Former Kingdom underage star Burns makes Kilmacud debut as they cruise past Vincents

The three-in-a-row Dublin and Leinster champions eased past St Vincent's at Parnell Park with typical efficiency with Burns impressing in first game following his switch from Tralee side Na Gaeil 

MAIN MANNION" Paul Mannion of Kilmacud Crokes. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Dublin SFC: Kilmacud Crokes 0-17 St Vincents 0-8 

Former Kerry underage star Devon Burns made his championship debut as Kilmacud Crokes moved within touching distance of a Dublin SFC quarter-final place.

The three-in-a-row Dublin and Leinster champions eased past St Vincent's at Parnell Park with typical efficiency to make it back-to-back Group 4 wins after opening their campaign by beating Skerries.

With just one game remaining in their group, against Thomas Davis, Robbie Brennan's side will fancy their chances of securing their place in the last eight.

Dublin attacker Paul Mannion was their principal scorer this time with seven points, four from play, while Sligo full-forward Paddy O'Connor, another new recruit at the Stillorgan club, registered three points.

It was O'Connor's second championship appearance though it was a debut for former Kerry minor and U-20 talent Burns following his switch from Tralee side Na Gaeil.

Dublin based Garda Burns kept a clean sheet, got his kick-outs away well, scored from a long-range free and gave one impressive kick pass downfield that underlined the fresh range of options he gives to Crokes.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this clinical Crokes win was that they retained just six of the starting team from last January's All-Ireland club semi-final tie against Glen.

Galway star Shane Walsh was present at the game but didn't feature having also sat out the Skerries match, apparently due to an injury which affected the All-Ireland final star during the summer.

Dublin full-back Theo Clancy was missing with an injury too while former county players Craig Dias and Andrew McGowan didn't feature either.

St Vincents were unable to take advantage of Crokes' situation and fell into the favourites' slipstream after an evenly contested first 20 minutes.

It was 0-2 apiece at that stage but three Crokes scores in a row from O'Connor, Mark O'Leary and Mannion put them in a commanding position and they surged 0-8 to 0-3 clear at half-time.

Powerful Cian Dunne was the most potent attacker for St Vincents, firing four well taken points in the second-half, but they lacked any sort of cut and thrust and couldn't penetrate Crokes' well drilled defence.

Dara Mullin took over on the frees from Mannion when the 2023 All-Ireland final Man of the Match was taken off at the three quarter mark and struck three points.

O'Connor finished with the same tally and whenever himself, Mannion and Walsh are all available to start together, Crokes will have some attacking unit.

There were two points also from experienced Shane Cunningham as Crokes breezed to a nine-point win in the end.

Interestingly, Crokes are still unbeaten in group stage games in the Dublin championship since they were introduced in 2018. This was their 20th win in a row in a group stage encounter.

With Thomas Davis beating Skerries Harps by 5-13 to 3-17 in the later throw-in, the Group 4 picture is clear with a game to go; Crokes have four points, Thomas Davis and St Vincents have two points each and Skerries are bottom with no points.

Kilmacud Crokes scorers: Paul Mannion 0-7 (0-3f), Paddy O'Connor 0-3, Dara Mullin 0-3 (0-2f), Shane Cunningham 0-2, Mark O'Leary 0-1, Devon Burns 0-1 (0-1f).

St Vincents scorers: Cian Dunne 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 45), Albert Martin 0-2, Paul Reynolds Hand 0-1 (0-1f), Darragh Cummins 0-1.

Kilmacud Crokes: Devon Burns; James Murphy, Micheal Mullin, Dan O'Brien; Mark O'Leary, Rory O'Carroll, Cian O'Connor; Ben Shovlin, Luke O'Kelly; Tom Fox, Paddy O'Connor, Dara Mullin; Paul Mannion, Hugh Kenny, Shane Cunningham.

Subs: James Murphy for O'Brien 41, Paraic Purcell for Fox 43, Luke Ward for Mannion 47, Shane Horan for Cunningham 53, Joe Quigley for Kenny 60.

St Vincents: Andy Smyth; Adrian Cummins, Sean Keogh, James McCusker; James Brady, Darragh Cummins, Craig Wilson; Jarlath Curley, Gavin Burke; Paul Reynolds Hand, Mark L'Strange, Shane O'Leary; Kalem O'Brien, Cian Dunne, Albert Martin.

Subs: Josh Kelly for Curley 26, Bill Costello for O'Brien 26, Paddy Gilroy for L'Strange 39, Nathan Mullins for Martin 45, Michael O'Rowe for O'Leary 55.

Referee: Shay Farrelly (Ballinteer St Johns).