Walsh wows as Crokes comfortably retain Leinster title against The Downs

Kilmacud Crokes 1-12 The Downs 0-08

Five months after lighting up Croke Park for Galway in the All-Ireland final but walking away empty handed, Shane Walsh produced another masterclass at GAA headquarters and this time took the silverware.

The All-Star forward contributed 0-09 - the same as he tallied against Kerry last July - as Crokes secured back-to-back AIB Leinster club titles for the first time

The gifted attacker, who transferred from his native Kilkerrin-Clonberne to the south Dublin club earlier in the year, did the bulk of the damage in the first-half as Robbie Brennan's side surged 11 points clear at that stage.

Walsh also scored all three of Crokes' second-half points, nudging them 13 clear at one stage in the third quarter, a giant cushion that allowed them to absorb a stronger second-half performance from The Downs.

In their first Leinster final in exactly 50 years, The Downs were once again beaten by Dublin opposition and will reflect on that disastrous first-half, when they scored just one point, as their undoing.

From Crokes' perspective, it was the second game running that they held the opposition scoreless from play in the first-half.

They will play the Munster champions - Kerins O'Rahillys or Newcastle West - in the All-Ireland semi-finals early in the new year.

In his seventh game for Crokes, and with 0-25 already to his name, Walsh was always likely to be the main man and proved to be just that in the opening half as Crokes built up a near unassailable double-digit lead by the interval.

The Footballer of the Year nominee opened the scoring in the third minute following a neat exchange of passes with Craig Dias who pointed and, shortly after, Walsh dropped a point attempt short which allowed captain Shane