Junior A's beat Ciarains in Championship

The Junior A team played Craobh Chiarain in the Championship on Wednesday night, 4 July 2012 in Silverpark. This was a winner takes all bout, for a place in the quarter final of the championship.

Playing with the breeze Crokes settled slowly and the visitors opened the scoring with a point. However, from Paddy’s lengthy puck out Jonathan caught the ball and fed Paddy who finished to the roof of the net.

Ciarains came back with another point but, from another long ball, Richie Power broke through and scored a fine goal.  Ciarains were rattled and conceded some frees, which Conor tapped over. Just before half time Paddy struck for another goal, to increase our lead. With our backs on top, ably led by James and Fergus, we went in at half time leading by 3-08 to 0-04.

The second half was full of physical exchanges. However, weren't found wanting and we exchanged points with our visitors, with the highlights being two fine points from Damien and Jonathan. Craobh Chiarain came looking for goals but Paddy was superb and made one magnificent reflex save near the end, to keep a clean sheet.  This left the final score: Kilmacud Crokes 3-13 Craobh Chiarain 0-08.

Team: Paddy Tighe,  Fergus Monnelly, James O'Keeffe, John Huban, Karl Russell, Stephen Beale, Jamie Clinton, Cathal Brugha, Conor Caulfield, Kevin Dalton, Damien McSweeney, Shane Canny, Richie Power, Paddy Rath, Jonathan Hayes.

Subs: Conal O'Neill for Kevin Dalton, Eoin Murphy for Shane Canny, Matthew Kinsella for Cathal Brugha, Emmet Doherty for John Huban, MacDara O'Hogain for Richie Power. Oisin O'Carroll

Scorers: Paddy Rath 2-00, Richie Power 1-01, Conor Caulfield 0-09 (7f 1 65), Jonathan Hayes 0-02, Damien McSweeney 0-01

Report by Kieran Dowling