Crokes and Rhode to contest Leinster final

Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes and Offaly side Rhode will contest the AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship decider at O'Moore Park on December 5.

In today's semi-final clash at Parnell Park, Kilmacud Crokes were pushed all the way by a determined Garrycastle outfit, before the 2009 All-Ireland champions emerged as 0-13 to 0-10 winners.

Paddy Carr's side started in determined fashion with Mark Vaughan, Declan Kelleher and Brian Kavanagh (0-6) all claiming points inside the opening four minutes.

But Garrycastle held the Stillorgan side scoreless over the next 20 minutes to move into a 0-7 to 0-5 lead by the break.

However, Crokes bounced back on the restart with two Kavanagh points and a Kelleher score to move 0-8 to 0-7 ahead.

Garrycastle equalised thanks to a Paul Dillon free in the 41st minute, but they could not overhaul Crokes in the closing stages.

With ten minutes remaining, Crokes made it 0-11 to 0-10 and they dug deep late on with scores from Kevin Nolan and Kavanagh sealing a hard-earned victory.

At Pairc Tailteann in Navan, Rhode advanced to their first provincial decider since losing to Kilmacud Crokes in the 2008 final, following a 2-11 to 1-10 win over Skyrne.

Goals proved crucial for the Offaly champions, with Niall McNamee and Roy Malone providing one each either side of half-time.

Rhode led by 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time. McNamee's goal had sent them into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead in the 18th minute.

Skryne cut the deficit to a point, following Kevin Mulvaney's goal midway through the the second half, but Malone's goal helped Rhode book their place in the final.