Under 16 Hurlers – Follow up the good league start against Boden with an emphatic win over Plunketts

On a beautiful sunny afternoon Crokes traveled over to the Navan Road to face St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruagh. A little tight for numbers due to the Easter holidays, Crokes still were able to field a strong opening fifteen.

Playing with the breeze, within 15 seconds of the throw in, Crokes made their intent known as Naomhan opened the scoring with a well taken goal. The rest of the half was dominated by Naomhan and Seanie McGrath. Naomhan scored another three goals, while Seanie punished some indiscipline by the Plunketts side by converting seven frees and adding a goal and a point from play. Eoin with a point and Darren with a goal straight from a 65 were the only two to interrupt the Naomhan and Seanie scoring spree. It took Plunketts twenty minutes before they registered their first and only score of the half, a point from a converted free. At half time, Crokes lead by six goals and nine points to one point.

It was a good strong opening half performance against some rather robust play from the opposition. A number of chances were squandered and the Crokes lads were warned to maintain their discipline and concentrate on their game otherwise the game could turn very quickly.

The second half, were not as prolific on the scoring front and only added four goals and one point to the half time tally. Johnny Brew opening half’s scoring with a well taken goal four minutes into the half and added another goal three minutes later. These two scores killed off the game and the next 20 minutes was dominated by both sets of backs. Plunketts then added three great points in a two minute spell, before Barry Mulligan, who had been moved up to the forwards scored a goal and a point in a sixty second spell. With three minutes on the clock, Sean Murphy finished off the Crokes tally with a goal. When the final whistle sounded, Crokes were in a comfortable 10 goals and 10 point to 4 point lead.

Overall it was a good performance with the backs playing well, in particular Alan Carr, Jack Doughan and Paul Collins and Crokes dominating most positions on the pitch. Jack Kelly made a welcome comeback after hios rugby escapades and did well. Crokes will face more sterner challenges in the league, the next match being against St David’s, a team who are doing very well at the moment and have already comfortably beat Erin’s Isle, who finished in third position in the league last year.

Kilmacud Crokes:
Barry Mulligan, Cian O’Brien, Paul Collins, Jack Doughan, Louis Whelan, Bill O’Carroll, Alan Carr, Eddie O’Byrne, Killian Doherty, Eoin Dalton, Sean Murphy, Darren McVeigh, Johnny Brew, Naomhan O’Reardon, Seanie McGrath.

Subs: Jack Kelly.