St Jude’s and Kilmacud Crokes will contest this year’s Dublin Senior Hurling Championship final in two weeks time after their respective semi final victories over O’Tooles and Ballyboden St Enda’s in Parnell Park yesterday evening.
It was a historic victory for St Jude’s as the club reaches new levels contesting a Dublin SHC final for the first time in their 36 year history. A 56th minute Danny Sutcliffe point secured victory over O’Tooles in an exhilarating game of hurling.
O’Tooles will be distraught after battling gallantly throughout the 60 minutes only to be undone by a terrific score from Dublin inter-county star Sutcliffe. It was his third score of the match in a semi final played at a frantic pace.
The Templeogue outfit raced into an early two point lead thanks to points from Mark Maguire and Ronan Joyce. O’Tooles reply was accurate and immediate. A point from Andy Morris was preceded by a pointed free from Conor Carton, who would showcase a masterclass in free taking throughout the match.
O’Tooles could have added a goal to their tally from the hurl of Peadar Carton if it was not for an outstanding save from St Jude’s keeper Graham Nolan, who somehow directed the sliotar wide from Carton’s close range shot. O’Tooles had a two point lead going into the interval after an evenly balanced opening half.
St Jude’s enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half as both teams exchanged points with the physicality levels increasing as the match entered the last quarter. Jesse Kennedy, who was named at corner back, marshalled the St Jude’s half forward line well, along with playmaker Danny Sutcliffe. Add to this the assured accuracy of Fionn O Riain Broin from dead ball situations and this was an extremely difficult game plan to breakdown.
Conor Carton’s final point of the match in the 54th minute levelled the scores for the seventh time. However, it was Sutcliffe who would steal the headlines for St Jude’s as his point proved to be the match winner. St Jude’s emerged victorious from what was a colossal battle and they will now face Kilmacud Crokes in this year’s final after their comfortable seven point victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s.
Crokes’ corner forward Caolan Conway was instrumental in his team’s victory throughout this eagerly anticipated semi final. Conway pointed seven points to ensure his team would see off the resilient challenge of Ballyboden. At half time Crokes had a lead of four points, 0-09 to 0-05.
An early second half goal from the hurl of Sean McGrath put an end to a short spell of momentum ‘Boden had created. However, Ballyboden, inspired by a notable performance from Dublin inter-county star Conal Keaney, scored four consecutive points to reduce Crokes’ lead to a solitary point as the match neared its conclusion.
Crokes always looked the hungrier of the two sides. Similar to when these two teams met in the group stages of this years Championship, Crokes registered a resounding victory. Four late unanswered points from McGrath, Conway, and a brace from Damien Kelly meant the Stillorgan outfit would be able to look forward to a final appearance, hoping to emulate their 2012 Dublin SHC final victory.
After two scintillating semi final encounters, this year’s final is sure to be an enthralling encounter between two of Dublin’s finest hurling clubs in recent years.
By Shane Dawson @SLawrenceDawson
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