Under 14 Hurlers scrape through to win Championship

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Date of Match: 23rd October 2005

Versus: St Vincents       Venue: Pairc ui Mhurchu

Competition/League: Under 14 Division 1 Championship Final

Management Team: Pat Halpin, Gerry Hogarty, Daibhi dePaor, Fionan Moriarty, Paraic McDonald, Gerry McGrath

 

Match Result

Crokes 1 - 08 v St Vincents 1 - 07

 

Scorers;

Crokes: Seanie McGrath (0 – 05 (4 f)), Naomhan Reardon (1 – 00), Jamie O’Sullivan (0 – 02), Matthew Kinsella (0 – 01)

 

Match Report/ Match Highlights:

Under 14 Hurlers – Crokes scrape through to win Under 14 Championship

In front of a big crowd in Pairc ui Mhurchu, Ballyboden, the Crokes Under 14 hurlers dug deep and overcame a determined St Vincents side to add the Dublin Championship crown to their Dublin and All Ireland Feile titles.

A hard physical game, Crokes opened brightly and after 4 minutes Seanie calmly slotted over a free after Darren had been fouled out on the wing. However the lead only lasted one minute when Vincents equalised with a well-taken point from their fullforward. In the fourteenth minute Vincents took the lead when their centre back converted a long range free, however Crokes responded well and after some intense pressure Vincents conceded a free 30 metres out, which Seanie coolly pointed to equalise. Three minutes later Crokes grabbed back the lead when Matthew latched onto a pass from Mark and blasted the sliotar over the bar. Three minutes Seanie extended the lead when he popped over another point after Jamie had hit him with a great diagonal pass across the pitch. Jamie himself then got on the score sheet in the 24th minute, Murph slipped the ball to him out in the wing, Jamie controlled it, turned and belted it over the bar. Four minutes later, following a long clearance from Jack Doughan, Jamie again added to his tally when he hit another long point.

Crokes went into the break leading by four points, playing well and looking in control, although the lead should have been greater as a number of frees and chances were not converted.

Crokes started brightly in the second half and Seanie extended the lead when he converted another free after Darren was again fouled out on the wing. This however was to be the last Crokes score for 22 minutes. Vincents responded with a point straight from the pock out and this score seemed to wake up the Vincents team. They took control of their half back and mid field lines and proceeded to claw their way back into the game with points in the 11th, 15th, 16th minutes and then a great equalising point in the 18th minute. Then to the despair of the Crokes supporters, one minute later Vincents scored a goal. With 11 minutes left, there was plenty of time but Crokes were not playing well, they had three opportunities of points but instead went for goals, but the Vincents defence stood firm and rebuffed all that was thrown at them. Then Darren was again fouled and Seanie converted the resulting free, leaving two points between the sides. Crokes were piling on the pressure and in the 28th minute, there was a scramble in front of the Vincents goal and Naomhan pulled as the sliotar popped free and it deflected off a Vincents hurley into the roof of the net. Crokes were one point up. The referee managed to find six minutes of added time and during this period Vincents threw all they had at Crokes but the Croke’s backs gave nothing away and Vincents were given no time on the ball and under this pressure narrowly hit three wides. The final whistle sounded and Crokes were County Champions.

Although not the best performance this team has produced, Crokes showed great character and determination to snatch this hard earned victory. Seanie McGrath was presented with the Man of the Match award.

Kilmacud Crokes:

Barry Mulligan, Paul Collins, Jack Kelly, Jack Doughan, Killian Doherty, Bill O’Carroll, Alan Carr, Matthew Kinsella, Eddie O’Byrne, Darren McVeigh, Jamie O’Sullivan, Sean Murphy, Seanie McGrath, Naomhan Reardon, Mark O’Dwyer.

Subs: Eoin Dalton for Mark in 40th minute

All players available.

Go to Photos section for photographs of this match.

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