Report for Week Ended 24th June 2007
If the preceding week’s weather could be described as unseasonal, Tuesday night’s Senior Hurling League game against Lucan Sarsfields at Silverpark took place in a monsoon. Despite having the majority of the play Crokes shipped a late first half goal and went in 0-4 to 1-3 in arrears. The second half saw the home team again have more of the play but it took a long time to shake off the Lucan challenge before the league points were secured with a 1-10 to 1-6 victory
Team: MacDara O’hOgain, Adrian Grogan, Kieran Murphy, Ray Mangan, Niall Murphy, Declan Browne, Daibhi de Paor, Hugh Gannon, Fergal Armstrong, Neil Casey, James Burke, Brian Motherway, Eoin Roche, Paul Graham, Donal McGovern. Subs: Alan Tiernan for Neil Casey, Paul Broderick for Donal McGovern, Niall Lillis, Damien Byrne, Tomas Donohue, Willie Ryan
Contemporaneous with the senior game the intermediates played Clanna Gael away in An Corn Ceitinn and ended up on the wrong side of a 1-9 to 2-3 scoreline.
On Saturday the seniors travelled to Pairc Ui Mhurchu to play Ballyboden in the league. Yet again the conditions were wet. Some of the gloss was taken off a good first half when Boden grabbed a late goal to leave it 1-8 to 1-5 in favour of Crokes at half time. The Kilmacud team had the better of the second half only to see the homesters level with goal on the stroke of full time. However injury time points from Paul Graham (a beautiful forty five metre sideline cut) and a free from Fergal Armstrong sealed the game for Crokes, 1-16 to 2-11. Stars on the evening included Graham, who’s other six points came from play, Brian Motherway, Hugh Gannon, Ray Mangan and Declan Browne.
Team: MacDara O’hOgain, Adrian Grogan, Kieran Murphy, Ray Mangan, Niall Lillis, Declan Browne, Daibhi de Paor, Hugh Gannon, Fergal Armstrong (0- 5, f-4), James Burke, Fergus Garvey (1-0), Brian Motherway (0-1), Donal McGovern (0-2), Paul Graham (0-7), Eoin Roche. Subs: Michael Dalton (0-1) for Eoin Roche, Damien Byrne for Ray Mangan (blood sub), Willie Ryan and Andrew Hopkins
Dublin U21’s and Minors beat Wexford
On Wednesday Ross O’Carroll scored two points in Dublin’s nail biting 3-12 to 2-14 Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship semi-final win over Wexford at Parnell Park. For report see HERE The final against Offaly is scheduled for the same venue on Wednesday 18th July 2007.
Saturday saw his brother, Rory, have a great game for Dublin in their 1-13 to 0-6 Leinster Minor Hurling Championship semi-final win over Wexford in Carlow. Rory was ably assisted by clubmates Barry O’Rorke, the team captain, Kevin O’Loughlin who made a late appearance and Rob O’Loughlin, also on the panel. For report see HERE The final against Kilkenny takes place in Crokes Park on Sunday 1st July next at 12.30pm.
Junior B’s
Earlier in the week, Wednesday pitted the Junior B’s against Kevins at Dolphin Park in the Doyle Cup. An exciting game saw Crokes just edged, 4-7 to 4-6, with Aidan Byrne, Bryan O’Shaughnessy, Stephen Russell and Ciaran McGrath in the vanguard.
Sunday had the Junior B’s in championship action against Cuala’s very strong second string at Silverpark. Playing some of their best hurling for a while, the team was a little unlucky to go down 3-12 to 2-10. Crokes were always right in the game. Even after the concession of goal from sideline they brought it back to two points but the Dalkey side finished stronger. In a defence that played exceptionally stellar performances were given by Paul Ryan, Niall Hall, Pat Kennedy and Aidan Byrne.
Team: Colm Maher, Paul Ryan, Mark Regan, Niall Hall, Pat Kennedy, Bryan O’Shaughnessy, Aidan Byrne, Billy Condon, Steven Lambe, Stephen Russell, Joe Walsh, John Scanlon, Muiris Loughnane, Gavin Hyland, Ciaran McGrath. Subs: Colm Duggan for Hyland, David Stafford for McGrath and David Staunton for Lambe (inj).
Junior 5’s
On Thursday the Junior 5’s kept themselves in the championship hunt with a very good 3-16 to 3-7 win over Raheny in St Anne’s Park. Prominent for Crokes were goalkeeper Nick Canny, Tom McIntyre, scorer-in-chief Ian O’Keeffe, Barry Gavigan and Fred Meyer.
Under 14’s
The same evening in Silverpark, with Emmet Doherty, Ken Kelly, Keith Finn, Niall Carr and Oisin O’Caroll prominent, the under 14’s recorded a 2-6 to 1-4 league win over Na Fianna. While all this was going on Barry Horan represented Dublin in the Leinster Under 14 Poc Fada competition at the Curragh. Coming in with a very creditable 34 pucks, Barry was only three behind the winner from Meath
Under 15’s
On Saturday the under 15’s travelled to Crannford in Co. Wexford for a practice game against the local under 16 side. Against physically strong opposition the first half was quite competitive first half. The second was less so with Crokes winning 7-10 to 1-6.
Scorers: Mark O’Dwyer 3-3, Jude Swenney 2-0, Kevin Murphy 1-1, Ciaran Sheehy 1-1, Darren Lalor 0-3 and Dylan Mulligan 0-2.
Under 10's
The same day the under 10’s took part in the prestigious Naas Tournament where they played Gorey and Na Piarsaigh (Cork), losing by a point and two goals to the Cup finalists and Shield winners respectively.
Under 13’s
The under 13’s went further afield to Cork to play Mallow in a challenge. They then overnighted in Midleton and took part in the Na Piarsaigh Tournament on Sunday. First up were Ballyea of Clare with five of their Clare Feile winning side. At half time it looked like Crokes had the game in the bag with a 4-2 to 1-2 lead. The second half was a different story with the Clare team launching several attacks up the centre and at full time the gap was down to the minimum 4-7 to 4-6. After lunch provided by our very hospitable hosts next up was Na Piarsaigh who had beaten Midleton 7-8 to m0-3 in the other semi-final. The concession of four first half goals rendered the second half task extremely difficult. To the credit the Crokes youngsters bounced back and gave as good as they got but the interval deficit was too much to retrieve. Overall the trip was very worthwhile and if the lessons learned in terms of the imperative to contest every ball are taken to heart this team has a bright future.
Squad: Cian MacGabhann, David Corish, Conor O’Dwyer, Mark Collins, James Murphy, Oisin O’Rorke, Conor J O’Dwyer, Conor Devins, Robert Murphy, Hugh Gowing, Matthew Geraghty, Matthew McNicholas, Conor O’Byrne, Neil Gorey, Caolan Conway, Liam Higgins, Tomas Barry, Cian Gormley, Michael Herlihy, Thomas Campion and Michael O’Dwyer. Non-playing member of party due to injury Kevin James McGowan.
Scorers:
-v- Ballyea: C Conway (3-1), Neil Gorey (1-4, f-3), Conor O’Byrne (0-1) and Matthew McNicholas (0-1)
-v- Na Piarsaigh Matthew McNicholas (1-0), Conor Devins (0-1) and Neil Gorey (0-1, free)
Next week’s action!
Next Saturday sees Dublin play Cork in Parnell Park ion the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Qualifier series. That morning Crokes will play Newtownshandrum in a challenge at Silverpark with an 11.30 throw in.
Hurling Arena
Progress continues apace on our new Hurling Arena in Glenalbyn. See 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!