U17B HURLERS FOLLOW UP GROUP WIN WITH QUARTER FINAL WIN OVER RAHENY
THE U17B hurlers faced a real faced a real challenge on bank holiday Sunday against St.Finian’s to whom they had lost last years final in such dramatic fashion. With 3 Dublin Minors, Finian’s had serious pedigree but Crokes raced into an 11 point lead after 20 minutes with 1/2 forwards Ciaran O’Donnell, Dan Buggy & Matthew Peters along with midfielder Brian Walsh in free scoring mood allied to the rampaging U16 Cathal Crean. However Finian’s weren’t champions for nothing and had reduced the lead to 6 by ½ time before reducing it to 3 midway through the 2nd half.
Had Dublin Minor Brendan Galvin not hit the crossbar after splitting the defence, this could have ended on a sour note. After that Crokes seemed to up their game and further goals from O’Donnell, Zeke Acka and half back Tom Maher gave a flattering winning margin of 15 points. Maher’s effort came when a superb line ball by O’Donnell was deflected into his path by Cathal Crean and he rifled it into the net!
Proud parent and retired Crokes stalwart Adrian Crean remarked to fellow Crokes retiree and proud parent Collie Maher:
“It’s probably a quarter of a century since we last heard – Goal by Maher assisted by Crean!”
Next up was Raheny in the ¼ final and following a nervous 1st ½ against the wind, the team gradually got into their rhythm with Matthew Peters and Ciaran O’Donnell hitting some great scores. After a team lifting point by centre forward Tadhg Raffferty, Crokes were 6 up going into the last 10 minutes. Raheny still went in search of a goal but strong defence by Niall McArdle, Adam Golden & Emre Acka kept them out while the impressive ½ back line of Cathal Crean, Dan Twomey and Tom Maher continually launched attacks. From one such attack, sub full forward Seán Coogan put his hand up high among waving hurls to break the ball on the edge of the small square and although his left arm was being held, swung with his right to drive the ball into the net for a goal which “sucked the life” out of Raheny!
Coogan and fellow sub forward Oisín Harnett continued to torment the Raheny defence and from another “schmozzle” in front of goal, Coogan drew a good save before Harnett finished it to the net.(KC 3-12 Raheny 0-9)
The team are very grateful to Pat Phelan of Ballymore Homes for his kind sponsorship of the jerseys and also to Dominic O’Keefe for his facilitation of the UCD pitches and Vincent Peters for arranging pitches at short notice especially in bad weather.
As we go to print, the U17B’s are awaiting the semi final draw in a campaign that may well go into December!! They’re not called the “Crazy Gang” for nothing!!
From Team Photo :
U17B TEAM WHICH BEAT RAHENY IN U17C CHAMPIONSHIP Q/FINAL (13/11/2022)
(Photo:Frank Murphy)
BACK ROW: Diarmuid Coogan(Bainisteoir), Tadhg O’Raferty, Tom Maher, Dan Sheerin(Capt), Dan Buggy, Ciaran O’Donnell, Dan Twomey, Robert Phelan, Seán Coogan, Adam Golden, Conor Murphy, Mark Beggins, Zeke Acka, Mattie Twomey(Ard Bainisteoir), Ken Hall (Bainisteoir).
FRONT ROW: Niall McArdle, Cathal Crean, Oisín Harnett, Cormac Hall, James Candon, Jake Fuller, Emre Acka, Matthew Peters, Peter Bradley.
(Players not in picture: Cillian Molloy, Seán McIntyre, Brian Walsh) (
