Crokes Men To The Fore As Dubs ThroughTo All-Ireland Semi

Posted on

Dublin bridged a 63 year gap in qualifying for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi Final by defeating Limerick, 3-13 to 0-18 in Thurles on Sunday 24th July 2011.  Kilmacud Crokes certainly made its contribution with Ryan O’Dwyer, scorer of 3-2, turning in a man of the match performance with corner back Niall Corcoran not far behind.  As ever, strategising behind the scenes, was Richard Stakelum while panelists Ronan Walsh and Conor Clinton together with team doctor Chris Thompson also played their parts.

 

O'Dwyer's first half hat-trick came before twenty five minutes had passed and was to prove key as the Dubs proceeded to take the foot off the gas and allow the Shannonsiders back into the game.  From a position where they had been nine points clear the Metropolitans went in five to the good, 3-6 to 0-10.  The was down to two points within three minutes of the restart.  From there the lead oscillated between two and three points until the final seven minutes when the Dubs stretched it to four.  Both sides missed opportunities but Limerick more so and the Dublin last line became more and more impressive as the game went on with Corcoran playing the No 2 role in exemplary manner.

 

The Dubs also created a historical first with three teams, senior, under 21 and minor through to the penultimate round of their respective All-Ireland championships for the first time ever.  Well done to all concerned.  For hill16 report see HERE.

 

Earlier in the week and closer to home a championship double bill was scheduled for Wednesday 20th July 2011 in Silverpark.  In the event the Junior A’s received a walk over from St Brigids while the intermediates took on Commercials.  One could argue the intermediate game was a contest until the stroke of half time when a Donal McGovern goal ended a Crokes scorefree almost fifteen minutes and sent them in 2-5 to 0-2 ahead with the wind advantage to come.  The second half was little more than a procession as the Kilmacud side added another 2-12 to finish 4-17 to 0-5 victors and claim top spot in their championship group.  For report see HERE

 

For the same team Saturday was round 10 of eleven ordinary AHL3 games against neighbours Naomh Olafs in Silverpark.  Crokes led 1-9 to 0-4 midway.  The Crokes defensive spine with Niall Lillis at full back and Declan Browne at 6 was dominant.  Dillon Mulligan was on top at midfield.  In a forward sextet that moved very well, Alex Pilkington was much too speedy for his marker and Fergal Armstrong contributed handsomely.  Final score was 1-17 to 0-9.  The final round of games on 13th August will determine the two promotion places.  As matters stand Crokes are in second position on 15 points, ahead of their final match opponents St Vincents on score difference.  Vincents were replaced on the top perch by their Saturday conquerors Clanna Gael, now on 16 points.  For report see HERE

 

First club team out of traps this week were the Junior E’s on Tuesday evening 19th July 2011 when they concluded their championship round robin series of games with an exciting 2-16 to 1-16 win over Castleknock.  This victory took them to a total of nine points from five games and also saw the team leapfrog Skerries Harps into top place on score difference.  In arrears 1-7 to 0-8 at half time and turning to face the wind blowing from Silverpark’s Sunshine Home end, matters looked daunting.  With the visitors stretching their lead things did not improve. However two goals from Neil Martin at crucial times were pivotal especially his strike on fifty eight minutes to claim a two point lead.  For report see HERE


On the road to support the Dubs on Sunday 24th July 2011 were the minors, under 14’s and under 10’s.  The under 18’s went down 1-17 to 3-10 to Clonoulty Rossmore at Clonoulty after a close game. A similar fate befell the under 14’s in Cloughjordan against Kilruane McDonaghs (2-8 to 2-7) for which Mark O’Rourke, Eoin Sheehy, Conor McNicholas and Adam Tuck were most prominent.  The under 10’s also went down by a small margin versus Cashel King Cormacs after a worthwhile outing.  Many thanks to our hosts.

 

Minor squad:

 

P Tighe, S Boyd, D Corish, M Collins, C Devins, R Murphy, C O’Dwyer C O’Neill, E Doherty, J Clinton, KJ McGowan, C Conway, K Kelly, J Cassidy, A Pilkington J O’Brien, A Cullinane, N Hanley, A Colclough, M O’Dwyer and R McGowan

 

  Upcoming Fixtures

 

 

Day

Date

Team

Opposition

Venue

Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

25.07.11

MHL 3

Raheny

St Annes Park

7.15pm

play-off

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday

28.07.11

Senior

Dublin U18

Silverpark 1

7.15pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always check with team management for late changes

 

All-Ireland Hurling Sevens

 

 

To be held on Saturday 3rd September 2011 this is wonderful showcase and the main source of funds to keep hurling going in the club.  Advertising manager Eamonn O’Dwyer 087-2253048 and eamonnodwyer@escrs.org would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in taking a programme advertisement or who can help in any other way.

 

Dublin Co Board Hurling Discussion Document

 

We are all betimes amused, confused and frustrated as to how hurling is organised in the county.  Recently a discussion document has been circulated by Dublin County Board.  See HERE for more.  Do you have any views you'd like to share on the subject? This is an opportunity to have your say.  Why not send your comments by clicking HERE

 

Photo Competition – Wonderful Prize On Offer

 

Don’t forget to enter our photo competition.  Click HERE or on the link below and you will see a number of images from recent matches involving the Senior Hurling team. Each image is numbered from 1 to 12. Choose your favourite shot and email your choice to kchurling@yahoo.com.  The winner gets to nominate any player on any Kilmacud Crokes hurling team to be the subject of a special match photographic profile. Nominate yourself, a son, brother, father, cousin, friend (or even a stranger!) and an upcoming match in which you/he will be participating. We will send our photographer along to focus a camera lens on your nominee during the match. We will present you and him with a special Presentation DVD of the occasion. A momento such as this is something that will be cherished for years to come.

 

Nursery Hurling  

 

Nursery Hurling is back and running in Glenalbyn. 

 

 

Contacts:   (U5/U6) Denis Egan (087-7922044), (U7) Declan Kane (087-2396094) (U8) Brian Harrison/John Maguire (087-9201743 / 087-6823264), Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Coach Niall Corcoran (087-9834287)

 

Club.