BATTLING INTERS BOW OUT AT QUARTER FINAL STAGE
On a miserable Tuesday evening in Glenalbyn the AFL4 team failed in their attempt to reach the last four of the Junior Championship, when they went out on a scoreline of 0-9 to 3-6 to Fingal Ravens. A six point gap seperated the sides after only 9 minutes and indeed it was this poor start that caught the Crokes lads out in the end. Trainling 1-3 to no score it was not until the 11th minute that they got their first score through lively corner forward, Dónal Hogan. Crokes went on a bit of a run then with further points from Alan Maher and Stephen Sheridan but any run of scores for Crokes was usually interupted by a Ravens score. And unfortunately for Crokes another two goals was included in these. One came shortly before half time when a high ball into the square was expertly finished by the Ravens inside line. Again, Crokes rallied before the break, but they went in trailing by 5 points.
Again in the second half the Crokes lads rallied in dreadful conditions. Nealie Murphy got on the score sheet early and Adam Coughlan was bossing the breaking ball. Yet despite now dominating the play, the elusive run of scores never really materialised. And while it seemed like only a matter of time before they would break the deadlock with an all important goal, it was Ravens who struck with a goal themselves against the run of play. Again, the lads rallied and captain Darragh McGale led the charge with a number of well taken points but in the driving rain the elusive goal never appeared.
Despite only conceding 1-1 in the second half, the lads never really capitalised on their own period of dominance and this coupled with their poor start, probably summed up where it all went wrong. That said, nothing could be taken away from a well drilled Ravens side who took their chances very well when presented and will certainly be a match for anyone in the last four. As the lads trudged off they could take solace from the fact that they are still well in contention in both the AFL4 league and in the Joy Cup and that the sun may yet shine on this bunch of lads this year.
