Disappointment for Intermediates & Dubs
Heartbreak for Crokes Intermediates and Dublin senior hurlers pipped at the death! Such are the slings and arrows of the hurling life.
Intermediates Semi final v Ballyboden St Endas
On Sunday evening, 10th June 2007, the Crokes intermediates had to give way to a powerful Ballyboden St Endas side in a highly entertaining championship semi final at O’Toole Park. Richie Power opened the Crokes account with a pointed 65 in the first minute. Boden then dominated the scoring stakes with three points, a goal, from long range, and another point over the next eleven minutes. Damien McSweeney steadied the Crokes ship with a delightful over the shoulder point. Two Power points from frees, a well taken Willie Ryan point from a quickly taken Eoin de Paor free and another converted free from Power had the minimum between the teams by minute seventeen. Boden tacked on two points before Power recorded another placed ball over. Next came a Boden point and then another goal, followed shortly after by a point. From the puck out Michael Dalton collected and put over. With two minutes left in the half Boden registered a minor that was cancelled out by Adrian Crean’s good score on the turn to leave Crokes trailing by six points at the interval.
A Ballyboden point opened the second half scoring before an excellent score following a great run by the busy Neil Casey brought the margin back to six points. Two Power frees reduced the gap to four. Boden replied with three points. Crokes hit back with white flags from an Eoin de Paor ninety metre free, a long Willie Ryan point and a Power pointed thirty five metre free in the fifty fifth minute. At this stage Crokes were on top in all sections of the field and were putting the Boden goal under enormous pressure. Try as they did the Stillorgan team could not get the goal that might have changed the game. Several attempts were saved, smothered or just went the wrong side of the post. One effort in particular from Power, which hit the heel of a beaten Ballyboden goalkeeper, probably signalled it wasn’t going to be Crokes night. While Boden added three late points for a final score of 2-16 to 0-15 this was a performance for the Crokes men to be proud of in a tough hard fought high quality game. Crokes stars included Niall Lillis, Ray Mangan, de Paor, Ryan, Hugh O’Connor, Casey and Power.
And so the championship run came to an end at the penultimate hurdle for the second year in succession. Disappointing as it is the Croke squad can be proud of their efforts on the night and it is unlikely their conquerors, to whom we wish the best, will meet a stiffer test. Many thanks to all who contributed to the intermediate championship effort this year, especially to the players and their families. Particular thanks must also go to the management team, Brian O’Neill, Seamus Kennedy and Emmet Maloney, for answering the call so diligently and so well at late short notice. Beidh lá eile!
Team:
D Howley (capt.), A Hopkins, T Donoghue, N Lillis, R Mangan, E de Paor (0-1, f), W Ryan (0-2), D McSweeney (0-1), H O’Connor, N Casey (0-1), D Burke, M Dalton (0-1), R Power (0-8, all frees save 0-1 from 65), A Crean (0-1), D Baker. Subs: D Canny for T Donohue, F Mangan for D Baker, J R Hunt for M Dalton, E O’Keeffe, F Monnelly, D Holahan, C Howley and A Byrne. Injured: R Walsh and E Murphy
For images of some of the Intermediates' earlier championship matches, click HERE
Dubs (with Ross O’Carroll) edged out by Wexford
On Saturday evening the Dublin senior hurlers were just edged out by an injury time free against Wexford in the Leinster Championship semi final played at Nowlan Park. For report click HERE . Commiserations to all concerned. Our special congratulations go to Crokes Ross O’Carroll, his parents Phil and Liam, and his trio of hurling brothers. Ross notched an impressive 1-01 in his senior intercounty competitive debut. A few short years ago Ross started to hone his skills with the club and his elevation is particularly gratifying to the mentors through whose hands he has passed. We have no doubt it will not be long before Ross, and hopefully other Crokes young players, add to the medal haul he already has which includes Leinster minor and All-Ireland Colleges honours.
Crokes win Senior Challenge v Fenians
Earlier on Saturday the seniors bussed to Johnstown, Co Kilkenny for a challenge against the local Fenians. A goal direct from a 65 by Fergal Armstrong in the first minute gave the visitors a tonic start. Three scores from Fenians had the sides level within three minutes. A point from a free by Armstrong and another from James Burke following a good catch by Hugh Gannon put Crokes two up by the eight minute. The home team pulled one back before Armstrong again penalised an infringement and Neil Casey sent over in the fourteenth minute. Fenians replied with a single before a succession of Crokes wides. In the twentieth minute Eoin Roche got on the score sheet with a point. Three points for Fenians to two for Crokes (Roche and Brian Motherway) took us to half time (1-7 to 0-8).
Fenians raised a white flag within two minutes of the resumption. Two later Armstrong again sent over a free. Johnstown replied with two points before hard work by Eoin Roche found Neil Casey whose pass Paul Graham expertly sent to the net. A Fenians pointed 65 was answered in kind by Graham from a free. In the forty fifth minute Fenians converted another free. Hugh Gannon then got a good point. Armstrong troubled the point umpire from placed balls in the fifty first and fifty third minutes, the latter effort from 90 metres. The Fenians struck back for two points of their own. These were cancelled out by efforts from Niall Murphy, now operating in the half forward line, and Graham before the homesters had the final say with a long range pointed free in the last minute to leave it 2-15 to 0-16 to Crokes. Stars on the day included MacDara O’hOgain, Declan Browne, Ray Mangan, Hugh Gannon, Fergal Armstrong, Brian Motherway and Paul Graham. With a victory after a lively game the Crokes contingent departed in good form to see Dublin take on Wexford.
Team:
MacDara O’hOgain, Adrian Grogan, Declan Browne, Niall Lillis, Niall Murphy (0-1), Daithi de Paor, Ray Mangan, Fergal Armstrong (1-6 al frees), Hugh Gannon (0-2), Neil Casey (0-1), Fergus Garvey, Brian Motherway (0-1), Eoin Roche (0-2), James Burke (0-1), Paul Graham (1-1, f 0-1). Subs: Eoin de Paor for D Browne (inj), D Browne for D de Paor (inj), Michael Dalton for Fergus Garvey (inj), Andrew Hopkins for M Dalton, Tomas Donohue for James Burke, Damien Byrne for Eoin Roche Fergus Monnelly for Ray Mangan, Cathal Brugha for Niall Lillis
Under 12’s
Tuesday saw two under 12 teams in Cup semi-final action. The A squad travelled to play Cuala and lost by two points amid controversy over whether a Crokes shot had crossed the line for a goal. For report click HERE . The B team had an even tighter encounter against Scoil Ui Chonnaill in Clontarf. The sides were level 2-3 (for Crokes) to 3-0 after regulation time and extra time failed to separate them (3-3 to 4-0). On a night when Crokes had many stars particularly noteworthy performances were given by Eamonn Allen in goals, Ciaran McIntyre, Adam Spollen (with two goals), Cathal Keane-Breslin and Bejan Melrose.
Under 13’s
The same evening both under 13 Division 1 squads recorded league victories over Na Fianna (5-12 to 2-13) and Whitehall Colmcilles (3-7 to 2-8).
In Albert College Crokes took on a physically strong Na Fianna side. Despite playing up the hill in the first half the visitors always had too much in hand and notched a very creditable 5-12 to the home teams 2-13. Star performances were turned in by Daibhid Corish, Conor J O’Dwyer, Thomas Campion, Matthew McNicholas, Eoin Ryall and Brian Moriarty.
Squad:
Barry Horan, Conor J O’Dwyer, Daibhid Corish Mark Collins, JJ Murray, James Murphy, Thomas Campion, Ross McGowan, Robert Murphy, Neil Gorey, Cian Gormley, Matthew McNicholas, Eoin Ryall, Liam Higgins, Caolan Conway, Brian Moriarty and Conor O’Byrne.
The game against Whitehall Colmcilles was played at Ellenfield. Crokes led 1-6 to 0-5 at half time. At one stage in the second half the lead was stretched to eight but to their credit the Whitehall boys fought back and it took some heroic defending to emerge with the points. Best for Crokes were Michael Herlihy, Stephen Doyle, Oisin O’Rorke, Conor O’Dwyer, Tomas Barry and Ruairi Geraghty.
Squad:
Michael Herlihy, Stephen Doyle, Conor Sweeny, Andrew Colclough, Philip O’Shea, Oisin O’Rorke, Louis O’Sullivan, Conor Devins, Conor O’Dwyer, Tomas Barry, Matthew Geraghty, Luke Hyland, Eoghan O’Doherty, Cormac Spain, Shane Whelan and Ruairi Geraghty
On Sunday morning the under 13’s travelled to play Dicksboro in a challenge on the outskirts of Kilkenny city and came away with a 4-9 to 2-5 victory. To the fore for Crokes were Daibhid Corish (in defence and attack), Mark Collins, Louis O’Sullivan, Conor Devins, Matthew McNicholas, Eoin Ryall, Hugh Gowing and Barry Horan.
Squad:
Michael Herlihy, Daibhid Corish (2-2), Conor Sweeny, Mark Collins, Thomas Campion, Caolan Conway (0-1), Louis O’Sullivan, Conor Devins (0-1), Conor O’Dwyer, Conor O’Byrne, Matthew Geraghty, Matthew McNicholas (0-1), Eoin Ryall (0-1), Neil Gorey (0-2), Barry Horan (2-1), Hugh Gowing and Michael O’Dwyer.
Hurling Arena
Progress continues apace on our new Hurling Arena in Glenalbyn click HERE . When complete this €500,000 project will be a huge addition to hurling in the club.
Hurling Nursery
Saturdays see the continuation of outdoor nursery activity at Glenalbyn. This continues every Saturday at 10.00 am for children born 1999 or later. Contact Liam Coughlan 086-6063232 and lccoughlan@eircom.net. Active parental input is essential for the success of the nursery. No hurling experience necessary!