Kilmacud Crokes book Leinster club quarter-final spot

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 0-13 Celbridge (Kildare) 0-08, Parnell Park

Defender Paul Griffin was among those who excelled for Kilmacud Crokes as the south Dublin outfit showed no ill-effects of their hectic schedule in recent weeks, booking a Leinster club SFC quarter-final spot.

Crokes had five points to spare over Celbridge in this provincial first round tie at Parnell Park.

The first-time Kildare champions were mesmerised by an impressive opening half display by Kilmacud Crokes, as the former All-Ireland club winners eased to a 0-09 to 0-03 interval lead.

It was Celbridge who started the better, with Mark O'Sullivan getting them off the mark after five minutes following an excellent three-man move.

However, the Crokes attack gradually got into gear. Mark Vaughan impressed as Kilmacud took a six-point lead into the break.

But it was not all positive news for Crokes who paid dearly for a momentary lapse of indiscipline midway through the first half.

Cian O'Sullivan was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident.

Celbridge upped their game in the second half as they held Crokes to just four points, but with captain Jonny Magee now leading by example, Kilmacud maintained their lead to tee up a quarter-final clash with Louth champions Newtown Blues.