Kilmacud Crokes prove too strong for Éire Óg in Leinster club quarter-final

Kilmacud Crokes 1-12 Éire Óg 0-04

Kilmacud Crokes march on after enjoying a relatively easy victory over Éire Óg the Carlow champions in the Leinster SFC championship quarter-final at Netwatch Cullen Park.

The reigning All-Ireland champions played a patient game against a young side with many of them still learning their trade in senior football.

Within two minutes, a free from Shane Walsh and a point from play through Dara Mullin gave them a degree of momentum. The latter added another point before Éire Óg opened their account with Benny Kavanagh coming forward from deep and firing the ball over the crossbar.

The home team had enough possession but their danger men up front were struggling to gain a foothold in the game.

In the meantime, Kilmacud picked off further points with Mullin and Dan O'Brien on the mark. Colm Hulton’s curled effort saw Éire Óg a short period in the ascendancy with Jordan Morrissey converting a free.

Yet the Dublin champions were just that bit too consistent and on at least three occasions in the half, the Carlow side were penalised for overcarrying. With half-backs Mark O’Leary and Andy McGowan both raising white flags, Kilmacud Crokes led 0-8 to 0-3 at the interval.

The second half was a quiet enough affair. The three-in-a-row Dublin champions were never going to lose and they probably played within themselves. Brian Sheehy landed a point while Adam McCarron replied for the Carlow representatives.

The game was in injury time with the result a foregone conclusion when Éire Óg lost the ball going forward. The response was ruthless and merciless from Shane Walsh and after being put clear, he beat both the goalkeeper and a defender to find the only goal of the game.

A late Shane Walsh goal puts the seal