Vaughan’s blaze of glory

Kilmacud Crokes1-10 Na Fianna1-4

The sides were laden with marquee footballing names with Na Fianna boasting the talents of Kieran McGeeney, Senan Connell, Jason Sherlock and Nigel Clancy while Crokes were back boned by Ray Cosgrove, Liam Óg O’Heineachain, Liam McBarron, Paul Griffin along with the Magee brothers, Darren and Johnny.

Ironically though it wasn’t the players with the top billing who settled this one or that honour, step forward young Mark Vaughan.

A star forward on the Leinster-winning Dublin minor team last year, he tore through the Na Fianna rearguard hitting 1-4. Three of his points came in an opening barrage that left his team 0-5 to 0-1 up after 18 minutes.

But the best was to come. Na Fianna corner back Alan Behan played an unwitting part in it, losing possession 14 minutes into the second period. Though 25 yards from goal, Vaughan first time the loose ball past keeper Stephen Grey. That left it 1-8 to 1-2 and virtually snuffed out Na Fianna’s chances.

The losers’ stalled start had already cost them the initiative in a first half played against the wind, but they recovered well before the change of ends. With the break approaching, superb play by Connell and McGeeney fashioned an opening for Henry Barry to sweep low past Dan Nelligan.

One minute after the restart Na Fianna had the chance to go in front from the penalty spot after Barry was hauled down by Ciaran Kelleher.

Nelligan, son of Kerry great Charlie, proved he can trade on more than just his surname though, diving low to his left to deprive Sherlock.

Na Fianna were visibly deflated by the missed opportunity. Two points down, they never looked like reaching parity and when Vaughan found the net their challenge evaporated.

Only Ballyboden stand in the way of Crokes and their first Dublin title in six years.

NA FIANNA: S Grey; A Behan, N Clancy, T Lynch; N Cooper, S McGlinchey, E Ledwith; K McGeeney (0-1), R Clerkin; H Barry (1-0), S Connell (0-1), K Donnelly; D Macken, J Sherlock, P McGeeney. Subs: M Colleran (0-1) for Barry 35, I Foley (0-1) for D Macken 46, D Lynch for P McGeeney 53, A Downes for Clancy 55.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nelligan; F Kennedy, C Kelleher, C Flanagan; P Griffin, J Magee (0-1), B McGrath; D Magee (0-1), C Murphy; L Óg Ó Heineachain (0-1), L McBarron, M Vaughan (1-4, 2f); D Kelleher (0-1), R Cosgrove, M Davern (0-2).

Referee: P Fitzsimons.