U14s win Carlow tournament

The U14’s travelled to Carlow last Saturday to participate in the inaugural Carlow Town All Ireland Under 14 Hurling Blitz and emerged as winners after an eventful and dramatic day’s hurling.

The team got off to a flying start to the tournament with a 5-6 to 0-2 win against Silvermines from Tipperary in their first group match. Next up was Graigue Ballycallan from Kilkenny and in a very competitive and close game throughout the teams were level at the end on a score of 0-4 each. The last group game was against local Dublin rivals Cuala and in another tight match it was the Crokes lads who came out on top by just a point at the finish 1-5 to 1-4.

Finishing joint top of the group with Graigue Ballycallan, the rules deemed that a 65” shootout would have to take place in order to decide who would qualify for the final. With the weather now deteriorating badly Crokes converted two of their four 65’s, as opposed to just one for the opposition, and moved on to the final to face Naomh Éamann.

In driving rain, but assisted by a strong wind, Crokes built up a 10 point first-half lead in the final. However the opposition came back strongly in the 2nd half and two goals not long after the restart reduced the lead quickly. As legs became increasingly tired and players began to cramp up the match became deadlocked and finished that way at the final whistle on a score of 2-7 to 3-4. Extra-time then followed, and the young Crokes players dug deep to come up with a goal and a point in the first period which was to prove sufficient as they went on to hold the opposition scoreless for the remainder of the match.

We would like to thank Dan Harnedy and Martin Walsh from Carlow Town Hurling Club for the invite and their warm hospitality on the day.