally (Dublin) and Meadhbh Deeney (Wicklow).

There was also a spot in their side for Katie Fitzhenry, a native of Wexford who represented Ireland in women’s rugby.

Despite Davoren kicking Crokes into the lead from the opening attack of the contest, a brace of McGuigan points subsequently edged Davis into the ascendancy.

Crokes wing-forward Doireann Egan and McGuigan went on to trade goals during an action-packed start to this showpiece affair.

A Rutledge free levelled matters for the visitors, but when McGuigan fed her inside partner Deeney in the 16th minute, the latter shook the net in clinical style.

Although McGuigan had a point cancelled out by the dependable Rutledge, she bagged her second goal to keep Davis firmly in the driving seat heading towards the break.

Crokes received a lifeline through Buckley’s three-pointer off a quickly-taken Amy Conroy free on 27 minutes, but a sublime place-ball strike from Deeney meant Thomas Davis remained in control at the midway point.

When these two sides met in the group stages of this competition (also in Kiltipper) on June 22, Davis came out on top on a final scoreline of 4-12 to 2-6. In order to avoid a repeat of that result, Crokes required a strong start to the second half of this top-tier decider.

And that is exactly what they managed as a Rutledge free three minutes after the restart slipped through the fingers of a Davis defender on its way to the net.

Back-to-back points courtesy of Rutledge squeezed Crokes back into the lead and with Buckley firing home a speculative shot off the underside of the crossbar on the stroke of 40 minutes, the two-time senior championship finalists were suddenly within sight of victory.

While Davis were struggling to establish the same kind of attacking impact as they had in the opening period, their opponents were now playing with extreme confidence.

Buckley, Rutledge and Egan added points for Crokes either side of the three-quarter mark before the industrious Davoren added her second of the tie alongside additional efforts by Buckley and Rutledge.

This left Davis 10 points behind in the closing moments, but the hosts persevered with their challenge.

White-flag contributions followed from Deeney, Quinn Corbally and Jade Sweeney Knott and whilst Crokes were never in danger of losing a grip on their winning position, substitute Debbie Brennan grabbed a goal deep into stoppage-time to reduce their arrears to four points in advance of the final whistle.

Match file

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: E Rutledge 1-6 (1-3f); J Buckley 2-2; D Egan 1-1; M Davoren 0-2 each. Thomas Davis: C McGuigan 2-3; M Deeney 1-2 (0-2f); D Brennan 1-0; J Sweeney Knott, T Quinn Corbally 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: A Fitzgerald; K Sweeney, E Sweeney, P Greene; K Murray, L Kane, C Ward; J Timmons, G Kos; M Jennings, E Rutledge, D Egan; A Conroy, M Davoren, J Buckley. Subs: A Connaughton for K Sweeney (55), E McCusker for Jennings (60).

THOMAS DAVIS: C Staunton; C McCabe, K Fitzhenry, E Whelan; J Sweeney Knott, C Casey, T Quinn Corbally; O Carey, R McTavish; R Newell, N Kirby, L Young; C McGuigan, N McGoldrick, M Deeney. Subs: S Murray for McGoldrick (46), S Gunn for Newell (55), D Brennan for McGuigan, L Slaughter for Kirby (both 58).

MENTORS – Kilmacud Crokes: P Ward, T Jennings. Thomas Davis: B McNulty, G Deasy, P Boland.

Referee: Sinead McHugh.

WIDES – Kilmacud Crokes: 7 (7+0). Thomas Davis: 10 (6+4).

CONDITIONS: Dry and humid throughout.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Julia Buckley (Kilmacud Crokes).