Report Week Ending 3 July 2011

Glass half full?  Glass half empty? 

“Dublin unable to live with Kilkenny in Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final”

or

“Allianz League Champions Dublin take third Leinster Minor in six years and into Senior All-Ireland Quarter Final.”

Take your pick.  Three years ago the question wouldn’t have arisen. That it has is a mark of progress.

Croke Park was the venue for both senior and minor provincial finals on Sunday 3rd July 2011.  The young Dubs were always in command against the Kittens and won 1-14 to 1-11.  A late Kilkenny goal made it look tighter than it was especially in the second half where one of the highlights was a sublime point from the side line from Crokes Oisin O’Rorke.  For report see HERE.

The tables were turned in the main event, 4-17 to 1-15.  Kilkenny burst from traps and established an early dominance in nearly all areas.  For a brief few moments coming up to half time it looked as if the Dubs might reel them in only to be thwarted by a goal line save and three minors on the run by the Noresiders.  To their credit Dublin never gave in but were unable to stop Kilkenny claiming their 68th Bob O’Keeffe.  Once again Kilmacud Crokes Niall Corcoran gave his all for the cause.  For RTE Sport report see HERE.

Pre-headquarters, Kilkenny visitors were in plentiful supply.  At Pairc de Burca the South Kilkenny (Ballyhale, Dunamaggin and Carrickshock) under 11 squad played a very good game against the Crokes under 10’s.  In Deerpark we hosted the Erins Own Castlecomer under 8’s and under 11’s. 

The day before, Saturday 2nd July 2011, Kilkenny and Carlow beckoned for the minor and under 16 hurlers for the James Stephens and Carlow Town Tournaments respectively. 

The minors made little impression in The Village, being well beaten in their opener by Blackrock, recovering to overcome Graigue Ballycallan in the Shield semi final before going down heavily to Ballyboden in the final of that competition.  Stand out men throughout were Daibhid Corish and James Murphy.

Squad:

M Herlihy, S Boyd, D Corish, J Murphy, C Devins, E Doherty, C O’Neill, M Geraghty, C Conway, J Clinton, KJ McGowan, C Gormley, N Gorey, N Hanley, C O’Dwyer, CJ O’ Dwyer, O O’Carroll, M Collins, L O’Sullivan

The under 16’s lost their opener to Dicksboro by 2-7 to 0-2, defeated Kilmallock  by 2-6 to 1-2 and drew 1-5 to 0-8 with Loughrea in their final group game which also marked their exit from the tournament.  Odhran O’Siochru, Ciaran McIntyre, Edward Campion, Donnchadh O’Murchu, Ryan Murphy, Andrew Ahern, Fiachra O’Connor, Conor Gowing, and Peter Herlihy were prominent.  For photographs of the under 16 tournament see HERE

Squad:

T Murphy, A Ahern, O O’Siochru, R Murphy, C McIntyre, D O’Murchu, P Herlihy, E Campion, F O’Connor, D O’Gallchobhair, E Allen, R Conlon, C Gowing, K O’Flanagain, D Keane, A Spollen, M O’Rourke, D Paisley, E Sheehy and A Considine.

Needless to say both home and away wonderful hospitality was the order and our thanks to all concerned.

Monday evening 27th June 2011 saw the under 15A’s record a 1-13 to 0-8 Division 1 win over Thomas Davis.  Crokes were slow to start.  Their depleted squad was ably bolstered by four under 14’s fresh from Feile action, Fiachra O’Connor, Mark O’Rourke, Alex Considine and Eoin Sheehy.  At the break Crokes were winning by six points to five.  The goal came from Sean Keating who played well.  Other good performers included Sean Crowe, Mark O’Rourke, Fiachra O’Connor, Shane Veale and Mark McCallion.

The same evening the under 15B’s went down 2-15 to 1-9 against Division 3 table toppers St Judes in Tymon North.  Paul Comerford, with 1-8, including one sublime point from a catch and turn having won a puck out, was outstanding.

For the minor A’s it was off to Johnstown Park the following night (Tuesday 28th June 2011) to play Na Fianna in League 1.  On a short tight pitch against the breeze Crokes gained an 0-6 to 0-5 advantage at the short whistle. The Stillorgan lads dominated the second half but could never pull absolutely clear.  Going into injury time they led by six points when the Moibhi Road side goaled from their second late 20 metre free to see it end 1-10 to 1-7.  To the fore were goalkeeper Michael Herlihy, a solid full back line of Conor O’Dwyer (who also performed very well up front when switched there in the second half), Daibhid Corish and James Murphy and Jamie Clinton.

Team:

M Herlihy, C O’Dwyer (0-1), D Corish, J Murphy, C O’Neill, R Murphy, C Devins, M Geraghty, C Gormley (1-0), J Clinton (0-4), E Doherty (0-2), A Pilkington (0-3, f-2, 65-1), L O’Sullivan, J Huban, N Gorey.  Subs: O O’Carroll for L O’Sullivan (40 mins) and M Collins for N Gorey (51 mins).

At the same time the under 16’s overwhelmed St Vincents away in the first post examination game of Division 1.  For report see HERE

 
Two nights later the minor B’s hosted Naomh Peregrines in Ballyogan.  The attractive backdrop of Three Rock Mountain, an encouraging sideline attendance and a surprisingly good turf served up an enjoyable mid-summer evening match.  The game ended with Crokes 5-19 to 1-6 ahead.  For report see HERE

The same evening the under 16’s traveled to Naas for a challenge against the Kildare boys.  With Ronan Horgan, Odhran O’Siochru, Donal Keane, Peter Herlihy and Mark McCallion in the van the South County lads proved superior (3-12 to 1-4).  For report see HERE

Leinster Under 21 Final

In 2011, for the first time ever Dublin feature in minor, under 21 and senior provincial deciders in the same year.  Two were played on Sunday 3rd July and on 13th July the under 21’s will travel to Wexford Park to take on the Slayneysiders to determine the destination of the provincial crown

  Upcoming Fixtures 

Always check with team management for late changes 

Nursery Hurling

 Nursery Hurling is back and running in Glenalbyn. 

Contacts:   (U5/U6) Denis Egan (087-7922044), (U7) Declan Kane (087-2396094) (U8) Brian Harrison/John Maguire (087-9201743 / 087-6823264), Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Coach Niall Corcoran (087-9834287)