Week ending 14 Sept 08
By the standards of this Autumn, not a bad week weather-wise – one or two almost rain free days – but hurling activity was still very weather impacted and the backlog of fixtures is building up. The seniors’ long awaited final championship round robin game against the North East Selection is now fixed for Monday 15th September in Thomas Davis all-weather pitch at Kiltipper Road at 7.00pm
Sunday was the only day of match action. Both minor teams opened their round robin championship campaigns at 11.00am in Silverpark and both had very good victories.
Minor A's beat Boden
After twenty minutes the A’s looked swamped, trailing by eight points and beaten in nearly every position. A number of positional switches shored up the centre and a sniper’s finish to the net by Sean McGrath turned the tide. By half time it was Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-7 to Crokes’ 1-5.
Boden attacked immediately from the second half throw in. The Crokes rearguard managed held firm and Kevin O’Loughlin won the clearance. Now operating at wing forward O’Loughlin sent the ball onwards. Barra O’Leidhin was fouled and O’Loughlin’s conversion put the minimum between the sides. Boden’s next three attacks resulted in three wides.
In the thirty sixth minute substitute Alan Carr, barely on the field, caught, made twenty metres and scored an inspirational point. The Firhouse Road side quickly put over three points before another substitute, Jude Sweeney, following up a block on Sean McGrath, goaled. A few minutes later Kevin O’Loughlin split the posts and put the Kilmacud boys ahead for the first time, 2-8 to 1-10. In the remaining fifteen minutes the same player, who to then had been well marshalled, let rip accounting for another 1-3. Boden could only muster two points while Eoin Culligan and Jude Sweeney, with a hard won minor in the sixty third minute got the only other scores in this period.
On a day when tenacity and perseverance ground out an impressive victory all the Crokes squad could take pride in their contributions. Apart from the players mentioned above others to feature prominently were Killian Doherty, Bill O’Carroll, Eddie O’Byrne and Mark Coughlan. Crokes remaining two group games are against Na Fianna and Naomh Fionnbarra with the clash against the former scheduled for 28th September.
Team: Barry Mulligan, Killian Doherty, Bill O’Carroll, Andrew Whelan, Donal Monnelly, Gary McMorrow, Niall Mulligan, Eddie O’Byrne, Barra O’Leidhin, Mark Coughlan, Eoin Culligan (0-1), Darren McVeigh, Sean McGrath (1-1) Brian Hanamy, Kevin O’Loughlin (1-9, f - 6). Subs: Jude Sweeney (1-1) for B Hanamy (inj – half time), Alan Carr (0-1) for D Monnelly, Mark O’Dwyer for D McVeigh, Killian Motherway and Jack Doughan.
For images of this match click HERE or on the photo above
Minor B's beat Fingal Ravens
The minor B’s had an equally good win in Silverpark 2, accounting for Fingal Ravens by 2-15 to 3-7. Crokes were 1-12 to 2-2 ahead at half time. The north county men tried hard to get back into the game in the second half but could never quite catch up, at best bringing the margin to four points. Among Crokes leading performers were Paul Collins, Cian O’Brien, Sean Murphy, Cillian Casey, Keith Hogarty and, man of the match, Conor Caulfield
Team: Daire Brennan, Hugh Byrne, Paul Collins, Cian O’Brien, Eoin Hyland, Barry Callinan, Cillian Casey, Sean Murphy, Chris Cunningham, Eoin Dalton, Colm Garvey, Conor Caulfield, Fergus Hanley, Keith Hogarty, Gary Melican. Subs: Sean Garvey for D Brennan (25 mins), James O’Keeffe for E Hyland, Brendan Halpin, Brian English, David O’Reilly, David Ward, Joe Parker, Jonathon Healy-Hayes, Mark Lynskey, Philip Denieffe and Shane Harding
For images of the Minors' match against Fingal Ravens click HERE or on the photo above.
Apart from two very good wins, the respective team managements are to be lauded for togging out forty six minors for the championship.
Under 12s host Nenagh Éire Óg
At the same time as the minor games the under 12’s hosted two teams from Nenagh Eire Og, whose seniors annexed their second Meteor Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Hurling Sevens title only the week before in Glenalbyn.. Both games were played in Derpark. The “A” game was a thriller with Crokes coming out on top by a single point. In the “B” encounter Crokes overturned a thirteen point deficit to leave it level at the finish. The games were followed by hospitality in Glenalbyn and many thanks to all who helped out.
U16s beaten by Naomh Barrog
The final game on Sunday was an away afternoon under 16 league clash with Naomh Barrog, where the Kilbarrack team proved too strong winning, 4-13 to 2-7.
Camogie Sevens
Saturday saw the Camogie Section host their annual Sevens. In welcome sunshine this was a most successful event and the organisers are to be highly complimented. The main Cup competition was won by a very impressive O’Donovan Rossa from Belfast, with Jane Adams to the fore. In the final they overcame a very good Gaultiers side from Waterford. In the Shield final Leitrim Fontenoys (Down) prevailed over Ballinderry from County Derry.
Management Contact Details
Senior: Colm Maher - colm.maher@citi.com - 087-2755074
Intermediate: Seamus Kennedy seamus.kennedy@ericsson.com - 087/2334560 or Brian O'Neill - boneill@mountbrook.ie - 0868155140
Junior B: Mark Regan - (086) 6995821 and markregan@cck.ie
Junior 5: Barry Gavigan - Barry.Gavigan@o2.com - 086 6005412
Under 21: Colm Maher - colm.maher@citi.com - 087-2755074
Minor: Pat Halpin - Pat.W.Halpin@aib.ie - 086-8326377
Under 16: Martin O'Dwyer - Martin.O'Dwyer@intel.com - 087-4191982
Under 15: Colm Maher - colm.maher@citi.com - 087-2755074
Under 14: Ronan Conway - ronan.d.conway@intel.com - 0874197753
Under 13: Tom McIntyre - tommcintyre@gsi.ie- 087 2563493 and Gearoid MacGabhann - gmacgabhann@yahoo.com - 087 -9679605
Under 12: Mick Crowe - 087-9967608 and mjcrowe@gofree.indigo.ie
Under 11: Tony Fleming - 087-8061023 and tony.fleming@Eirgrid.com
Under 10 Jim Ryan – 087-9673861 and jim.ryan1@hse.ie
Under 9: Alan Kehoe - alan.n.kehoe@aib.ie and 087-7553380
www.kilmacudcrokes.com/hurling
Under 8: Robbie Kinsella - 087-2322832 and robert.kinsella@amnch.ie
Under 7: Ken Hall - 087-6781776 and ken_j_hall@adp.com
Boys born in 2002 or later
Contact: Mark Lohan - 087-8052999 and marklohan@eircom.net