Laois Visitors Too Strong

At the end of Saturday afternoon's (27th May 2010) opening 2010 Leinster League game the points went to Laois visitors Rathdowney Erril. By the end of the first quarter the Laois side led 0-3 to 0-2. A goal put them five clear. Immediately Sean McGrath pointed and Crokes dominated the rest of the half with the move out field of James Burke proving fruitful. However, dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard and the half finished 1-7 to 0-6 in favour of the O'Moore county men.

Crokes made a number of half time substitutions. One of these, Kevin O'Loughlin, pointed within two minutes and another, Hugh Gannon, did the same three minutes later, with a Rathdowney minor coming in between. Then a second goal, from distance, pushed the Laois men six points clear and by the thirty eight minute it was 2-9 to 0-8. Even with a strengthening breeze it was an uphill task for the Kilmacud team. The margin was reduced to three (2-9 to 0-12), thanks to overs from Barry O'Rorke, Hugh Gannon, Jack Doughan and Barry Mulligan, by the end of the third quarter. With Rathdowney deploying an extra defender, that was as close as Crokes got. By the fiftieth minute the winners were 2-11 to 0-12 in front. Crokes added white flags from Kevin O'Loughlin (free) and Barry O'Rorke while an injury time tap over free wrapped matters up at 2-12 to 0-14.

Team: E Dalton, G McMorrow, N Lillis, S McNicholas, D Byrne, A Cleary, J Doughan, B Mulligan, N Mulligan, B O'Rorke, B Hanamy, S O'Rorke, B O'Leidhin, J Burke, S McGrath. Subs: A Grogan for D Byrne, H Gannon for N Mulligan, K O'Loughlin for B O'Leidhin, R Sweetnam for E Dalton (all half time), D McVeigh for J Burke (47 ins) and F Garvey for B Hanamy (56 mins).

To see images of the match click on the photograph above or click HERE