Updated Oct 7th 2018, 6:09 PM

Kilmacud Crokes 3-13
Cuala 1-17

Stephen O’Meara reports from Parnell Park 

THE MARQUEE GAME of this year’s Dublin senior hurling championship saw the semi-final clash of three in-a-row Dublin, and two-in-a-row All-Ireland champions, Cuala, face southside rivals and 2014 champions, Kilmacud Crokes.

A repeat of the 2016 and 17 finals, this one had some added spice, with the respective managers, Cuala’s Mattie Kenny and Crokes’ Anthony Daly, each being whispered about as potential replacements for Pat Gilroy at the helm for the Dublin senior hurlers.

In the end it would prove to be Daly’s men who triumphed with a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-17.

The game started at a frantic pace, with the sides going man for man at the start, but two Crokes goals in the first half, from Oisín O’Rorke in the opening stages and Ronan Hayes in the 18th minute, would prove key, seeing the challengers lead by 2-8 to 0-7 at the break.

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A big upset at Parnell Park as Kilmacud Crokes dump All-Ireland champions Cuala out of the Dublin SHC! (Pic: @inphosports)

A post shared by The42 (@the42.ie) on Oct 7, 2018 at 10:03am PDT

Cuala’s cause wasn’t helped when they lost the influential Darragh O’Connell to injury in the 13th minute, forcing Kenny to reshuffle his team.

The beginning of the second half would see Croke’s continue to attack, and a strong run and finish from Damien Kelly gave the Stillorgan men their third goal.

Cuala, however, wouldn’t go down without a fight as Con O’Callaghan grew into the game, finishing with four points. Crucially, however, he wasn’t able to make any inroads towards goal, under close scrutiny from Bill O’Carroll.

The holders did pull a goal back in the 50th minute through a Seán Moran penalty, but the Crokes defence, lead by Niall Corcoran, were able to hold strong to the finish out with a two point win.

Crokes will now face Ballyboden in the final as they look to regain their title for the first time since 2014.

Scorers for Cuala: D Treacy (0-11 9f) Con O’Callaghan (0-4) Sean Moran (1-0 1 pen) Diarmuid Flynn (0-1) Colm Cronin (0-1)

Scorers for Crokes: Howard (0-6 6f) O’Rorke (1-0) Hayes (1-0) Damien Kelly (1-0) Conway (0-2) McMullan (0-3) McGrath (0-1) ) O’Rorke (0-1)

Cuala

1 Sean Brennan

2 Oisin Gough
3 Cian O’Callaghan
7 Darragh O’Connell

5 John Sheanon
6 Sean Moran
4 Simon Timlin

8 Jake Moran
9 Sean Treacy

10 David Treacy
12 Colm Sheanon
13 Mark Schutte
11 Colm Cronin

14 Con O’Callaghan
15 Nicky Kenny

Subs:

21 Diarmuid Flynn for O’ Connell (13)
24 Niall Carty for Kenny (ht)
22 Shane Murphy for C Sheanon (40)

Kilmacud Crokes

1 Matt Collins

7 Cian MacGabhann
3 Bill O’Carroll

5 Ross O’Carroll
6 Ryan O’Dwyer
2 Niall Corcoran
4 Jamie Clinton

8 Lorcan McMullan
11 Fergal Whitely

17 Damien Kelly
10 Sean McGrath
12 Caolan Conway

13 Oisin O’Rorke
14 Marc Howard
15 Ronan Hayes

Substitutes:

25 Alex Considine for Kelly (36)
21 Darragh Butler for Corcoran (58)
20 Barry O’Rorke for McGrath (61)

Referee: Jason Buckley

*******

Ballyboden St Enda’s sealed their place in the final with a 2-16 to 0-18 victory against St Vincent’s. Paul Doherty and Aidan Mellett hit the net for the victors. 

Dublin SHC 'A' Semi-Final:

Full-time score -@StVincentsGAA1: 0-18 (18)@Bodengaa: 2-16 (22)

Ballyboden St. Endas are through to the Final!#DSHCA pic.twitter.com/EhdyGd7Gfj

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) October 7, 2018

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