Kilmacud Crokes see off Rhode challenge

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 0-15 Rhode (Offaly) 1-7, Portlaoise

Kilmacud Crokes landed their fourth AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship title, courtesy of a hard-fought win over 14-man Rhode in Portlaoise.

Longford ace Brian Kavanagh led the charge with five points for the Stillorgan outfit in a game which was well-contested throughout.

Rhode's bid crumbled when they only scored two points between the 17th minute and the final whistle. They also had midfielder Alan McNamee dismissed late on, following a second yellow card.

The Offaly champions were more clinical in the opening 30 minutes, with Niall Darby pointing after just 30 seconds.

Crokes took a 0-2 to 0-1 lead in the fourth minute following a brace of frees from Kavanagh, but Rhode, who lost the 2007 and 2009 finals, offered a quick response.

The only goal of this contest arrived in the seventh minute. Brothers Alan and Niall McNamee were involved in the move before the ball was fed to full-forward Pascal Kellaghan who crashed it to the net.

Rhode then moved into a 1-5 to 0-4 advantage by the 17th minute, bolstered by Niall McNamee's efforts in front of goal.

However, Kilmacud Crokes bounced back well with Declan Kellagher and Mark Vaughan impressive as they cut the deficit to the minimum at the break, 1-5 to 0-7.

Crokes continued to build on their strong first half finish when play resumed, taking the lead by the 35th minute. Points from Brian McGrath, Craig Dias and Adrian Morrissey pushed them 0-11 to 1-5 in front.

The Dublin outfit were certainly spreading the ball well, and Morrissey was the eighth Crokes player to get on the scoresheet.

Defences held firm over the next ten minutes, with some fine play by the likes of Crokes midfielder Paddy Duggan in helping out his rearguard.

Both sides were guilty of missed chances, before Anton Sullivan eventually broke Rhode's 27-minute scoring drought with a fine point off his right boot in the 45th minute.

Kavanagh cancelled this score out with a pointed free, and the tempo increased as Crokes substitute Barry O'Rorke was denied by a brilliant save from Rhode goalkeeper Eddie McDonald.

Rhode quickly moved the ball up-field and a stinging Niall McNamee shot scraped the crossbar, following a well-placed pass from Anton Sullivan.

Kavanagh extended Crokes' lead to four points, with his first score from play with nine minutes remaining, but Rhode failed to give up. The introduction of Roy Malone gave some extra impetus to the Rhode attack.

Tom Coffey's charges continued to cause the Crokes defence major problems and were rewarded with a 56th minute penalty after Anton Sullivan was dragged down by Duggan.

However, Niall McNamee failed to slot home the place-kick, and Malone's follow up was blocked away for a '45'. And Rhode's woes were compounded by Alan McNamee's sending-off for a high tackle on Mark Vaughan.

Late points from Kelleher and Kavanagh were enough to ensure a third Leinster success in six years for Crokes, whose captain Pat Burke was presented with the trophy afterwards.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; Ross O'Carroll, K Nolan, C Lamb; C O'Sullivan, B McGrath (0-1), R Ryan; P Duggan, C Dias (0-1); L Og O hEineachain (0-1), D Kelleher (0-3), A Morrissey (0-1); P Burke Jnr. (0-1), B Kavanagh (0-5, 0-4f), M Vaughan (0-2).

Subs used: B O'Rorke for Morrissey (46 mins), N McGrath for Lamb (58).

RHODE: E McDonald; S Sullivan, B Darby, D Murphy; C Heavey, D Hope (0-1), E Byrne; A McNamee, M Dunne; G O'Connell, P Sullivan, A Sullivan (0-1); N Darby (0-2), P Kellaghan (1-0), N McNamee (0-3, 0-1 '45').

Subs used: R Malone for O'Connell (49 mins).

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)