St Judes 1-18 Lucan Sarsfields 3-5
A third quarter blitz of scoring did the trick for St Judes at Parnell Park, securing the Templeogue outfit a return to the Dublin SFC final.
With ex-Cork player Niall Coakley and Kerry duo David Mannix and Pat Spillane all among the scorers for the south Dubliners, the Munster connection was strong.
They were full value for the win too, building on a five-point half-time lead to win by seven though it wasn’t entirely one-way traffic.
In fact, the most notable aspect of this game may have been the role played by Lucan Sarsfields forward Brendan Gallagher who scored three goals, all more or less from penalties, and tallied 3-3.
His first goal, early in the second-half following a foul on Harry Ladd, cut that five-point deficit down to just two and suggested that Lucan might actually stand a chance of reaching a rare final.
The Judes response was emphatic though with Spillane reeling off two points, Coakley smashing a goal and veteran Dublin star Kevin McManamon getting in on the act with a brace of points. Alan Connolly, Dara Kavanagh and Mannix all pointed then, amounting to an unanswered 1-7 from the 2018 finalists.
Leading now by 1-14 to 1-2, the game was as good as over though Lucan at least kept it interesting with another mini-comeback.
Gallagher was handed a second opportunity from the penalty spot in the 55th minute and while his initial attempt was saved, he gathered up the rebound and slotted home.
Harry Ladd then pointed before winning a penalty that Gallagher once again stood up to, hitting the net for the third time with a rifled shot.
The margin now was a manageable four points at 1-14 to 3-4 but, like Lucan’s earlier insurrection, this one was quickly quelled too with four Judes point in a row from Seamus Ryan, Brian Coakley, Diarmuid McLoughlin and Spillane to seal a deserved win.
St Judes: P Copeland; O Manning, J McGuire, A Hassett; T Lahiff, M Sweeney, C Guckian; C Murphy (0-1), P Spillane (0-3); D Sheehy, K McManamon (0-2, 1 45), D Kavanagh (0-1); N Coakley (1-2, 1f), D Mannix (0-4, 2f), A Connolly (0-2).
Subs: D McLoughlin (0-1) for Sheehy 42, R Joyce for Mannix 55, S Ryan (0-1) for Murphy 55, B Coakley (0-1) for McManamon 55, R Martina for Manning 60.
Lucan Sarsfields: M Gibbons; A Kirwan, D Cahill, D Newcombe; A Murphy; C Smith, S Cleary, S Newcombe; D Gavin, C Walsh; J McCormack, M Lavin, L Walsh; H Ladd (0-2), B Gallagher (3-3, 2-0pen, 0-2f).
Subs: C Gallagher for McCormack 44, B O'Toole for S Newcombe 44, L Curran for Cahill 54, D O'Shaughnessy for Lavin 64.
Referee: D Stynes.
