Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes much too strong for Longford Slashers

Kilmacud Crokes . . . 5-15   Longford Slashers . . . 1-6

Struggling to cope with the difficult wet and windy conditions, the six-in-a-row Longford senior champions came up against the much superior Dublin opposition who were in a different league in cruising to a very easy success.

Slashers were actually in front when Kate Shannon slotted the ball over the bar from a tight angle in the 7th minute but Kilmacud Crokes gradually got going after midfielder Lauren Magee burst through to register their opening score in the 10th minute.

A number of mistakes were subsequently punished by the serious All-Ireland contenders who had built up a massive 4-10 to 0-3 lead at the break with the goals coming from Grace Kos, Ailbhe Davoren (2) and the unrelated Michelle Davoren.

Grace Shannon (free and play) accounted for the other Slashers points in the first half while Kara Shannon went close to scoring a badly needed goal in stoppage time but her close range shot was blocked down. 

Slashers suffered another blow at the start of the second half with rampant Kilmacud scoring a fifth goal. A speculative shot from Kate Murray was parried by the opposing keeper Emer Casey and the ball broke into the path of Amy Conroy who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

It may have been all over as a contest, such was the gulf in class, but brave Slashers battled it out to the bitter end in adding another 1-3 to their tally.

The points were scored by Kate Shannon (free), Kyana Lee and Grace Shannon (free) while the consolation goal came in stoppage time when a shot from Kyana was deflected into the net by a Kilmacud defender. 

The reigning Leinster champions Crokes kept the scoreboard ticking over by clocking up another five points in the second half,  three from impressive full-forward Michelle Davoren who ended up with 1-6 (all from play).

Midfielder Lauren Magee also figured prominently in firing over four points and just one of the Kilmacud scores came from a free which was converted by Niamh Cotter in the closing stages of the first half. 

The supreme three-in-a-row Dublin champions are now the red-hot favourites to beat Eadestown (Kildare) in the provincial title decider on Sunday November 10. 

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Emer Casey; Gemma Reilly, Emily Reilly, Grace Kenny; Orla Nevin, Eimear O’Brien, Niamh Sheridan; Aoife O’Brien (captain), Grace Shannon (0-3, 2 frees); Aisling Cosgrove, Kara Shannon, Grace O’Donnell; Kate Shannon (0-2, 1 free), Clodagh Lohan, Caoimhe Lohan.

Subs:- Kyana Lee (1-1) for Kate Shannon (injured, 41 mins); Jill Glennon for Caoimhe Lohan (51 mins); Laura Kenny for G Kenny (injured, 51 mins); Lara O’Connor for A O’Brien (injured, 54 mins); Katie O’Brien for G Reilly (57 mins). 

KILMACUD CROKES: Dearbhla Gower; Niamh Carr, Emer Sweeney, Philippa Greene; Aoife Kane, Molly Lamb, Kate Murray; Grace Kos (1-0), Lauren Magee (0-4); Niamh Cotter (0-2, 1 free), Ailbhe Davoren (2-0), Laura Kane; Amy Conroy (1-0), Michelle Davoren (1-6), Eabha Rutledge (0-3).

Subs used (all in the second half):- Ciara Regan, Alex Bedford, Emma Kane, Christine Moran and Sinead O’Donoghue.

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).