Kilmacud Crokes book semi-final place

Corofin (Galway) 0-11 Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 2-11, Mullingar

Dublin star Mark Vaughan scored 1-6 as Kilmacud Crokes marched into their first AIB All-Ireland Club SFC final since they lifted the trophy for the one and only time in 1995.

The power and pace of the Dublin and Leinster champions proved too hot to handle for Galway side Corofin in this afternoon's semi-final at Cusack Park.

The Connacht men were 1-5 to 0-5 behind at half-time, with a ninth-minute goal from centre-forward Pat Burke sending Kilmacud ahead for the first time.

Alan O'Donovan kicked three early frees to fire Corofin into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Mark Davoren opened Kilmacud's account.

Crokes had to made a late change to their team as a hamstring injury ended Liam Og O' hEineachain's hopes of starting - experienced Fermanagh campaigner Liam McBarron took his place.

And the Dubliners really turned on the style when cutting through for their opening goal.

Wexford attacker Adrian Morrissey left his marker for dead on a devastating solo run. He then passed for Burke to slam a shot beyond Corofin goalkeeper Bernard Power and into the roof of the net.

Morrissey's pace caused the Corofin defence numerous problems and he tagged on a point before Mark Vaughan put successive frees through the posts after 22 and 24 minutes.

Galway's Gary Sice ended a 17-minute scoreless spell for Corofin and though Vaughan took his tally to 0-3, Shane Monaghan closed the gap to three points (1-5 to 0-5) just before the interval when he pointed after a short free from Kieran Comer.

Corofin lost their inspirational defender Kieran Fitzgerald to a shoulder injury, just minutes into the second half, but they made a real game of it.

Facing into a stiff breeze, the 1998 All-Ireland champions rampaged forward over the next 15 minutes and managed to level the tie at 0-10 to 1-7 by the 51st minute.

Nonetheless, Kilmacud stepped it up a gear after that. They scored 1-4 in a spell-binding seven-minute period with Vaughan the goalscorer.

Longford ace Brian Kavanagh and Burke (1-2) also chipped in with points, putting the result beyond doubt.

Corofin's David Hanley raised the game's final white flag in injury-time and while it was a brave effort from the Connacht title holders, Crokes were very much in the ascendancy.