IT’S THE FIRST of this year’s Dublin senior football semi-finals and we’re live from Parnell Park as St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh take on St Judes.
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Result: St Oliver Plunkett 1-11 St Judes 0-4
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Welcome along to Parnell Park for a big double-header in the Dublin senior football championship. It’s semi-final day with first up the meeting of St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh and St Judes.
Neither St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh or St Judes have ever won the Dublin senior football championship.
It’s already been a great year for the St Judes club, they reached the final of the Dublin senior hurling championship for this first time last week. Next Friday night, they’ll face Kilmacud Crokes in that decider.
Here’s how St Judes will line up:
1. John Brian Carthy
2. Oisin Manning
3. Paul Cunningham
4. Rob Finnegan
5. Mark Sweeney
6. Tom McKeown
7. Chris Guckian
8. Colm Murphy
9. Kieran Doherty
10. Ronan Joyce
11. Brendan McManamon
12. Joey Donnelly
13. Declan Donnelly
14. Kevin McManamon
15. Paul McGuire
And here’s how St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh will start:
1. Alan O’Mara
2. Rory O’Connor
3. Shane Lyons
4. Eamonn Clarke
5. Declan Lally
6. James Brogan
7. David Kelly
8. Craig Dunleavy
9. Ross McConnell
10. Paddy McNulty
11. Conor Walsh
12. Alan Brogan
13. Niall Walsh
14. Bernard Brogan
15. Gareth Smith
Some big names to watch out for in this game. It could come down to a battle between Dublin senior attackers as Alan and Bernard Brogan for St Oliver Plunkett’s take on Kevin McManamon’s St Judes.
St Oliver Plunkett’s can also call upon Cavan netminder Alan O’Mara while Declan Lally and Ross McConnell have previous experience with the Dublin senior side.
Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith had a stint with Cavan recently as well while Niall Walsh is a recent Dublin U21.
St Oliver Plunkett’s can also call upon Alan O’Mara and Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith who have been involved with Cavan in recent years while Ross McConnell, Declan Lally and Niall Walsh all have recent Dublin experience.
Antrim senior Mark Sweeney is in the St Judes ranks while also watch out for John Brian Carthy, Colm Murphy and Brendan McManamon.
St Oliver Plunketts 0-1 St Judes 0-0
First blood to Plunketts as Craig Dunleavy goes forward from midfield, brushes off a couple of challenges and hooks over a point off his left.
St Oliver Plunkett’s 0-1 St Judes 0-1
Draw match now after a superb left-foot point by Declan Donnelly for Judes.
One late change on Plunkett’s team as Darragh Brogan replaces Ross McConnell.
Defences on top so far as they crowd out the danger men McManamon and Brogan at opposite ends. Beautiful day for football here in Parnell Park.
First scoring chance of the day for Bernard Brogan but he shoots wide off balance and under severe pressure.
Bernard Brogan and Gareth Smith the only two players in attack for St Oliver Plunkett’s at the moment.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-2 St Judes 0-1
That’s a great point by Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith as he gathers in the right corner, steps inside on to his left and bangs over a fine score.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-2 St Judes 0-2
And we’re back level again as St Judes manage to punch a hole in the defence at last to create enough time and space for Joey Donnelly to bang over off the outside of his left foot.
St Judes 0-3 St Oliver Plunkett 0-2
St Judes inject great pace to an attacking movement and it’s corner-back Rob Finnegan who’s at the heart of it. He dashes upfield, exchanges passes and finishes off with a good point.
Bernard Brogan gets the ball on the right wing before cutting in but St Judes move back quickly to cut out the threat. A combination of Paul Cunningham, his direct marker, and Finnegan succeed in dispossessing him and winning a free out. Big cheers amongst the St Judes fans for that one.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-3 St Judes 0-3
But no mistake on this occasion from a Plunkett’s attack as Smith spies centre-back James Brogan in space and he pops over a point.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-4 St Judes 0-3
Smith really pulling the strings for the Navan Road club now. He wins a hard ball and then plays it a beautiful pass through the Judes defence where Niall Walsh runs on to it and clips over a point.
St Judes starting to chalk up the wides. Declan Donnelly misses a free after Kevin McManamon was off target with earlier placed balls and wing-back Mark Sweeney has just shot wide as well.
Half-Time: St Oliver Plunkett 0-5 St Judes 0-3
Two point lead for St Oliver Plunkett at the break, their lead was extended just before half-time when Bernard Brogan popped over a free. He’s having a really good duel with Paul Cunningham but the St Judes man pushed the Dublin senior during that last passage of play and Brogan converted the resultant free.
Teams are back out here for the second-half.
Sub: St Judes bring on Niall Cronin for Chris Guckian at half-time.
Sub: Also a change on the Plunkett’s team as Paul Brogan comes on for Darragh Brogan.
Swirling wind playing havoc with both teams attempts at playing football here.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-6 St Judes 0-3
That’s really good play by Plunkett’s as the ball is pumped in early to Smith who gathers and lays off to Bernard Brogan who spins clear and is content to tap over the point.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-7 St Judes 0-3
No doubt who’s started the second-half brighter as Conor Walsh picks off a point to stretch Plunkett’s lead to four.
Sub: Ross McConnell is now on for Plunkett’s instead of Paddy McNulty while Tom Lahiff replaces Joey Donnelly on the Judes team.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-8 St Judes 0-3
It’s been a really impressive display of ball-winning and direct running by Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith today and he’s just showed a scoring touch as well by firing over a point with his left.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-9 St Judes 0-4
Respite for Judes as Ronan Joyce pops a point but it’s short lived as it’s canceled out at the other end by full-back Shane Lyons who comes upfield to point.
The best goal chance of the game is spurned by Plunkett’s after James and Alan Brogan open up the St Judes back line before Smith blazes wide.
St Oliver Plunkett 0-10 St Judes 0-4
Smith make amends for that earlier miss as he slots over a free and sends his team six points clear. A Dublin final place surely beckons now.
Goal for Bernard Brogan!
St Oliver Plunketts 1-10 St Judes 0-4
That’s that now as Bernard Brogan gets clear of the St Judes defence, despite the attempts of Paul Cunningham to pull him back, and he cooly rolls the ball to the net.
St Oliver Plunkett 1-11 St Judes 0-4
Game over with Gareth Smith converting a late free to seal victory for the winners. They march into the final on the back of an impressive ten-point win and will take on St Vincent’s or Ballyboden in that decider. We’ll be following the action from that second semi-final shortly. Thanks for joining us.
