St Vincents were dumped out of the Dublin Gaelic football senior championship by an awesome St. Judes at Parnell Park on a scoreline of 0-8 to 2-11.
The reigning champions are just the latest scalp for Judes as they overcame Ballymun Kickhams in the quarter-final. They march on to face Kilmacud Crokes in the final.
St. Judes started slowly and found themselves 0-5 to 0-1 down after just 14 minutes. However, some great work by Padraic Clarke inspired a spirited comeback. Clarke kicked a great score off his right, won and then converted a free shortly after and landed a great goal just before half-time. Suddenly, Vincents were four down and immediately looked to their star-studded bench.
Diarmuid Connolly, fresh from a summer spent stateside, and Mayo's Enda Varley came on both were unable to inspire their side out of a slump. A Shay Ryan goal put the South Dublin side eight clear and their sole inter-county star, Kevin McManamon, was unlucky to not add another.
Connolly persevered and his powerful deep running did pose questions, but Judes' scrambling defence and tough tackling, epitomised by Cillian O'Reilly, ensured they maintained an impenetrable perimeter. When Connolly did march forward, he was met by a swarm of several willing challengers.
Ger Brennan came close with a goal chance but in truth, Brian Mullins' side did not deserve to go through. Their typical energy was absent as successive long campaigns seem to have taken their toll.
The result sets up a hugely exciting final as complementary styles come together. It will be played in two weeks time.
CONFIRMED:@KCrokesGAAClub will face @clgnaomhjude in this years Senior 1 Football C’ship Final in 2 weeks time.
Should be a good one! 👍🏼#DSFC1 #Allianz #Gaa RT pic.twitter.com/VY7jGNyaaU— Allianz 𝘿𝙪𝙗𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@DubMatchTracker) October 14, 2018
