REPORT: Champions Crokes cruise into Dublin decider

Go Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Senior Club Championship Semi-Final

By Rónán Maclochlainn

KILMACUD CROKES 5-16 CLONTARF 1-03

Kilmacud Crokes dominated from the opening whistle as they cruised to an emphatic twenty-five-point victory over Clontarf in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior Championship semi-final at Páirc de Búrca on Wednesday evening.

In doing so, the holders kept up their title defence ambitions and they’ll take some stopping following a performance that highlighted their general wellbeing.

From the solidity of goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower, through a dominant Lauren Magee at midfield and combined with the attacking threat of Niamh Cotter and Ailbhe Davoren, the hosts were full value for their healthy winning margin by the final whistle.

Clontarf will undoubtedly rue a couple of defensive lapses midway through the first quarter that undermined a relatively bright opening but this was a night in which they had to concede second best.

The sides traded frees through Cotter and Tamia Kovacs in the opening four minutes but the contest slipped away from the visitors as they conceded two goals inside a minute.

The first goal saw Amy Conroy time her pass to the inrushing Ailbhe Davoren and the Galway star made no mistake with a smart finish into the roof of Carrie O’Connor’s goal.

From the resultant restart, Davoren was afforded too much time and space once again as she rounded O’Connor before firing home into the empty net.

Cotter converted a brace of frees as the half progressed with Niamh Hetherton denied a goal at the opposite end by an excellent save with her feet by Gower.

Kovacs did manage to add a second free in the 13^th minute but it proved Clontarf’s final score of the half as the hosts piled on the pressure with Magee pulling the strings to telling effect.  

Michelle Davoren, Cotter, Ailbhe Davoren and Kate Murray all added to the home tally with Gower once again impressing as she denied Caoimhe O’Connor following an excellent team move by the visitors.

There was still sufficient time in the half for Crokes to notch a third goal as Mia Jennings raced through the middle and delivered a suitably composed finish inside the right-hand corner of O’Connor’s net, prompting a 3-9 to 0-2 lead by half-time.  

Further misery was heaped on Clontarf within four minutes of the resumption as Michelle Davoren was impeded close to goal and Cotter made no mistake from the resultant penalty, sending O’Connor the wrong way.  

Conroy and Eabha Rutledge added points soon after to ensure that all six of the home forwards had contributed on the scoresheet while Ailbhe Davoren completed her hat-trick with a powerful strike in the 40^th minute.

From that point, it was a case of damage limitation for Clontarf as their opponents made numerous changes and the visitors received tangible reward for their spirited showing as Caoimhe O’Connor rounded Gower to squeeze the ball home following an incisive pass by Hetherton.

Kilmacud’s response to that concession was to kick three points on the bounce with the impressive Cotter kicking two cracking scores from play as her side eased into the decider.      

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: A Davoren 3-3; N Cotter 1-8 (1-0pen, 0-5f); M Jennings 1-0; K Murray, A Conroy, M Davoren, E Rutledge, D Egan 0-1 apiece. Clontarf: C O’Connor 1-0; T Kovacs 0-3 (3f).

Kilmacud Crokes: D Gower; N Carr, E Sweeney, P Greene; A Kane, M Lamb, K Murray; G Kos, L Magee; N Cotter, A Davoren, M Jennings; E Rutledge, M Davoren, A Conroy. Subs: C Regan for Greene (40), S O’Donoghue for Murray (40), D Egan for M Davoren (44), L Kane for Jennings (46), E Kane for Conroy (50).

Clontarf: Carrie O’Connor; A McMahon, T Fitzgibbon, A Cunningham; C Dunlea, K Fitzgibbon, M Conaty; A Walsh, N Hetherton; F Skelly, Caoimhe O’Connor, R Quigley; T Kovacs, S McCaffrey, S Fagan. Subs: K Connole for Conaty (half-time), A O’Boyle for Fagan (44), F Flanagan for McMahon (54).

Referee: Ray McBride (Round Towers Clondalkin).