Dublin Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

KILMACUD CROKES 3-13 CUALA 1-17

Two-in-a-row All-Ireland Club Hurling Champions Cuala were dethroned by their great local rivals Kilmacud Crokes in today’s Dublin SHC semi-final at Parnell Park.

This would have been an especially sweet win for Crokes because they lost both the 2016 and 2017 county finals to Cuala.

They looked hugely motivated to make amends for those two defeats and got off to the ideal start with an early goal from Oisin O’Rorke.

A second-goal from Ronan Hayes midway through the first-half gave them further momentum, and by half-time they were sitting pretty on a 2-8 to 0-7 lead.

Cuala came on strong in the second-half though with Con O’Callaghan, who finished with a tally of four points from play, increasingly influential.

When Sean Moran crashed a 50th minute penalty to the net the comeback looked like it was on, but Kilmacud Crokes defended heroically to hold on for the victory.

In today’s other Dublin SHC semi-final, Ballyboden St. Enda’s defeated St. Vincent’s by 2-16 to 0-18.

The County Final between Kilmacud and Ballyboden will take place in Parnell Park on Sunday, October 21.