Minors beat Ballyboden St Endas in championship, 4 Oct 2009

Date of Match: 4th October 2009

 

Versus: Ballyboden St Enda’s                     Venue: Sancta Maria

 

Competition: Minor A Championship

 

Management Team: Pat Halpin, Tom Murphy, Daibhi dePaor & Kevin Coakley

 

Match Result

Kilmacud Crokes  2 - 08 v Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-07

 

Scorers;

Crokes: Seanie McGrath 0-05 (0-03f, 0-01 65’), Mark O’Dwyer (1-01), Barry Mulligan (1-01), Darren McVeigh (0-01),

 

Match Report/ Match Highlights:

 

Minor Hurlers – Overcome a stiff challenge from Ballyboden to book berth in Championship semi final

 

Despite having won their first two round robin games, the Crokes minors needed a result against Ballyboden St Enda’s in order to ensure qualification to the Championship semi finals, a loss would mean three teams finishing up on 4 points and it would come down to score difference.  Ballyboden on the other hand needed a win or else their Championship run would come to an end.  Croke’s so far have been unconvincing in their victories to date and needed a better performance in the top third of the pitch if they were to get the desired result. 

 

Crokes started the game facing into the breeze and in the opening ten minutes there was a flurry of scores from both sides.  Seanie McGrath opened the scoring with a well taken point (converted free) three minutes into the game. Two minutes later Barry added a point to the Crokes tally to extend their lead.  Ballyboden opened their scoring tally with a point five minutes into the game, a minute later Darren extended the Croke’s lead with a great point from the center forward position.  Three minutes later, Ballyboden narrowed the margin with a well taken free and a minute later Ballyboden equalised with a long range score from the right wing.  Both sets of backs were dominating their opposition and both sides missed some chances and the next score wasn’t until the 18th minute when Seanie converted a 65 meter free, Seanie extended the Crokes lead to two points two minutes later with another converted free.  However Ballyboden struck back with a converted free of their own to leave Crokes leading by a solitary point going into the half time break with Crokes 5 points to 4 points up.

 

With both sets of backs dominating, it was not the classiest of games so far.

 

The lads were warned to expect a strong second half from Ballyboden and the third quarter turned out to be a dogged affair.  The first score of the second half came 14 minutes into the period when Seanie slotted over a well taken point.  Mark extended the lead with a goal after good work by Matt in midfield.  But Ballyboden did not give up and they narrowed the Croke’s lead to 3 points after two converted frees in the 20th and 25th minutes.  Despite the inten0se pressure by Ballyboden, the Croke’s backs stood strong and rebuffed attach after attack.  Seanie converted another free on the 27th minute to extend the lead to 4 points only for Ballyboden to strike back with another point from a 65 meter free. In the last minute of normal time, Mark won a great ball in the right hand corner and went for an impossible shot and slotted it over the bar to gain the insurance point for Crokes.  However, Croke’s were not yet finished and deep into injury time, Barry scored a goal from a long range shot that deflected into the Ballyboden net to kill off their Championship aspirations (the question out there is whether it was a shot on goal or a weak attempt for a point!!).  At the final whistle, Crokes were the winners with a 2-08 to 0-07 scoreline.

 

It was a tough victory over a determined Ballyboden side which was not truly reflected in the final score line.  The Croke’s backs did well, while the midfield area was by passed for much of the game, Croke’s held the upper hand in this position but Crokes will have to work a lot harder in the forward lines to win and hold onto possession.  Croke’s will now face St Jude’s in the semifinal in two weeks time in Silverpark.  St Vincent’s are at home to Erin’s Isle in the other semi final.  A lot of work is required if the team is to progress into the final a Jude’s are a very talented side with some very strong players in all the key positions.

 

Kilmacud Crokes:

Eoin Dalton, Peter MacCague, Sean Murphy, Paul Collins, Enda Grogan, Jack Doughan, Alan Carr, Cillian Doherty, Matthew Kinsella, Barry Mulligan, Mark O’Dwyer, Darren McVeigh, Hugh Byrne, Jude Sweeney, Sean McGrath.

 

Subs: Eddie O’Byrne for Darren McVeigh, Dillon Mulligan for Hugh Byrne, unused: - Bill O’Carroll, Cian O’Brien, Gary Melican, James O’Keeffe.

 

Unavailable: - Alex Pilkington & Naomhan Reardon.

 

 

You can see images of the match by clicking on the camera below

You can also see a clip of Mark O'Dwyer's goal by clicking on the first  video image below and Barry Mulligan's goal by clicking on the second image!