Minor A's lose out to Boden in Final

Minor A’s go down by a single point in County Final

A gallant minor A team were defeated by the narrowest of margins in a rip-roaring county minor final at Parnell Park on Sunday, 10 November. This greatly anticipated match against neighbours and great rivals Ballyboden St. Enda’s certainly lived up to expectations and produced what many regard as the finest minor final in a long time.

Crokes got off to a great start and Seán Keating had a the ball over the bar within seconds of the throw-in.  A few minutes later Cian Mac Gabhann scored his first point of the match and this was followed by a point by Dara Ó Gallchobhair. Boden had a scored a point from a free and then got a lucky goal after an unfortunate slip on the sticky sod by a Crokes defender. The match was being contested fiercely around the pitch and the Crokes defence were coping well with the danger men in the Boden attack. Scores were traded leaving the match level mid-way through the half. Crokes then hit a purple patch before half- time with points from Seán Keating, Dara Ó Gallchobhair, Dónal Keane and Cian Mac Gabhann and had gone into a deserved lead of 6 points before Boden reduced it to five just before the break, 0-12 to 1-04.

Boden appeared for the second half with some positional switches and set about reducing the deficit with real intent. There physical prowess was beginning to tell and with Colm Basquel operating sublimely at midfield they began to chip away at the Crokes lead despite resolute defending. A point by Feargal Whitely seemed to stem the Boden  tide but the Crokes were dealt a real body blow when Boden scored two goals within a three minute period just after the mid-way point. With Boden gone into a four point lead the Crokes lads’ character was once again tested and they responded magnificently. The exchanges were ferocious as both sides went all out for victory. Crokes came at the Boden defence again and again trying to regain the initiaive and were rewarded with scores came from Dónal Keane, Cian Mac Gabhann and Feargal Whitely as well as a couple of frees which were converted by Seán Keating.

There were also a number of chances that got away in the intense heat of battle.

As the clock ticked away Crokes had got the lead down to a solitary point (0-17 to 3-09) and had held Boden scoreless for over 10 minutes. A valiant effort by Feargal Whitely in the dying seconds just shaved the post on the wrong side.  The final whistle was met as usual with jubilation by the victors and absolute heartbreak by the vanquished. Only the neutral observers will really have been able to comment on the quality of the game and in the subsequent period reports of the match have been fulsome in praise for both sides for the quality and bravery of their play.

Despite the immediate crushing effect of the result this group of Crokes lads can be immensely proud of their achievement in reaching the final of an extremely competitive championship and in they way they have  played the game throughout their careers to date. They have done the club, themselves and their families proud in the way they have carried themselves in victory and in defeat and they will go on to be admirable role models for the younger players of the future.

Team: Tadhg Murphy, Mikey O’Dywer, Donncha Ó Murchú, Cillian O’Shea, Mark McCallion, Odhrán Ó Siochrú, Éamon Allen, Cian Mac Gabhann (0-03,2f) Ronan Horgan, Dara Ó Gallchobhair (0-03), Ciarán McIntyre, Feargal Whitley (0-02), Seán Keating (0-07, 5f, 65), Donal Keane (0-02), Mark O’Loughlin.

Subs: Alex Considine for Ciarán McIntyre, Stevie O’Dywer for Dara Ó Gallchobhair. Peter Herlihy, Kevin Ó Flannagáin,  Michael Crowley, Mark O’Rourke, Daniel Coakley, Eoin Sheehy, Des Dagg, Eoin Keane, Ed Campion (injured), Daragh Butler (injured) .

Report by Joe Ó Murchú

Photos by Diarmuid Ó Gallchobhair & Steven Dagg

To read the Herald's match report click HERE

Road to the Final