Under 14s are County Champions!
County Champions
On Saturday 29th September 2007 the Kilmacud Crokes under 14 hurlers claimed the “A” County Championship after an incident packed encounter with Ballyboden St Endas at Finglas.
While Boden raised a white flag with their first attack, for the next fifteen minutes the Crokes boys set about them with gusto and panache. In the third minute, captain and man of the match, Justin Cassidy, levelled from a free. A minute later the alert Jamie Clinton found the net with a clever flick. Sixty seconds on Cassidy won a good ball, ran at the Boden defence and recorded his second minor. Two minutes after wing forward, Conor Devins, repeated the dose. In the eleventh minute Boden pulled one back from a free. Then a good run and score effort from the busy Fionnan Motherway was unlucky to produce a narrow wide before Cassidy restored the two goal margin from a 30 metre free in the fifteenth minute.
Now it was the turn of the Crokes defence to show its mettle. In the sixteenth minute a Boden pile driver, with goal written all over, was brilliantly turned out by the acrobatic Paddy Tighe. Boden pointed the resultant 65. Two minutes later Boden struck for a goal. Two missed Kilmacud frees followed. In the twenty third minute Kevin James McGowan sent over to extend the Crokes lead to three. Three minutes later Ballyboden got a point from a 60 metre free. When they added three points without reply before half time many felt the initiative had swung irreversibly to Boden.
Breathtaking as the first half was, the interval provided drama of a different kind. While Crokes stayed on the pitch, Ballyboden retired to the dressing room and stayed there for twenty minutes. The delay did not find favour with the attendance. The referee indicated he proposed awarding the game to Crokes. The Kilmacud officials made it clear winning a county championship other than on the field was not what they wanted.
When the ball was eventually thrown in Crokes started with renewed appetite and commitment. Within three minutes the excellent Alex Pilkington put over from 65 metres. A Boden free restored their lead. Immediately Pilkington and hard working centre forward, Andrew McEvoy, combined for the latter to point. Next Justin Cassidy sent a 25 metre between the uprights. After a Boden wide Kevin James McGowan was in for his second point in the forty third minute. Ballyboden attacked again but great defending by a heroic full back line of Conal O’Neill, Sean Boyd and Cian Delaney kept them out. In the forty sixth minute Kevin James McGowan put a goal between the sides, 1-11 to 1-8. Three minutes on Alex Pilkington, who was ably supported throughout at midfield by the hard working John Huban, again sent over from distance.
Boden now attacked in waves. The Crokes half backs, Emmet Doherty in the centre and the two Oisins, O’Carroll and O’Rorke, met and repelled all boarders. Boden did succeed in registering a point from a 30 metre free in the fifty third minute but that was their last score. In the fifty sixth minute Alex Pilkington set Justin Cassidy up for the insurance point, 1-13 to 1-9 but the closing stages were still nail biting. By now substitutes Barry O’Farrell, Niall Carr and Ross McGowan were making their presence felt and when the long whistle sounded a hard working Crokes bunch were county champions.
While victory was pleasing the whole hearted spirit of it was even more so. This is a team that has put in an enormous effort and made great progress over the year. To an impressive Feile campaign is now added the championship of a county that produced the national Feile winners, Castleknock. The fast, skilful and sporting nature of the final can only benefit both teams. The fact Boden overcame Castleknock on their way to the final shows there are several good teams at the age level in the county. It would be a major tragedy if the talk of abandoning a championship which clearly is to the major benefit of Dublin hurling proves well founded. Hopefully, in the cold light of day, wiser counsel will prevail.
For now from the Kilmacud Crokes point of view the moment is to be savoured. We extend many congratulations to all involved, the players, including the wider panel who gave just as much as those lucky enough to appear in the final, the parents, the families, the schools, the Hurling Committee which provided the resources, all the mentors from Nursery up who played a part in developing the panel, coach Niall Corcoran, and especially to the management team of Ciaran Hynes, Mick Hynes, Liam O’Carroll, Pat Fenlon and Aodhan de Paor. For four of these it was their second county title in a row following on from their under 16 success last year. As the championship year closes we also thank all the other clubs, within the county and without, with whom we have tussled in 2007. We look forward to renewing acquaintances in 2008.
Team: Paddy Tighe, Conal O’Neill, Sean Boyd, Cian Delaney, Oisin O’Carroll, Emmet Doherty, Oisin O’Rorke, John Huban, Alex Pilkington (0-2), Fionnan Motherway, Andrew McEvoy (0-1), Conor Devins (0-1), Justin Cassidy (capt.) (0-6, f – 3), Kevin James McGowan (0-3), Jamie Clinton (1-0). Subs: Barry O’Farrell for F Motherway, Niall Carr for J Huban (inj), Ross McGowan for C Devins, Keith Finn, Jack O’Brien, Caolan Murphy, Niall Hanley, Ciaran MacGabhann, Darragh Daly, Shane Moran, Neil Gorey and Matthew Geraghty
For images see HERE