Dublin SFC Final/ Kilmacud Crokes 1-14 Na Fianna 0-9: Not only did Kilmacud Crokes end the Na Fianna dynasty yesterday but their youthful exuberance buried a team that won three county titles at the turn of the century before, for good measure, Mark Vaughan and a rejuvenated Ray Cosgrove danced on the grave.
The message here is clear: roll out the old to make way for the new force in Dublin football. Three finals in successive years has yielded back-to-back titles for the Stillorgan club.
"That's the end of an era for us now," confirmed Na Fianna manager Mick Galvin. "We'll walk away and let someone else come in and see what they can make of it. That's the end of this management team today. This looks like the start of a Kilmacud era. We've been on the road a long time. It's been eight, nine years getting to semi-finals and finals and today we just met a younger, hungrier team who just ticked on a little too quickly for some of our fellas."
More's the pity Vaughan is suspended for the Leinster championship quarter-final against Meath champions St Peter's, Dunboyne, on November 13th. Last year's red card against Portlaoise finally catches up with the player whose 1-6 saw him finish the Dublin campaign with a grand total of 2-33 from five games.
"It was the right time for the lads to hit form," said the 20-year-old. "Cosi (Ray Cosgrove) hit form today. (Mark) Davoren got two or three himself. Pat Burke won numerous ball all over the place. It was an all-over team effort. We played the best teams around. We pretty much beat all the teams you want to beat. That's the way to win a championship."
The game took 10 minutes to settle. By then Crokes had moved up the gears while the thirtysomethings from Na Fianna had precious little to offer in response.
This contest had mouth-watering head-to-heads everywhere. All old against new. Enda McNulty perched on Vaughan's shoulder; Liam Óg Ó hEineachain chaperoned Jason Sherlock on the 40; Paul Griffin shadowed Senan Connell. Crokes comprehensively won every battle.
In particular, Griffin devoured Connell, forcing the veteran attacker into defence for the second half. McNulty seemed ideal to silence Vaughan but one magic point and the goal on 17 minutes saw Armagh's All Star defender go through the back of him. The resultant yellow card forced Galvin to switch him with Enda Ledwith, who was getting schooled by Davoren anyway.
The goal revealed several of Vaughan's enigmatic characteristics. Jonny Magee launched a ball into the danger zone, which the Na Fianna full-back line allowed to hop. Vaughan spun off McNulty before pushing it past Stephen Grey to give Crokes a seven-point cushion. He wheeled away with a two-fingered salute for the Na Fianna contingent on the terrace.
The Dublin championship may never see Kieran McGeeney again. For an Ulster feel, Fermanagh sparring partner Liam McBarron went on him but he still incessantly pushed the team forward. Also, as his way, McGeeney was the only Na Fianna player still visible on the pitch for the presentation.
Another player making his way down the hill, Dessie Farrell, was unable to bring any inspiration to proceedings as he carried a few cracked ribs into the match. Farrell, Kevin O'Neill and Sherlock were starved of possession by a dominant midfield display from Darren Magee - ably supported by big brother Jonny. Even switching McGeeney to this area failed to stem the tide. Darren Magee also made a crucial block from a Thomas Brady shot in first-half injury time to ensure Crokes turned over leading 1-7 to 0-5.
Vaughan's frees ensured comfortable viewing for the Kilmacud contingent in the 6,000-plus crowd thereafter. But it was Cosgrove's five points from play - one curler late on rubber-stamping the result - that edged out several contenders for man of the match.
There was still time for Na Fianna corner back Aidan Downes to receive a straight red card, seemingly for dissent, in a game that simmered without ever seriously boiling over. By then, Na Fianna were a spent force.
KILMACUD CROKES: D Nelligan; C Flanagan, C Kelleher (capt), N McGrath; B McGrath, L Óg Ó hEineachain, P Griffin; D Magee, J Magee; R Cosgrove (0-5), L McBarron, C Murphy (0-1); M Vaughan (1-6, five frees), M Davoren (0-2), P Burke. Subs: N Corkery for J Magee (53 mins), M O'Keeffe for P Burke (58 mins).
NA FIANNA: S Grey; E McNulty, E Ledwith, A Downes; S Cloherty, K McGeeney, N Cooper; K Donnelly (capt), J McNulty; S Connell, J Sherlock (0-2), T Brady; M Ó Collarain (0-3, two frees), D Farrell, K O'Neill (0-4, two frees). Subs: P McGeeney for J McNulty (half-time), R Clerkin for K Donnelly (42 mins), B Courtney for K O'Neill (48 mins).
Referee: T Clarke (Lucan Sarsfields).
