A LATE SHOW PUTS SAINTS VIN THE FINAL
FAVOURITES St Vincent’s fired a flurry of late goals at Parnell Park to ease through to a glamour Dublin SFC final clash with Ballymun Kickhams.
Vins found the going difficult for two thirds of the game and were tied with 18 minutes to go but finished strong for a 4-12 to 1-12 win.
The margin flattered them as there was still just three points in it with 56 minutes on the clock.
But late goals from veteran forward Tomas Quinn, county man Shane Carthy and Sligo’s Brendan Egan glossed the scoreline.
Judes were level at half-time, 1-4 to 0-7, and the sides remained deadlocked entering the final third of the game at 1-5 to 0-8.
But Templeogue outfit Judes lost Mark Sweeney to a second yellow card in the 38th minute and goalkeeper Paul Copeland followed eight minutes later.
Copeland was shown a straight red for a high challenge on Carthy and Quinn tapped over the resulting free.
Judes were chasing just a second final appearance ever and were inspired by county star Kevin Mcmanamon initially. He kicked four points and popped up again late on to play in sub Diarmuid Mcloughlin for a 64th minute goal.
But all the damage was done by that stage with those late Vins goals propelling them through to a fifth consecutive final.
Meanwhile, goals from Dean Rock (below) and Jason Whelan powered title favourites Ballymun Kickhams through to the decider as they overcame Kilmacud Crokes 2-15 to 1-10.
Crokes lost Ross O’carroll to a straight red card in the 20th minute for a sliding lunge on Ballymun and Dublin star James Mccarthy.
Whelan, who made three Allianz league appearances for Dublin this year, netted in the 28th minute to put Ballymun eight points clear and they were 1-8 to 0-3 up at half-time.
Points from impressive duo Kevin Leahy and Paddy Small stretched Ballymun’s lead after the restart and Dublin ace Rock slammed home a 49th minute penalty to seal the win.
It’ll be Ballymun’s first final since 2013 and they’re managed by Paddy Carr who guided Crokes to All-ireland success in 2009.