Junior 5's lose narrowly to Na Fianna

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Junior 5, 22 July 2007

 

Na Fianna 2-9 Kilmacud Crokes 1-11

 

 

With the very real possibility of clinching a quarter final spot, Kilmacud Crokes arrived in good spirits in Glasnevin to face Na Fianna on Sunday last. With a string of strong performances behind them and significant improvements in terms of quality made in the past weeks due to hard training and hunger, the visitors were confident of pushing the home side hard.

 

 

Unfortunately for the Crokes, by the time they had blown the cobwebs off and hit their stride they were eight points in arrears following the concession of two early goals. It took ten minutes for the visitors to hit back but they eventually began to assert their authority on the game and registered some fine scores to peg Na Fianna back. With the defence now negating the home sides attacking threat, Crokes imposed themselves strongly and were rewarded with far more possession and began to eat away at the early lead. Points from Declan Morris and Ian O’Keefe cut the deficit and the Crokes attack kept the pressure on right up to half-time. By this point the deficit had been cut to 5 points (2-3 to 0-4) and it was a frustrated Crokes side that gathered at the break, knowing that a stronger start and more clinical finishing up front could have had them well ahead instead.

 

Recognising that they had the measure of their opponents, Crokes took the field for the second half in determined mood and set about pulling themselves back into contention. With the defence well on top, Crokes gradually began to convert their superior possession into scores with Déaglán O Dónaill, Colm Crowley and Stephen Russell  as well as further frees from Ian O’Keeffe all weighing in. Strong defensive performances from Fran Saunders and John Galvin in particular helped to keep possession with the forwards and keep the opposition on the back foot. Despite this, with only moments remaining the home side were still four points ahead thanks to some strong freetaking, despite the defence limiting them to just a single point from play. A point and an opportunistic goal from Declan Morris in the final moments levelled the game.  Crokes had chances to win but it was Na Fianna who got the score to leave the minimum between the sides as the referee indicated that they were into time added on. Despite a late onslaught and a number of chances falling to the Crokes, the home side held on for the win.

 

Despite the impressive second half performance and the fine defensive display, Crokes were left frustrated and left the field counting the cost of some poor wides and their desperate start. Incidentally, the Crokes were aggrieved that a point awarded to the home side by the ‘home’ umpire was in fact wide, nonetheless it was impossible to argue that the chances were there to take the game comfortably and they would have to prepare better, start more strongly and be more clinical in their remaining games.

 

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