U12s bow out to Ballygunnar

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Crokes Pipped by Ballygunner in Classic

On Sunday 26th November 2006 the curtain came down on the Crokes under 12’s involvement in the Carrigeen, Co Kilkenny ten a side all weather tournament.

Facing Ballygunner, the Waterford under 12 county champions and tournament favourites, the Kilmacud boys put in a mighty display before going down 5-7 to 4-6 in a pulsating semi-final.  Ballygunner started the brighter and their very first attack yielded a goal.  A few minutes later they added a point and looked as if they might pull away completely.  However, a Caolan Conway pointed free and a Neil Gorey goal restored parity.  Gunner were next to strike with another major and for the rest of the first half scores were traded at a frenetic pace with Crokes just shading it by 4-2 to 3-4.

Turning to face a strengthening wind the Crokes boys were always going to find it tough in the second half but rise to the occasion they did.  Within two minutes the Waterford team had drawn level.  Crokes then edged ahead but not for long and over the next fifteen minutes the lead changed hands on a number of occasions.  In the seventeenth minute came what was to be the crucial score when a Ballygunner goal put them a point to the good.  Another minor followed but the Crokes lads kept coming back.  On another day any of several Kilmacud efforts would have yielded a score but not on this occasion apart from a memorable Conor Devins point.  With three minutes left Ballygunner tacked on another point.   Still Crokes pressed and even a late Gunner goal conceded following a misunderstanding in the Crokes defence did nothing to diminish their efforts which on the day could only bring a single point from the final Crokes attack.

Such is life.  This was a day when luck just did not run the Crokes way but the lads can be immensely proud of the fighting spirit and great skill they displayed.  Cian MacGabhann pulled off some great saves.  As they had been throughout the tournament the full back line of Conor O’Dwyer, Conor Sweeny and Daibhid Corish was magnificent.  James Murphy and Matthew Geraghty tried their hearts out.  Oisin O’Rorke had a great game and Conor Devins will long remember his two first half goals.  Matthew McNicholas always posed a threat while Conor O’Byrne caught some excellent ball.  Kevin James McGowan was a handful for a very good Ballygunner full back while Neil Gorey and Caolan Conway kept the scorekeeper busy.

Squad:

Cian MacGabhann, Daibhid Corish, Conor Sweeny, James Murphy, Conor O’Dwyer, Conor O’Byrne, Matthew Geraghty, Matthew McNicholas, Oisin O’Rorke, Caolan Conway, Kevin James McGowan, Neil Gorey, Conor Devins.

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