Week Ending 22nd June 2008
It is a sign of how far we have come that following a weekend where Kilamcud Crokes Hurling had six players in Leinster championship action in Croke Park and twenty four more taking part in Division 1 of the under 14 All-Ireland Feile na nGael we are left with feelings of pride and tinge of what might have been.
Feile na nGael
First to the youngsters. On Friday morning 20th June 2008, twenty four under fourteen hurlers travelled to Birr, Co. Offaly for the annual Feile na nGael festival in which some 140 teams from all over Ireland and Britain took part. The Crokes boys were in the toughest of the four Division 1 groups with only one from each to progress to the semi finals.
On Friday afternoon they overcame their hosts, Birr, in the newly re-sodded St Brendan’s Park, by 2-13 to 2-3. Saturday morning had them in action at the Birr venue against Tipperary’s Roscrea, for whom they accounted on a 6-3 to 1-2 margin. This set them up for a crunch group decider with James Stephens of Kilkenny at lunch time.
For images of the Roscrea game click HERE or on the flashing camera below
The game against James Stephens was played in horrendously wet conditions. Crokes had the better of the early exchanges and led 0-2 to 0-1 after five minutes. Unfortunately sustained pressure failed to yield scores and with the Kilkenny keeper pulling off a string of saves the goal that would have put daylight between the sides didn’t come. The Village had a much more productive return for their forays upfield and went in 0-5 to 0-2 ahead at the break, all but one of the scores coming from frees.
Notwithstanding the loss of the wind advantage, the Crokes lads took the game to their opponent in the second half with most of the action between the Crokes 65 and the Village 20 metre lines. Again, to the heart break of the Crokes boys, the scores simply would not come and two placed ball conversions saw the Kilkenny team progress to the semi final, en route to winning the trophy outright.
For images of the game against James Stephens click HERE or click on the flashing camera below
Inter county representation and adult club action
On Sunday Crokes’ Niall Corcoran, James Burke and Ross O’Carroll played for Dublin in the latter’s goal loss to Wexford in the replayed Leinster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final. For report see HERE
Earlier at headquarters Bill O’Carroll, Kevin O’Loughlin and Mark Coughlan played their parts in Dublin’s Leinster Minor Hurling Championship semi-final draw with the Model county. For report see HERE
On the adult club front the inability to take scoring chances, especially from placed balls, marred the Intermediate hurlers fine performance in their Saturday evening championship clash with Round Towers at Monastery Road when they went down 1-9 to 0-8.
Juvenile Action
At an earlier stage in the day the under 12’s cup final win against St Vincents, in Russell Park, added to the trophy cabinet. This was a game of two halves with Crokes 1-5 to 0-0 up at half time but having to hold on for dear life in a second half that saw St Vincents score 1-3 without reply. Well done to all concerned.
The under 11’s were not so lucky in their cup final, going down to Na Fianna, while the under 12C’s lost 3-1 to 3-1 in a league game at Deerpark to Scoil Ui Chonaill.
On Tuesday the U13’s took on Ballyboden St Endas in Deerpark. On an evening reminiscent of deepest winter Crokes started strongly but struggled to maintain their dominance after the break. Ballyboden increased the pressure and Crokes were perhaps lucky to run out winners in the end by 4-09 to 4-03. For images of this enthralling encounter click HERE or on the flashing camera below
More Adult Action
Thursday saw three adult teams in action. After a sluggish first half in wet underfoot conditions the seniors had 1.19 to 0.11 win over Naomh Mearnog in the league at Portmarnock. Among Crokes best were Aodhan de Paor, Shane O’Rorke, Eoin Fitzgerald, Adrian Grogan, Rob O’Loughlin, Dave Mahoney and Hugh Gannon. The Junior B’s travelled to Tymon Park North where they impressively accounted for Faughs by 6-12 to 1-7. The stay at home Junior C3’s had a good 3-14 to 2-09 Junior E Championship win over Wild Geese in Silverpark. For a full report click HERE
Golf Classic
The Hurling Section Golf Classic will take place in the South County Golf Club on Thursday July 3. This is always a super day, great prizes. Team entry is €700. Contact Padraig O Sullivan 086 2230745 for details. With the additional expense from National Feile participation support in any form is urgently needed.
Under 7 League
The Under 7 league continues on Thursdays in the Paddock. Matches start at 18:30 and will finish by 19:00. All hurlers must bring their own hurley and helmet. There are a limited number of spare helmets available.
For further information contact Ken Hall at 087-6781776 or at ken_j_hall@adp.com. See also HERE
Nursery Hurling
Nursery hurling activity has moved to Glenalbyn on Saturdays at 9am. Contact details below:
Boys born in 2002 or later
Contact: Mark Lohan - 087-8052999 and marklohan@eircom.net
Boys born in 2001
Contact: Ken Hall - 087-6781776 and ken_j_hall@adp.com
Boys born in 2000
Contact: Robbie Kinsella - 087-2322832 and robert.kinsella@amnch.ie
Active parental input is essential for the success of the nursery. No hurling experience necessary
For the other age groups and teams check timing with:
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