Crokes dethrone champions Dunboyne

  • Oct 16,2022
Leinster Senior Club Championship Quarter Final

Report Aisling Cleary

Kilmacud Crokes 2-12
St Peter’s Dunboyne 0-6

Two first half goals from Julia Buckley and Kate Murray were vital as Kilmacud Crokes knocked defending champions St Peter’s Dunboyne out of the race for Leinster Senior club honours. 

While Dunboyne were reliant on TG4 All Star Emma Duggan for scores, Crokes had plenty of options and they got off to the perfect start when Julia Buckley found the net inside the first three minutes. 

The Crokes defence of Emer Sweeney and Molly Lamb in particular ensured Dunboyne scores were kept to a minimum. While Emma Duggan did score five first half points, Michelle Davoren at the other end proved as fruitful for Crokes. The Dublin footballer hit four opening points for Crokes and was a constant thorn in the Dunboyne defence. 

Disaster struck for Dunboyne on 24 minutes as Saoirse Quinn was shown yellow for a high tackle. Numerically advantaged, Crokes finished the half strongly with a Kate Murray free finding it’s way to the net when the Dunboyne defenders got in each other’s way. This left Crokes with a seven point advantage, 2-06 to 0-05 at the break.

Crokes added to their seven point lead on the resumption when Kate McDaid found her range and Davoren added her fifth point a minute later. 

The second half was a quieter affair but Crokes added to the scoreboard with Murray converting a free on 42 minutes to push her team further ahead. The game could have been done and dusted but for Mia Jenning's shot to blast wide of Michelle Mooney's net. Eabha Rutledge converted two frees late on, while Davoren got the last score of the afternoon to ensure they march on to the Leinster Senior Club semi finals. 

Kilmacud Crokes now face an away trip to Offaly champions, Naomh Ciaran next Sunday.

Scorers: Kilmacud Crokes: J Buckley 1-1, K Murray 1-1 (both frees), M Davoren 0-5, E Rutledge 0-2 (2f), K McDaid 0-1, C Sultan 0-1, M Jenning 0-1.
St Peter’s Dunboyne: E Duggan 0-6 (2f)

Kilmacud Crokes: D Gower, P Greene, E Sweeney, C Regan, L Kane, M Lamb, A Kane, G Kos, K McDaid, C Sultan, E Rutledge, M Jenning, J Buckley, M Davoren, KMurray.
Subs: A Conroy for Murray (43), D Duke for Sultan (49), S O’Donoghue for Regan (49), J Timmins for Jenning (54), L Bedford for L Kane (56)

St Peter’s Dunboyne: M Mooney, R McDermott, E Doyle (C), H Nolan, H Hickey, S Wall, A Moffatt, L Pearl, A Jones, A Delaney, S Melia, S Quinn, L Grant, E Duggan, A Boylan.
Subs: J Kavanagh for Grant (30), N Williams for Boylan (30), R Norman for Pearl (45), A Thompson for Jones (54).

Ref: John Bermingham (Wicklow)