Under 14 Hurler's Secure League Title
Name of submitter: Pat Halpin Phone: 086 832 6377
Team Under 14 A
Date of Match: 20th November 2005 Home:
Versus: St Vincents Venue: Pairc ui Uinseann
Competition/League: Under 14 Division 1 League Playoff
Management Team: Pat Halpin, Gerry Hogarty, Daibhi De Paor, Fionan Moriarty.
Match Result
Kilmacud Crokes 3 - 10 v St Vincents 1 - 07
Scorers;
Crokes: Seanie McGrath (2 – 06), Naomhan Reardon (1 – 02), Jamie O’Sullivan (0 – 01), Sean Murphy (0 – 01)
Match Report/ Match Highlights:
Under 14 Hurlers – Secure League Title
The Under 14 hurlers produced an hour of pulsating hurling to beat St Vincents and secure the League title for the first time. Since Under 11, this St Vincents side have had a deserved stranglehold on the league title. At the end of this year’s league campaign, both sides finished level on points, a playoff was required to separate these two evenly matched sides. Crokes lost the toss and had to concede home advantage to St Vincents.
An early start on a bright frosty morning, there were fears regarding the condition of the pitch, but the pitch was in great condition, ideal for hurling. Vincents started brightly and open the scoring with a point after one minute. This seemed to jolt the Crokes lads into action and Jamie quickly levelled things two minutes later with a well taken long range point. Four minutes later Naomhan picked up the sliotar just inside the 21 yard line, turned and buried it into the back of the net. Two minutes later Naomhan was again on the ball, but this time he was content to pop it over the bar. Although Crokes were on top in midfield, the Vincents backs were making it difficult for our forwards. Seanie added two more points from frees, straight over the black spot, before Vincents got their second score of the match in the twenty fifth minute. Crokes, however hit back with another Naomhan point and a well worked point from Seanie McGrath following a great cross filed pass from Jamie. Seanie added to his tally in the twenty ninth minute with another converted free. Crokes looked to be well on top, but Vincents were not lying down and with thirty two minutes gone on the clock, won a free on the twenty one yard line, they went for goal and despite Barry’s best efforts, the sliotar deflected off his hurl and into the back of the net. The sides went into half time, Crokes ahead, with the scoreboard reading 1 – 07 to 1 – 02.
Despite playing very well, Crokes were not converting all their possession into scores and the lads were warned to remember how Vincents had come back in the second half of the Championship final.
Sure enough, Vincents again started brightly and got the first point after two minutes of the re-start. Three minutes later Seanie converted another free. Six minutes later Vincents added another point, only for Sean Murphy to get his opening point in the game for Crokes, one minute later. Again, Crokes seemed to well in control, but were finding it difficult to get the better of the Vincents backs. The telling moment in the game came in the eighteenth minute of the second half. Vincents won a free on the twenty one yard line, which was moved to straight in front of the posts due to indiscipline by the Crokes backs. Vincents again went for goal, however Barry saved it and it was cleared up to Seanie McGrath who had been switched to the other corned, Seanie rounded his man and buried the ball into the back of the net. A minute later, Seanie again had the ball, he again rounded his man and the ball was in the back of the net. Seanie added to his tally four minutes later with another converted free. Crokes were well on top now and with the game seemly won. However Vincents did not give up and continued to look for the win. Barry, in goals, pulled off a marvellous save and the backs limited Vincents to a further three points. The final whistle sounded and Crokes ran out winners with a 3 – 10 to 1 – 07 scoreline.
It has been a long season for the lads and it was great to add the league title to the Dublin Championship, Dublin Feile and All Ireland Feile titles. A great year for the lads, the whole panel are a credit to themselves and to the club. While it will be very difficult to emulate this season, I’m sure that they will all be back next year to give it a good go. The management would like to thank all the parents and friends for all their commitment and support during the year and special thanks to the players for their effort and commitment.
Kilmacud Crokes:
Barry Mulligan, Peter McCague, Jack Kelly, Jack Doughan, Paul Collins, Bill O’Carroll, Alan Carr, Eddie O’Byrne, Matthew Kinsella, Killian Doherty, Jamie O’Sullivan, Sean Murphy, Sean McGrath, Naomhan Reardon, Eoin Dalton.
Subs: Johnny Brew for Eoin, Philip Denieffe for Paul.
Players unavailable: - Mark O’Dwyer (injured), Darren McVeigh (injured), Hugh Byrne (injured) & Cian O’Brien