Intermediates Semi Final ends in controversy

Crokes bowed out at the semi final stage of the 2006 Intermediate B championship in controversial circumstance at O’Toole Park on Saturday 14 October 2006.  The referee gave the official score as 2-8 to Round Towers Clondalkin and 1-10 to Crokes.  The Crokes management is adamant the official erred and attributed a Crokes first half point to the opposition leaving the official score 2-4 to 1-5 rather than Crokes 1-6 to Towers 2-3.

Controversy aside, this was a game of an exceptionally high standard with the quality of play by both sides of the highest order.  Unfortunately from the Kilmacud point of view strong pressure especially in the second half (where the forwards opted to try for goals when points might have been a better option) left them that single score short at the full time whistle replicating this teams similar unfortunate championship experience two years ago.  By no means was it all doom and gloom with the team showing itself more than able for the grade and reaching the penultimate stage when early season expectations might not have reached so high.  Another positive factor was the superb displays coming from younger members of the team such as the half back trio of Niall Lillis, Eoin de Paor and Andrew Hopkins well supported by wing forward Michael Dalton who ended with a personal tally of at least 1-2.  Midfielder Damien McSweeney and full back Tomas Donohue were also to the fore.  Well done to all involved and especially to the management team of Adrian Crean, Hugh O’Connor, Mick Hynes, Paddy Hopkins, Paul Graham and Eddie Murphy.

Team:

Diarmuid Howley, Paddy McCormack, Tomas Donohue, Dave Canny, Niall Lillis, Eoin de Paor, Andrew Hopkins, Damien McSweeney, Hugh O’Connor, Barrai Brennan, Eoin Murphy, Michael Dalton, Ronan Walsh, Niall Butler, Adrian Crean.  Subs: Darragh Burke for Hugh O’Connor, Richie Power for Ronan Walsh, Cathal Brugha for Barrai Brennan, Joe O’Reilly, Colm Howley, Fergus Monnelly, Eamonn Shivnan, Peter Clinton