Second-half blitz sees Crokes maul Mary’s
KILMACUD CROKES…………………………………….. 5-16
ST MARY’S SAGGART……………………………………. 2-05
By Daire Walsh
FOUR goals in as many minutes at the start of the second half from Cian O’Sullivan, Mark Vaughan, Kevin Nolan and Paul Mannion proved decisive in O’Toole Park as 2012 finalists Kilmacud Crokes sent out a warning with a comprehensive victory against an overwhelmed St Mary’s, Saggart in the opening round of the Dublin Senior Football Championship.
Mary’s had opened the scoring five minutes in courtesy of a fine point by half-forward Glen Murray, but Crokes soon settled to take a three-point advantage by the 16th minute with well-worked scores from Vaughan (two), Mannion and Craig Dias.
Two points from half-back David Marshall (free) and David McConn reduced the Mary’s deficit, but the Stillorgan outfit finished the opening period in fine form, as further efforts from Dias, Mannion (two), Vaughan and Pat Burke helped them towards a 0-9 to 0-4 mid-way lead.
This left Mary’s with an uphill task, and when O’Sullivan broke forward from centre-back to fire past Richie Redmond for his side’s first goal seven minutes after the restart, things were looking ominous for the Saggart men.
Matters went from bad to worse after this score, as O’Sullivan was joined in raising a green flag by the rejuvenated Vaughan and half-back Nolan, and with Mannion adding a fourth major with 20 minutes remaining, the result was beyond any doubt.
Declan Kelleher and substitute Mark Coughlan kept the scoreboard ticking with points from play, and even though industrious full-forward Dennis Carrigan finished well for Mary’s on 52 minutes, his efforts were quickly cancelled out by a terrific goal by Vaughan at the other end.
Blaine Kelly once again found the back of Gavin Morris’ net with an expertly-taken penalty three minutes from time, but with the outstanding Vaughan bringing his final tally to 2-4 late on, Crokes were able to ease over the finishing line.
SCORERS – Kilmacud Crokes: M Vaughan 2-4 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘45’), P Mannion 1-5 (0-1f), C O’Sullivan, K Nolan 1-0 each, D Kelleher, C Dias, M Coughlan 0-2 each, P Burke 0-1. St Mary’s Saggart: B Kelly 1-1 (1-0 pen), D Carrigan 1-0, D Marshall 0-2 (2f), G Murray, D McConn 0-1 each.
KILMACUD CROKES: G Morris; Ross O’Carroll, Rory O’Carroll, E Culligan; R McGowan, C O’Sullivan, K Nolan; D Magee, P Duggan; D Kelleher, C Dias, A Morrissey; P Mannion, P Burke, M Vaughan. Subs: B McGrath for Culligan (h-t), L Og O hEineachain for Morrissey (39), M Coughlan for Magee (41), S Williams for Mannion (42), Morrissey for Vaughan (60).
ST MARY’S SAGGART: R Redmond; M Boland, G Dillon, C Finn; E Walsh, A Marshall, D Marshall; I Marron, S Walsh; E Murray, B Kelly, G Murray; D McConn, D Carrigan, L McGee. Subs: D Corcoran for Murray (46).
REF: J Murray (Castleknock).