Busy St Patrick’s Weekend

The welcome and weather-delayed return to action of our intermediate team was the main adult hurling event of the weekend with a trip to Rathdrum to play the Avondale senior team under lights.  Manager Mick Hynes and coach Joe O’Reilly will have seen much to please them and plenty to work on in this clash with last year’s Wicklow semi-finalists fielding most of their county stars.  The game was played under lights on a heavy pitch at the home team’s impressive facility.

With wind advantage Crokes opened brightly and within ten minutes were three points up.  Avondale pegged two back before a long clearance from Ray Mangan was seized upon and finished to the net by Adrian Crean.  The sides exchanged further points to leave it 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.  The expected Avondale onslaught was not slow to materialise on the resumption and they had reduced the margin by a point within a minute.  The Crokes response was immediate with an Adrian Crean cross being batted goalwards by Ronan Walsh and in the ensuing scramble Richie Power found the net.  Avondale got the next point before a good movement involving Donal Holohan, Ronan Walsh and Richie Power saw the latter point.  From then on the Wicklow men dominated the scoring stakes with 1-5 to Crokes’ two points although it has to be said the scoring trend gives a slightly false impression as the Stillorgan men had chances to secure the game.  The Crokes final two scores came from Barrai Brennan, after a good run, and Donal Holohan.

With their first round championship game scheduled for the weekend of 14/15 April this was a timely pipe-opener for a side controversially pipped in last year’s semi-final by eventual county champions, Round Towers.  To the fore for Crokes on a night where all 19 members of the travelling party rotated in a seventy minute game were Tomas Donohue, Fergus Monnelly, the returning Conor Condon, Eoin Murphy, Adrian Crean and Niall Lillis, even if a little impetuosity towards the end proved expensive.

Squad:  Paul Graham, Colm Howley, Dave Canny, Fergus Monnelly, Ray Mangan, Tomas Donohue, Niall Lillis, Hugh O’Connor, Conor Condon, Barrai Brennan, Eoin Murphy, Michael Dalton, Ronan Walsh, Diarmuid Howley, Adrian Crean, Richie Power, Paddy McCormack, Donal Holohan and Peter Clinton.

The hospitality provided by Avondale, of hot soup and sandwiches, was most welcome.   Excellent facilities in the garden of Ireland.

Will be back when temperatures rise!!

Elsewhere....

Earlier in the weekend the feast of our patron saint saw a splurge of hurling activity with four games decided before throw in Croke Park.

Under 14s, under 15s and under 16s play against Wicklow Development Squads

In Silverpark the under 15’s and under 14’s had early starts against the Wicklow Development squads.  The under 15’s, leading 2-6 to 0-1 at the break, ran out comfortable 3-8 to 1-2 winners.  The under 14’s found the going tougher losing 3-6 to 1-3 having trailed 1-6 to 0-2 against a strong wind at half time.

Under 15  :  Sean Garvey, Graham Fogarty, James O’Keeffe, Brian McHenry, Rory Gogarty, Fiachra Lynn, Garry Melican, Mark O’Dwyer, Darren Lawlor, David McNamara, Jude Sweeney, Stephen Beale, Kevin Murphy, Jonathon Healy-Hayes, Thomas Clarke, James Butler, Enda Grogan.

Under 14  :  Paddy Tighe, Oisin O’Carroll, Sean Boyd, Mathew Geraghty, Conall O’Neill, Andrew McEvoy (0-1), John Huban, Justin Cassidy, Barry O’Farrell, Fionan Motherway, Emmet Doherty, Niall Carr (0-1), Ken Kelly, Kevin James McGowan (0-1), Jamie Clinton, Keith Finn, Caolan Murphy, Neil Gorey (1-0), Ciaran MacGabhann, Niall Hanley and Conor Devins.

Meanwhile in Glenalbyn the under 16’s were much too good for their Wicklow counterparts and had the luxury of experimenting with players in unaccustomed positions.

Afterwards our Garden County guests were entertained in Glenalbyn before heading on for the club finals.  Many thanks to all who helped provide the hospitality.

Minors have comfortable win over Piltown (Kilkenny)

At the conclusion of the under 14 game the minors were straight into action against Kilkenny club Piltown and were 1-7 to 0-1 ahead at the short whistle.  They were never troubled in the second half and finished well to the good in a game where both sides were missing their county representatives.

Under 18 :  Richie Tighe, Oran Turley, Gary McMorrow, Chris Carolan, Paddy Igoe, William McEvoy, Niall Mulligan, Niall Butler, Barra O’Liadhain, Kevin O’Loughlin, Brian Hanamy, Chris Cunningham, Conor Clinton, Ciaran O’Grady, Shane McNicholas, Ken Noctor, Eoin McGowan, Niall McIntyre, Killian Motherway, Eoin O’Sullivan.

Mother's Day !

A banner with Mother’s Day best wishes from Kilmacud Crokes Hurling greeted Sunday morning juvenile training attendees each of whom was given a small presentation pack to take home.  At the time of writing the jury is out as to how many packs safely made it to their intended recipients!

Well done Dublin !

Mention of Sunday could not go by without reference to the Dublin senior hurlers' well-merited win over Galway in the National Hurling League at Parnell Park.  Congratulations to all concerned including our own Aodhan de Paor.

Under 10s beat Na Fianna

Monday 19th saw 38 of our under 10’s play a series of games against Na Fianna in Glenalbyn.  The Kilmacud boys had much the better of exchanges which, given that these two sides are reckoned to be tops in Dublin, augurs well for this age group. (see separate report elsewhere on website)

Presentation of medals to the 2006 under-12s by Kilkenny forward Richie Power

Earlier in the week (Thursday 15th March) the 2006 under 12’s were presented with their medals by Kilkenny star Richie Power ( who holds minor, under-21 and senior All-Ireland medals ) accompanied by his county under 21 colleague Darren O’Neill and Crokes senior hurler Hugh Gannon.  Beforehand Richie and Darren held a training session for the squad.  Over 30 players were presented with medals for winning the Colman Dillon Tournament in Erins Own, Cork, and finishing runners up in the Na Piarsaigh Tournament (Cork), Dublin League and Alan Cregan Camaint Tournament (Erins Isle, Dublin).  Previously the squad had received their medals for winning the Leinster Council under 12 blitz.  All in all a great year for everyone concerned.

See imags of the presentations HERE

Nursery hurling continues at Glenalbyn on Saturday mornings

Saturdays see the continuation of outdoor nursery activity at Glenalbyn. This continues every Saturday at 10.00 am for children born 1999 or later.  Contact Liam Coughlan 086-6063232 and lccoughlan@eircom.net.  Active parental input is essential for the success of the nursery.  No hurling experience necessary!

'Kilmacud Crokes on Tour' day is almost here

The annual Kilmacud Crokes on Tour trip to Kilkenny is scheduled for Sunday 1st April next.  This is a bumper day out for our young hurlers (under 11 downwards) and not to be missed.  Further details are available from Denis Gorey 087-2393625 and goreys@clubi.ie.

Hurling Arena nearing completion 

Work continues apace on our new Hurling Arena in Glenalbyn.  This €500,000 project will be a huge addition to hurling in the club and is entirely funded by the Hurling Section.  Our fourth annual Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Corporate Race Day takes place in Punchestown on Tuesday 24th April.  The event has gone from success to success and if you are in any way in a position to influence your company’s entertainment spend at €1,750 for a table of ten you won’t find better value or quality.  Please contact Brian Geraghty, Hurling Section, Commercial Officer, 087-2312378 and brianpgeraghty@eircom.net.  Donations or spot prizes also very welcome.