AIB Leinster Club SHC: Crokes defeat spirited MLR

AIB Leinster Club SHC Quarter-Final

Kilmacud Crokes 0-22 Mount Leinster Rangers 1-16

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park

Kilmacud Crokes advanced to the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship after they overcame a fierce challenge from the Carlow champions at Netwatch Cullen Park.

There was little between the teams in the opening half as the visitors went ahead with points from Dara Purcell and Caolan Conway. Mount Leinster Rangers replied with a Chris Nolan free and from there the game could have gone any way.

Kevin McDonald and Fiachra Fitzpatrick were rock solid in the hearth of the home defence, but in attack, especially in the opening half, they depended largely on Nolan who was deadly accurate from placed balls. In contrast, four of the starting Crokes forwards all scored from play in the first half while Ronan Hayes converted three frees.

The only goal of the game came on 28 minutes when Rangers Donagh Murphy was fouled inside the big square and Nolan found the net. At the interval, Crokes led 0-12 to 1-8.

Two Nolan frees edged Rangers back in front early in the second half, but the lead didn’t last as Brian Hayes levelled and Ronan Hayes also pointed. A brilliant fetch and execute for a point by Nolan brought the home support to their feet while brothers Donagh and Ruairi Murphy also raise a white flag each for the home team.

From there Crokes enjoyed a purple with Ronan Hayes leading the way while Brendan McKenna and Alex Considine also knocked over a point each. In all, they scored six points without reply which went a long way to ensuring a victory.

Rangers did hit back and points for Fiachra Fitzpatrick and Ruairi Murphy left only three between them with five minutes of extra-time to be played. Rangers had one last attack, but the Kilmacud defence were resolute and from a melee they cleared their lines and with that came the full-time whistle.

Scorers for Kilmacud Crokes: Ronan Hayes 0-9 (8fs), Brian Hayes 0-3, Dara Purcell, Alex Considine 0-2 each, Finnian Donohoe, Conal O’Riain, Oisin O’Rorke, Sean Purcell, Brendan Kenny, Caolan Conway 0-1 each

Scorers for Mount Leinster Rangers: Chris Nolan 1-9 (1-0 pen, 7fs), Donagh Murphy 0-2, Ruairi Murphy 0-2 (1f) each, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Eddie Byrne, Kevin McDonald 0-1 each.

Kilmacud Crokes: Eddie Gibbons, Brian Sheehy, Padhraic Linehan, Benn Lynch; Conal O Riain, Mark Grogan, Cian Ó Cathasaigh; Brian Hayes, Caolan Conway; Fergal Whitely, Ronan Hayes, Finnian Donohoe; Oisin O’Rorke, Alex Considine, Dara Purcell.

Subs: Ger Veale for Donohoe (HT), Sean Purcell for O’Rorke (45), Brendan Kenny for Conway (53), Brendan Scanlon for Considine (60+1).

Mount Leinster Rangers: Dean Grennan; Michael Doyle, Evan Kealy, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Diarmuid Byrne, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Richard Coady, Joe Dundon; Donagh Murphy, Tim Brennan, Paul Coady; Chris Nolan, Ted Joyce, Eddie Byrne.

Subs: Ruari Murphy for P Coady (39), Jon Nolan for T Joyce (45), Jamie Nolan for R Coady (49), Dean Tobin for Dundon (55).

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).