Minor B's reach Final
Date of Match: 5th November 2006
Versus: Naomh Mearnog Venue: Portmarnock
Competition: Under 18 c Championship Semi Final
Management Team: Padraig O’Sullivan, Paddy Lenihan, Gerry Mc Grath
Match Result
Crokes 2-7 / Naomh Mearnog 0-4
Scorers; Crokes: B.Sheehan 1.04 (3 frees), B. Mahon 0-01, B. Hanamy 1-00, E McGabhann 0-01,
Team:, R. Tighe S. McNicholas, Arthur Lyons, G McMorrow, A. McPhilips, P. Igoe, Niall Mulligan, C.Caffrey, Karl Dias , Barra O Leidhn, Niall Gallagher, , Eoin McGabhann. Brian Sheehan, B. Hanamy, B. Mahon
Subs, , Fiachra O Shaughnessy, Chris Cunningham, Timmy Ryan, Ken Noctor, D. Munnelly, B. Logan, Will Byrne, Niall McIntyre , J. Mulvaney,K.Motherway
Subs used Fiachra O Shaughnessy Chris Cunningham, Timmy Ryan, Ken Noctor, Niall McIntyre
Match Report/ Match Highlights:
This was our sixth outing in the championship; our opponents were the winners of the other group. This was a hard fought win on a dry and windy morning.
Richie Tighe made a great debut in goals and lived up to his reputation. There was a great display from all six backs with Paddy Igo being the outstanding player. Cillian and Karl won the majority of possession at midfield. Eoghain, Niall, Barra, Brian Mahon and Brian Hanamy gave in good performances .It is worth noting Sheeno’s display, this was a game of two halves for him, nothing went right for him in the first , but he lifted his game and had a storming second half, Brian, scored 1-5 which included four frees. He also set up the goal for Brian Hanamy.
Naomh Mearnog started off strongly and were three points up after 10 minutes. We had missed some opportunities over this period and Sheeno hadn’t helped the cause when he missed a goal opportunity on 12mins to put us back on level terms.Eoighan Mc Gabhann provided our first point after 15mins.We then got two further points from great play by Brian Mahon and Brian Hanamy. We dominated play over the 30 minutes but unfortunately the score board failed to show this dominance. The highlight of the first half was how the defense worked as a unit. The sore at half time was 3 points each.
We started off the second half well but the opposition opened with the first point after 3 minutes, remarkably this was to be their only score of the half. Sheeno responded with a great point which was struck off the ground. He went on again to provide us with a marvellous gaol a few minutes later beating a few players along the way to finish it off this score with style. Brian Hanamy provided the next score after 40 mins with another good goal following Sheeno’s excellent pass to him. Crokes controlled the game for the remaining 15 mins with Sheeno taking two good points from frees.
Overall this was a good performance, due to the hard work by the lads. However, we have further work to do before we take on Cuala in the final. They have beaten a very strong Sylvester’s team.
Commiserations to the players on the A team who lost out narrowly to Na Fianna yesterday. Padraig, Paddy and I would like to thank the management of that team i.e. Billy, Richie, Tom and Mick for their continuous support and top class training that our players have received from them over the year. Initially, the U-18 panel consisted of 38 players, a number which has been added to with the introduction of eight U 16 s. Our strategy of combined training from the outset proved to be an important factor in the development of everyone’s hurling abilities. There is little doubt that our team gained hugely from the influence of both these mentors and their group of players and a huge thank you is owed to them.
(Report by Gerry McGrath)