Week Ending 2nd November 2008
Disappointment for the Senior Hurlers
There was disappointment for the senior hurlers as they lost Saturday’s county final against Ballyboden in Parnell Park.
In the first half Crokes gave as good as they got and were 0-4 to 0-1 clear by the nineteenth minute. However, a powerful, polished second half Ballyboden display, underpinned by highly impressive resolve and imposing physicality, carried the Firhouse Road men to a 0-17 to 0-7 win and their second title in a row. The real damage was done in a the first four minutes after half time when five unanswered points put daylight between the sides.
Disappointed as the Crokes team and management may be there are many positives to take into next year. Reaching the club’s first county final in twelve years is an achievement in itself and reward for the effort of long serving players such as the de Paor brothers, Dave Mahony, Fergal Armstrong, Damien Byrne, Donal McGovern and Ray Mangan. The experience will also be of enormous benefit to freshers like Conor Clinton, Barry O’Rorke and Rob O’Loughlin. As well as the 2008 Dublin senior final this team also reached the 2007 All-Ireland Hurling Sevens final and have the final of that year’s senior league yet to play. From its starting point three years ago the squad has made great strides. Now county championships are a realistic aspiration and an impressive array of young talent is coming through.
A much more professional attitude is evident in all aspects of team preparation and back-up and, critically, the group has internalised the realities of being serious contenders. This more than anything is a tribute to the diligence, perseverance and sheer hard work of manager Morgan Lalor and his selectoral colleagues, Colm Maher and John Dillon. To them we are deeply indebted. We also extend thanks to logistics man Sean Allen, ably assisted by Eamonn and Anita, and to team doctor Tiernan Murray. To everybody connected with the team, especially the players beir bua. Beidh lá eile!
For report see HERE or click on the photo below
Click on the image above to read more about the final
U21 Success
An exciting Under 21 Championship South Section Quarter Final victory over Crumlin on a balmy Sunday afternoon in Silverpark did much to restore the spirits. By the fifth minute Crokes had raced four points clear. By the twentieth minute they were 1-6 to 0-3 ahead, aided in no small measure by a wide lust on the part of their opponents. Then the game changed. Crumlin got in for two points and a goal. A situation that looked comfortable was now anything but. A converted free by Kevin Dalton, two minutes beforehand, made it 1-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
Crokes first attack after the resumption saw Niall Butler’s pull go over the bar. From the puck out Crumlin responded in kind. Over the next twenty five minutes the lead oscillated from five to one point. It was only in the fifty seventh minute Crokes could breathe a little easier. A determined Peter Clinton run ended with his goal bound shot saved. Niall Butler reacted quickest, finished to the net and Crokes were 2-11 to 1-9 in front. Two placed ball conversions (a 65 and a longer free) by Sean McGrath gave Crokes a seven point cushion. With time almost up a long hopeful Crumlin ball found the Crokes net to defibrillator was almost out again but the Kilmacud team held firm and emerged 2-13 to 2-9 victors.
Team: R Tighe, S McNicholas, F Garvey, F Monnelly, R Walsh, S Gillen, A Hopkins, R O’Loughlin (0-2, f-1), C Clinton (0-1), P Clinton, B Sheehan (0-2), K Dalton (1-3, f-2), B Mahon, N Casey, N Butler (1-2). Subs: S McGrath (0-3, f-2, 65-1) for B Mahon (45 mins), B O’Carroll for F Monnelly (53 mins), B Hanamy for S Gillen (58 mins), K Noctor for K Dalton (59 mins) and O Turley for N Bulter (60 mins)
For images of this match click HERE or on the flashing camera below
Minor double header
Before lunch, Silverpark hosted a minor championship semi-final double header. In the “A” game Crokes gave an impressive and eager Cuala side too much of a head start in the first half to be able to reel them back, notwithstanding a Herculean second half effort. Matters were compounded immediately after the resumption when a Cuala goal put the Dalkey team 3-7 to 0-5 clear. To their enormous credit the Crokes boys fought back and applied huge pressure. The final scoreline was 3-12 to 2-9. Apart from the start, critical to the outcome was the fact Cuala were able to dig out enough scores in the second half to keep an appreciable gap between the sides and the fact Crokes found it impossible to break down the winners steadfast full back line. To the fore for Crokes were Mark Coughlan throughout and Eddie O’Byrne and Eoin Culligan in the second half. Much praise most go to the management team for the manner in which they prepared the squad in what must be one of the most competitive age groups seen in Dublin hurling for a long time. For those players finished with minor we wish them long and happy adult hurling careers with the club.
Team: B Mulligan, D Monnelly, B O’Carroll, A Whelan, K Doherty, G McMorrow, N Mulligan, M Coughlan, E O’Byrne (0-1), E Culligan, D McVeigh (0-1), B O’Leidhin (0-1), K O’Loughlin (1-2, f1-1, s/line-1), B Hanamy, S McGrath (1-3, f-1, 65-1). Subs: A Carr (0-1) for K Doherty, M O’Dwyer for N Mulligan (both half time), J Doughan for B O’Leidhin (42 mins, inj)
In the MHC “E” semi Crokes “B’s” hosted Ballyboden St Endas second team. Amidst suggestions from the home camp the referee had erred the match finished in a 3-7 to 2-10 draw. At half time Crokes led 2-4 to 1-5. Missed chances were ultimately to cost them victory. Man of the match for Crokes was Sean Garvey, closely followed by Karl Russell and Gary Melican while Sean Murphy and Keith Hogarty also had good games.
Team: S Garvey, C O’Brien, P Collins, H Byrne, E Hyland, C Casey, B Callinan, S Murphy, J O’Keeffe, C Caulfield, C Garvey, E Dalton, G Melican, K Hogarty, K Russell. Subs: C Thornton for P Collins (inj), D Mulligan for E Hyland, S Harding, P McCague, B Halpin, P Dennieffe, D Brennan, M Lynskey and J Healy-Hayes
Hurling Nursery
The Hurling Nursery continues on Saturdays in Glenalbyn at 10am. All newcomers will begin their training with Niall Corcoran, Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Coach, in “the new group” for a few weeks and then the older new players will be transferred into their appropriate age group. Existing under 6’s (born 2002) and under 7’s (born 2001) will train under Mark Lohan and Ken Hall, respectively. The boys born in 2003 will continue as a separate group and become the “new” Under 6’s at the beginning of 2009.
Communication with parents is by both e-mail and by text. We strongly encourage parents to subscribe to our tacutext texting service in order to be kept fully informed of team notices, training news, change of venue/pick-up times, etc. specific to your son's group. Each message you receive will cost you 20c. The message will be sent to the phone from which the instruction is sent.
Boys Born in 2001- To join the hurling text service, send the following text message to 53215
JOIN CROKESHURL2001 0876781776 YOUR_SONS_NAME
e.g. join crokeshurl2001 0876781776 joebloggs
You can stop receiving messages at any time by sending the following text to 53215
STOP CROKESHURL2001 0876781776
Boys Born in 2002 - To join the hurling text service, send the following text message to 53215
JOIN CROKESHURL2002 0878052999 YOUR_SONS_NAME
e.g. join crokeshurl2002 0878052999 joebloggs
You can stop receiving messages at any time by sending the following text to 53215
STOP CROKESHURL2002 0878052999
Boys Born in 2003
We suggest you join the 2002 group until you become new U6's in 2009. At that time, you can stop your membership of the 2002 group and join a new 2003 group.
Parental Assistance
We appeal to all parents of the new group to offer assistance in any way possible. No previous coaching experience is required and even periodic help is better than none at all. The success of the club relies on volunteers and it is a great way of getting to know other parents. If you are willing to offer any assistance in any capacity, whether it be coaching, roll, setting up pitches, tidying up pitches, etc. etc. please contact any of the following:
Niall Corcoran, Club hurling coach, 087 983 4287, niall.corcoran@gmail.com
Michael Crowe, Chairman, Juvenile Hurling Group, 087 996 7608 , mjcrowe@gofree.indigo.ie
Margaret Keane , Registrar, 086 311 0020, Margaret.keane@yahoo.ie
Quote from Parent
“As a parent who has 5 children in the club and 2 more about to start, I have got to know more people since I started helping out with my 5th child that I did bringing all my other children to training and matches. Your child will love to see you getting involved. And remember, these parents are the people you will be standing with on the sideline of pitches for the rest of your son's playing career! Many helpers lighten the load for everybody.”
Management Contact Details
Senior: Colm Maher - colm.maher@citi.com - 087-2755074
Intermediate: Seamus Kennedy seamus.kennedy@ericsson.com - 087/2334560
Junior B: Mark Regan - (086) 6995821 and markregan@cck.ie
Junior 5: Barry Gavigan - Barry.Gavigan@o2.com - 086 6005412
Under 21: Niall Butler Niall.E.Butler@aib.ie 086-8071821
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