Minor Hurlers – Back to winning ways

Date of Match: 9th March 2008

Versus: St Davids Venue: Silverpark

Competition: Minor Division 1 League

Management Team: Pat Halpin, Tom Murphy, Daibhi dePaor, Ken Hanamy & Kevin Coakley

Match Result
Kilmacud Crokes 5 - 15 v St Davids 0-08

Scorers;
Crokes: Kevin O’Loughlin 2-10 (0-05f), Seanie McGrath (1-02), Chris Cunningham (1-01), Brian Hanamy (1-01), Naomhan Ó Ríordáin (0-01)

Match Report/ Match Highlights:

Minor Hurlers – Back to winning ways

The Crokes minors faced St Davids in the second round of the League. Having been comprehensively beaten by a very strong Cuala side in their first outing, a more determined and focused performance was required by the team.

Crokes started the game playing down the hill and with the aid of a very strong breeze. St Davids opened the scoring in the second minute with a well converted long range free. But Seanie responded a minute later with a point and four minutes later Crokes went into the lead with a point from Chris and straight from the puck out, a goal from Seanie. This was a lead that Crokes was to hold onto for the rest of the game.

The forwards were getting plenty of ball and were using it to great affect. Brian and Kevin were combining with great effect with Kevin scoring 1-07 along with Brian’s goal and another Seanie point saw Crokes leading 3-10 to 0.02 at the half time break. A second converted free mid was through the half was the only other addition to the St Davids first half tally. The movement and commitment by all six forwards and the work rate of the backs and midfield was a huge improvement on the Cuala game.

The lads were warned to expect a strong second half from St Davids, but it was Crokes who opened the strongest with a goal from Chris and another point from Kevin before St Davids registered their first point of the half. The forwards received less ball in this half but still managed to add another goal from Kevin and four points (one each from Naomhan and Brian and two more for Kevin). The backs gave a solid disciplined display and limited St Davids to another five points (two from frees). All seven backs used in the game worked like demons for the whole game. At the final whistle, Crokes were ahead with a 5-15 to 0-08 score line. Unfortunately both Seanie and Chris limped off with hamstring problems in the second half, but hope to be fine for the next game.

Overall it was a huge improvement on the Cuala game and it was good to see Barra, Doughie, Kevin and Naomhan producing the goods after their injury layoffs. The next game isn’t until the 6th April.

Kilmacud Crokes:
Sean Garvey, Donal Munnelly, Cillian Doherty, Andrew Whelan, Niall Mulligan, Bill O’Carroll, Jack Doughan, Gary McMorrow, Darren McVeigh, Cillian Motherway, Brian Hanamy, Chris Cunningham, Seanie McGrath, Naomhan Ó Ríordáin, Kevin O’Loughlan.

Subs: Sean Murphy for Killian Motherway, Barra O’Leighan for Seanie McGrath, Paul Collins for Jack Doughan – all in second half.

Unavailable: - Barry Mulligan, Eddie O’Byrne, Eoin Culligan, Eoin MacArthur and Mark Coughlan.