Week ending 31 August 2008

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The last week of August and the first full week of hurling action for some time.  Not a bad week either with the seniors performing creditably against Ballyboden, five trophies won by underage teams and a near 100% success rate in the other games played.  On top of this was the very successful 2008 Meteor Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Hurling Sevens launch in Croke Park on Tuesday.

Seniors lose out to County Champions

Saturday evening’s senior championship tie against county champions Ballyboden in O’Toole Park was a case of what might have been.  The concession of a first minute goal ultimately proved crucial.  Notwithstanding the early setback Crokes fought their way back into the game and were level, 1-7 apiece at half time.  A combination of scores awarded and not awarded plus Crokes not lasting the pace as well as their opponents conspired to give Boden victory on a 1-16 to 1-11 margin.  For report click  HERE or on the photo below

 

After two round robin games Ballyboden have four points while Crokes and St Brigids have two each with the North East Selection pointless.  Crokes now play the latter in the final round robin game at Blunden Drive (O’Toole’s home ground) on Friday 5th September at 7pm.  Victory should go a long way to securing one of the two quarter final spot available to the group.  The representative team will come into the match buoyed by their narrow one point loss to St Brigids on Saturday and with a strong team spirit fashioned in the Nicky Rackard Cup where most of them were on the Fingal team under the same manager, former Crumlin and Dublin player, Denis Murphy.

 

2008 Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Sevens Launch

 

Tuesday brought out the great and the good for the launch of the 2008 Meteor Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Hurling Sevens with GAA President Nickey Brennan, Donal Og Cusack, (Cork) Peter Queally (Waterford), Richie Power (Kilkenny) Michael Duignan (Offaly), Danny O’Connor (Vice-chairman Dublin County Board) and John Costello (Chief Executive Dublin County Board) in attendance not to mention Crokes own inter county stars Ross O’Carroll, Niall Corcoran and James Burke.  Marketing Director of Meteor, Conor Carmody, spoke of Meteor’s delight to be associated with such an important event in the GAA club calendar and Kilmacud Crokes Hurling chairman, Tom Barry, welcomed Meteor in their role as sponsors as well as paying particular tribute to Tom Rock and Michael Culligan who concluded arrangements with Meteor.

It's all systems go for the event itself on Saturday 6th September.  With entries of a high quality a total of 64 teams will take part in a hurling extravaganza in Stillorgan, with the final stages in Glenalbyn from about 3.30pm.  An event not to be missed and if you’re still short that elusive All-Ireland ticket no better place to pick it up. For more click HERE  or on the image below

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Under Age Successes!

Saturday was a most rewarding day on the road for our underage teams.  Pride of place goes to the under 8’s who came home with the Bill Cullen Cup from Gorey.  The team conceded just two points, both from frees, in the entire tournament and defeated Clara of Kilkenny in the final by a 7-2 to 0-0 scoreline. 

Under 16s success up in Down!

At the same time the Under 16’s recorded victories over St Johns of Belfast and the home side to win the Ballygalget tournament in County Down.  This went some way to make up for the Wednesday league loss to St Judes by 4-7 to 3-8. For more click HERE or on the photo below

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Under 11's lift Shield in Cork!

The under 11’s long trip to Cork concluded an extremely busy week and was rewarded with victory in the Shield in the Colman Dillon Tournament in Erins Own.  Crokes first encounter, just out of cars, was the highly rated Dicksboro side.  The concession of early scores left the Kilmacud boys too much to do and notwithstanding holding the upper hand in the second half they lost out 4-3 to 1-4.  This was the nearest any side got to the Kilkenny lads who went on to win the Cup.  Crokes next games ended in a win over St Finbarrs (Cork) and a draw with Midleton (Cork).  As second place finishers in their group they qualified for the Shield final.  This was a closely contested game with Dungarvan (Waterford) with the Stillorgan boys shading it after extra time. For more, click  HERE

 

Earlier in the week, in the Dublin league, the under 11A’s lost to Na Fianna while their B counterparts had a win over the same opposition on Monday evening.  On Tuesday evening both under 11 squads had home league victories over Cuala.

 

Crokes well represented in Dublin's Tony Forrestal squad 

Also on Saturday the club had five players, Conor Sweeny, Kevin James McGowan, Conor Devins, Robert Murphy and Oisin O’Rorke in the Tony Forrestal (under 14) squad in Waterford where Dublin lost to Cork and the hosts. Expect to see a report on the Hill16 website shortly.

 

Under 13s win League

On Sunday two more underage trophies were secured.  The under 13A’s 4-13 to 3-5 win over Na Fianna in Deerpark secured the league title.  Crokes led 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval.  Two early second half goals brought the visitors back into contention.  A Kevin O’Flanagain goal relieved the pressure and from then on Crokes were on top with Mark O’Loughlin particularly accurate from frees.  Others to impress included Gregory Buckley, Donnchadh O’Murchu, Michael O’Dwyer and Ciaran McIntyre with two goals. To see images of this encounter click  HERE or on the image below

2008_0831_U13_Fianna_0024w.jpg

 

On Thursday they had overcome Ballyboden by 5-12 to 4-2 while the B’s lost to Ballinteer St Johns, 1-6 to 2-1 on Wednesday. To see images of the Ballyboden game click HERE or on the image below

2008_0828_U13_Boden_4031w.JPG

 

Under 12s win Faughs Tournament

The final trophy of the week came on Sunday afternoon when the under 12’s won the Faughs Tournament, accounting for Erins Own (Kilkenny) and Ballygalget (Down) en route to the final against Faughs.  For much of the contest it seemed the Kilmacud boys were well on top but a late homester’s flurry set the pulses racing and Crokes were glad to win by a goal.  League encounters on Wednesday and Thursday respectively saw the under 12A’s and B’s register wins over St Maurs and Crumlin respectively.

 

U15s beat Na Fianna in Championship Quarter Final

 

Also on Thursday evening the under 15’s had a thrilling victory over Na Fianna in the championship quarter final at Silverpark.  Crokes trailed 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.  An early Ross McGowan goal brought the home team back into the game but midway through the half the visitors moved a goal ahead.  The Crokes lads stuck doggedly to their task and were rewarded with a blistering finish that saw a point from Alex Pilkington and a Justin Cassidy goal snatch victory in the dying stages. For more, click HERE

 

All in all a most satisfactory week.  Congratulations to the trophy wining teams, their managements and supporters and of course our gratitude to our host clubs near and far.

 

All-Ireland Hurling Sevens

The 36th Kilmacud Crokes All Ireland Sevens Hurling Tournament takes place on Saturday 6th September 2008, sponsored by Meteor. This is one of the major hurling events on the calendar.  The Sevens work group led by Tom Rock (086-8333046 and tomfrock@hotmail.com) has been working diligently since May preparing for the three competitions, Cup, Shield and Under 13 that will see over sixty teams in pulsating action.

Assistance in any form plus support by way of advertising in the official programme or otherwise very much appreciated.  Contact Michael Culligan 087 2527281 and michael@bdassociates.ie

Clubs interested in entering a team for this prestigious competition should contact Peter Walsh at Peter.Walsh@orpenfranks.ie

 

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

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

 

www.kilmacudcrokes.com/hurling

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