Crokes Minor B Hurlers clinch Minor D Champo in "the Barracks"!
MINOR B HURLERS CLINCH MINOR D CHAMPIONSHIP IN "THE BARRACKS"!
SUNDAY 24TH November, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines. – Kilmacud Crokes Minor B’s 2-12 Ranelagh Gaels 0-12.
Crokes Scorers: Gavin King 1-2 (1-1 from line balls), Conor Mullin 0-4 (4 f), Davin Tighe (1-0), Mark Beggins 0-2 (2f), Hugh Leahy 0-2, Colm Buckley, Tadhg Ó Cáthasaigh 0-1 each.
Crokes Minor B’s followed up on their 2023 U16 Championship success with a Minor D Championship in a tightly contested final last Sunday.
Playing with the aid of a strong wind in the 1st half , they tore into Ranelagh from the start and following a surging run from dynamic midfielder (and U16 Dublin footballer) Andy Blanker which resulted in a free, captain Conor Mullin opened their account on 2 minutes.
Gaels weren’t overly bothered by this and sharp shooting wing forward Eoin Healy replied with a fine free into the wind 3 minutes later which Mullin responded to with another free after Beggins long puck out. Following another great run by Blanker which he offloaded to Dublin U16 hurler Hugh Leahy, Leahy struck a lovely point from the left. (KC 0-3 RG 0-1)
Right Half forward Gavin King showed his “Joe Canning” skills when he sent over a line ball from the right hand. On 13 minutes, following another foul on Blanker, Mullin converted his 3rd free.
On 18 minutes, it all seemed to be going Crokes’s way, when wing back (and Dublin U16 Hurler) Davin Tighe shot for a point from his own 65 metre line only for the sliothar to drop under the crossbar with the low winter sun “blinding “ the unfortunate John Danaher in goal. (KC 1-5 RG 0-2)
Crokes should have added a lot more to the lead but were guilty of some “hail Mary” shots which went harmlessly wide when long balls into the square may have yielded better dividends.
However on 23 minutes, “Lady Luck” shone on them again when King sent in another excellent line ball from 35 metres out on the right sideline. The speed of the ball and low sun once again deceived Danaher and Crokes now had an 8 point lead. (KC 2-5 RG 0-3)
The tireless Colm Buckley added another fine point for Crokes from the left before Leahy added his 2nd on 29 minutes. Healy had kept Gaels in touch with 2 more pointed frees. On the stroke of half time, Crokes defender Hugh Brosnan sent a long ball into full forward Oisín “Buzzo” Gormley who had “terrorised” many defences during this campaign; however, he was bottled up by the defence and did well to pass left to corner forward Tadhg Ó Cáthasaigh who showed great dexterity in swinging over a point before being engulfed by 2 Gaels players. ( Half time KC 2-8 RG 0-5)
2nd HALF:
The 9 point lead looked commanding but there was a strong wind behind Ranelagh now and the short tight pitch meant the game was becoming increasingly physical.
Crokes were fully up for the physicality but started giving away some unnecessary frees which were punished by Healy with great accuracy 3 times in the 1st 5 minutes reducing the gap to 6. (KC 2-8 RG 0-8)
Following yet another foul on Blanker, goal keeper Mark Beggins sent over a great free against the wind on 65 metres which helped steady Crokes nerves on 37 minutes. (KC 2-9 RG 0-8)
Ranelagh then exerted huge pressure on Crokes. On the 40th minute, Beggins did very well to divert a goal bound shot wide but Healy nailed the resultant 65. Healy followed up with 2 more frees and suddenly the gap was down to 4! (KC 2-9 RG 0-11)
The Crokes defence was resolute in all of this and the full back line of Hugh Brosnan, Ross Gargan and PJ Phelan constantly repelled the danger along with wing backs Jonny Axelsson and subs Charlie Grehan and Cian Cooper (the stylish Davin Tighe had to withdraw with a knee injury). Crokes’ cause was also considerably helped by the return of the powerful Conor Kennedy at centre back. As the game wore on, Kennedy won some vital possession and helped life the siege on many occasions. The skillful Leahy was also forced to retire but his replacement, Seán Ó Maonaigh aided by midfielder John Mullin, put major pressure on the Gaels defence which in turn slowed down the rate of their attacks.
From one such foray into the Gaels half, King picked up a ball and struck a lovely point from the left. (KC 2-10 RG 0-11)
Gael’s Dublin U16 forward Cole Condon was exerting increasing influence in the game but the Crokes lads did a good job of “bottling him up” and after forcing him to overcarry, Crokes were awarded a momentum shifting free. Mullin stepped up and arrowed it between the posts from 50 metres going into the last 10 minutes. (KC 2-11 RG 0-11)
From this point on, Gaels rallied desperately in search of a goal but stout hearted defending kept them out. With 5 minutes to go they did have a 20 metre free which Healy drove low for goal but Beggins had his defence well organised and the shot was deflected out for a 65. Ranelagh tried again to engineer a goal from the 65 but had to settle for a point from Condon.
At this stage Crokes subs Adam Faughnan and Harry Lynch added fresh legs to the final effort and following more pressure around ½ way, Crokes were awarded a free which Beggins despatched from his own 65 to extend the lead to 6 points. (KC 2-12 RG 0-12)
Ranelagh redoubled their efforts to snatch a goal to make it a one score game the Crokes defence maintained their “No Paseran” approach and safely saw out the final minutes much to the delight and relief of their mentors!
This was a huge achievement for the minor B’s as many of the 1st year minors had won U16 Championship medals in 2023. For Gavin King, it came a week after he had won a U16 championship with the U16B team.
For the only 2nd year/2006 minors, John Mullin and Tadhg Ó Cáthasaigh, they’ve both achieved something special; Mullin is the only 2006 player to have won a minor Football Championship (2023 with Minor C Footballers) and a Minor Hurling Championship while Ó Cáthasaigh is the only 2006 player to have won both the U16 Hurling Championship (2022) and a Minor Hurling Championship!
Kilmacud Crokes: M.Beggins, H.Brosnan, R.Gargan, PJ.Phelan, J.Axelsson , Conor Kennedy, D.Tighe, A.Blanker, C.Buckley, G.King, , J.Mullin, C.Mullin(Capt), H.Leahy, ,O.Gormley, T.Ó Cáthasaigh.
Subs: C.Cooper f Tighe, S.Ó Maonaigh f Leahy, H.Lynch f Cooper, C.Grehan f Ó Cáthasaigh, A.Faughnan f Brosnan, H.Lynch f Gormley.
Other Crokes subs: Eoin Lynch, Jack Flynn, Lochlainn Kennedy(injured).
Duirt sé:
Crokes Bainisteoir Diarmuid Coogan: “I’m delighted for these lads that they’ve delivered today; they showed great character in both the semi final and final when the matches were in the balance. They showed strong resilience during the year as they were on the wrong side of some very heavy defeats when they were in a very strong League Division 4. Special thanks to Tom Rock, Brian Geraghty and Jo Ann Crowley for their representation to get them into the appropriate Championship.
The lads hurling skills also benefited from training with the Minor A’s( who were unlucky to be knocked out at semi final stage in the A Championship) and the expertise of Minor A Bainisteoirí, Dominc O’Keefe, Rory Flannery & Ros Criostóir. Special thanks also to Declan Brosnan, Paddy O’Sullivan, Padraig Reidy, Brian McNamara, Karen Beggins and Padraig Lynch, who all gave invaluable support during the Championship campaign. It’s been a great pleasure to have been involved with them over the last 12 years and today is “the icing on the cake”!
