KILMACUD BATTLE PAST CROSSMAGLEN

By Paul Madden

In this years AIB All-Ireland Club Football final Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin upset the odds to beat Crossmaglen Rangers on a score line of 1-09 to 0-07.

The Leinster champions hit the ground running with early scores from Brian Kavanagh and key talisman Mark Vaughan set them on their way.

Mark Davoren’s goal on ten minutes was to prove a decisive turning point, pushing Kilmacud into a healthy 1-03 to 0-01 lead. Davoren’s low drive came shortly after Crossmaglen’s John Murtagh squandered a decent opportunity to put his side back in contention but he pulled his shot left of David Nestor’s goal when a goal seemed certain.

Kilmacud’s task was made all the easier in the first half as their Ulster counterparts wasted some decent chances. Uncharacteristic errors from Oisin McConville and Tony Kernan and a poor effort from Michael McNamee saw the game slip away from Crossmaglen.

Even when Oisin McConville found an opening early in the second half ‘keeper Nestor was on hand to push his effort out for a 45.

A number of chances went a begging on both sides as the second half wore on.

With ten minutes left Crossmaglen put a couple of decent scores over to narrow the gap but the Stillorgan club duly responded with points from Darren Magee, Niall Corkery and a fantastic effort from Mark Vaughan saw them through.

Crossmaglen Rangers: Paul Hearty; Brendan McKeown, Paul Kernan, Paul McKeown; Aaron Kernan, Francie Bellew, John Donaldson; Tony McEntee, David McKenna; Michael McNamee, John McEntee, Jamie Clarke; Tony Kernan, John Murtagh, Oisin McConville.

Kilmacud Crokes: David Nestor; Ross O'Carroll, Rory O'Carroll, Kevin Nolan; Brian McGrath, Paul Griffin, Cian O'Sullivan; Darren Magee, Niall Corkery; Liam Óg Ó hÉinneachain, Brian Kavanagh, Adrian Morrissey; Mark Vaughan, Mark Davoren, Pat Burke.