Gallant Crokes lose out to spirited Boden in thriller
Wow! some game, some night! Just when you thought a local rivalry had run its course ....... it takes off again, this time in a convincing 2nd half of extra time Boden display which ultimately won the day. Crokes eventually lost out on a scoreline of 0-19 to 1-12 to a Ballyboden team that has proved its enduring qualities over this 3-game saga. Nobody in Kilmacud will begrudge the blue and white brigade their hard-won victory, even if it will hurt us for some time. They have proved themselves to be a most formidable, skillful and resilient outfit and we wish them well in Sunday's final v St. Judes.
They say a replay never follows the course of a drawn game but this one has to be an exception. Crokes dominated the first half and were 6 points clear heading down the home stretch. Yet, somehow, they refused to go for the jugular, as in the previous game, and extra time was required once again as the sides finished deadlocked, 0-12 to 1-9. Alas, woeful profligacy over the hour came back to haunt the triple champions who shot some 15 wides throughout, this following the 19 wides of the previous encounter! It not only took a toll on the scoreboard but on the team's energy and confidence levels also ... Lady Luck was determined to remain poker faced!! Boden sensed destiny on their side and played like demons in the second half of extra time as the legs of our Crokes boys seemed to remember the long road to All Ireland success on St. Patricks Day. The final whistle sounded with the scoreboard reading Boden 0-19 to Crokes 1-12. Click here for a more detailed match report from Hill16.
On behalf of all Kilmacud Crokes supporters, we salute the herculean efforts of our players and management in recent weeks. You've played like the champions that you are and only relinquished your titles after the most almighty battle. It's been a very long and proud year for you and the club and we continue to stand right behind you. GAA is not quite as the late Bill Shankly might have described it - defeat and victory continue to be inseparable bedfellows and there's plenty of positives to take from each. Beidh lá eile againn!
