Week ending 14 Oct 2007
Three in a row for the Under 16A’s, impressive win for the Under 11’s, Under 12’s win league, a valiant county final display by the Under 16B’s and Seniors bow out – thus went the Kilmacud Crokes hurling week.
Under 16 A's County Champions!
At Parnell Park on Friday night 12th October the Under 16A’s took on Naomh Fionnbarra in the championship final at a floodlit Parnell Park. Minus a number of key players through injury this was always going to be a difficult assignment against tough opposition bent on reversing last year’s narrow Under 15 final result. Within minutes of the throw in Crokes injury predicament took a turn for the worse as centre back Matthew Kinsella was forced off.
The Cabra boys were first to score. Crokes equalised through a Sean McGrath free. It was then point for point until the seventeenth minute when good work by Naomhan O’Riordain, at the end of a long ball from Darren McVeigh, saw Dylan Mulligan find the net to put Crokes 1-3 to 0-4 ahead. The sides shared four points before a Finbarrs’ goal restored their lead in minute twenty four. That was the final score of the half.
Following the resumption the Kilmacud boys upped the ante. Sean McGrath levelled from a 45 metre free within three minutes. Again the sides exchanged points and, with forty nine minutes on the clock, came the crucial score. Naomhan O’Riordain’s doggedness won the sliothar. His pass found Sean McGrath who goaled from 20 metres to give Crokes a 2-8 to 1-9 lead. Four minutes later Mark O’Dwyer ran through to point. In the remaining seven minutes, while Crokes had a few chances to extend the lead, Finbars pressed desperately for the equaliser but their only reward came in the form of a fifty ninth minute point.
This was a very satisfying win giving the squad their third county championship in a row, to add to the All-Ireland Feile win of 2005. As the defeated Finbarrs captain graciously acknowledged, the team has set the standard for the age group and required to draw on all their attributes of team work and perseverance to prevail. Congratulations to all concerned, players, families and mentors. In particular we must acknowledge the role of manager Pat Halpin, who has been with the boys since they started hurling and has led them to such success. For report see elsewhere in the Latest News section
Under 16 B
On Saturday it was back across the river to Pairc Barrog where the under 16B’s faced Scoil Ui Chonaill in the D championship final. The standard of the contest belied the grade. At an early stage Crokes fell a goal behind and that was still the margin at half time, 1-3 to 0-3. From the restart the Kilmacud boys took the game to their opponents. Within three minutes a Keith Hogarty free reduced the margin by one. Seven minutes later a point from Karl Russell, after a good run, left the minimum between the sides. For the next sixteen minutes Crokes had the bulk of the play and several times seemed certain to score but just could not raise a flag
.
Then, against the run of play, a Scoil attack produced a goal. That was enough to steer them home even if the sides did exchange points to leave it 2-4 to 0-6 at the long whistle. On a day when the team effort was exemplary, among the Crokes star performers were Cathal Burke, captain Barry Callinan, Killian Casey, Shane Horan, Karl Russell, Fiachra Lynn and Oisin O’Gallchobhair. The performance of the team was a credit to their mentors led by two distinguished former hurlers, Gerry Hogarty and Jerry Cronin, to their families and to the club. In addition commiserations must go to scoring ace, Mark Lynskey, who had the misfortune to sustain an accidental injury the evening before and miss the final.
Team:
S Garvey, D Lalor, C Burke, D Reilly, B Callinan, K Casey, N Cronin, F Lynn (0-1), S Horan, O O’Gallchobhair, E Hyland, K Russell (0-2), B Halpin, K Hogarty (0-4), T Clarke. Subs: Brian English for N Cronin, Brian McHenry for E Hyland, E Hyland for B Halpin, Shane Harding, Joe Parson, Barry McNamara and Brian O’Farrell.
For photos of this game see HERE or on photo above.
Honours at the double for the Under 12's!
The under 12’s registered a weekend double. On Saturday they headed to Belfast at the invitation of O’Donovan Rossa. Victories over Na Magha, Slaughtneil and the home side saw them come away with the tournament laurels. Throughout the day the travelling panel of twenty one performed strikingly, especially when under pressure in the final game against O’Donovan Rossa. We extend our thanks to the hosting club and also to the mentors, parents and players who made the trips.
For some images from the Belfast trip click HERE
Under 12 League title secured!
On Sunday a 7-8 to 2-2 win over St Vincents in Deerpark guaranteed the league title and crowned a memorable year for an improving side.
For images of this game see HERE or on image above.
More Hurling Action!
Back in the Pale on Saturday the younger teams had an extensive hurling programme:
Under 8
Liffey Park Liffey Gaels V Kilmacud Crokes
Triple Teams-Cross City
Deerpark Kilmacud Crokes V Skerries Harps
Under 9
Double Team-South A
Tymon North Faughs V Kilmacud Crokes
Triple Teams-Cross City
Oatlands College Kilmacud Crokes V Cluain Tarbh
Under 10
TripleTeams-CrossCity
Thomastown Cuala V Kilmacud Crokes
Under 11
Single Team-South
Cherryfield Ballyboden St Endas V Kilmacud Crokes G.Bennet---Faughs
Double Team-South
Deerpark Kilmacud Crokes V Lucan Sarsfield N.Gallagher/D.Hayes—Naomh Olaf
Under 13s and Under 14s Action
The two under 13 teams played each other in the final round of Division 1 of the league in Deerpark with the B’s winning. This puts them joint top with St Judes while the A’s finished third. At the same time, the Under 14’s lost their league game with Castleknock in Porterstown.
Intermediates
Saturday evening had the intermediates playing Clanna Gael in the league at Silverpark. The teams were level 0-3 each after twenty minutes. A Clan flurry produced five unanswered points before the break. While Crokes tried hard after the interval, the Ringsend men had more firepower and emerged 1-16 to 0-6 victors.
Under 11 Tournament
On Sunday the hordes descended on Glenalbyn for our Under 11 tournament. With visitors from Monaleen (Limerick), Na Piarsaigh (Cork), Naomh Eanna (Wexford), Emeralds (Urlingford) and Faughs (Dublin) this was a major organisational undertaking pulled off with aplomb by Frances Herlihy and her colleagues. Some 170 boys took part and our thanks to all who helped cater for our guests – in many cases reciprocating for hospitality received by our teams on the road over the years.
The hurling was also of a very high standard in brilliant unseasonal weather. In the “B” competition, held in the Paddock, Crokes entered two teams in a tournament excellently stewarded by Brian O’Neill, Derek Hallom, Michael Culligan, Brian Smyth, Don O’Shea and others. Each team performed admirably with one of the teams unlucky to lose to eventual winners, Na Piarsaigh, in their final game.
The “A” tournament provided high drama. In their first game Crokes accounted for Naomh Eanna by 6-9 to 1-2, a scoreline that did not do justice to the performance of the Gorey team. Next up were Monaleen who dominated the first half and led 0-5 to 0-0 at the break. The Kilmacud boys came back at them in the second half but a late goal saw the Limerick team prevail. In the third group game Monaleen shaded it 1-3 to 1-2 over the Wexford boys.
In the other group Faughs accounted for Emeralds before going down to Na Piarsaigh, who also overcame the Kilkenny lads. This set the Cork team up for a semi final against the hosts. This proved a scintillating score for score game with Crokes coming out on top by two points. In the other semi final Monaleen defeated Faughs by a point.
The final, played before a large attendance, matched the occasion. The intensity and skill levels were of a high order. The pendulum swung one way and then the other. When the final whistle sounded it was the Kilmacud boys who triumphed on a 4-5 to 2-3 scoreline.
This was a most satisfactory day and a credit to all involved. The players, Mick Crowe and his management colleagues and all the volunteers are to be especially congratulated. This was another significant step forward for Kilmacud Crokes hurling and we look forward to many more days like it.
For more on the Under 11 Tournament click HERE or on the image below
Under 15
The only other game played on Sunday was an Under 15 Division 1 Top 4/Bottom 3 Round 3 league match away to Erin’s Isle. The Finglas team took the points with a 4-11 to 1-8 win. Against an inspired Erins Isle goalkeeper, the Crokes goal came from Thomas Clarke while Mark O’Dwyer provided the points.
Seniors
During the week it was disappointment for the Seniors. Having left themselves with a mountain to climb, following their loss the previous weekend to Cuala, on Wednesday night they fell just short in a must win championship encounter with Ballyboden in Parnell Park. A tentative first half performance had Crokes 1-7 to 0-4 in arrears at the break. After conceding two early points the Kilmacud men put in a much improved second half. With captain Fergal Armstrong to the fore, bit by bit, Crokes ate into the lead and came within three points. However, with Ballyboden on the back foot, they could not convert a number of goal chances into the green flag that could have provided the platform for a win. Matters were not helped by a late red card as Boden held on for a 1-13 to 0-12 win.
Team:
MacDara O’hOgain, Adrian Grogan, Declan Browne, Dave Mahoney, Kieran Murphy, Niall Murphy, Declan Browne, Daithi de Paor, Fergal Armstrong (0-4, f –2), Hugh Gannon, Brian Motherway (0-1), Aodhan de Paor (0-1), Donal McGovern, Ross O’Carroll (0-2), Paul Graham (0-2), James Burke (0-1). Subs: Niall Lillis for A Grogan (inj 31 minutes), Neil Casey ((0-1) for Hugh Gannon, 40 minutes) Alan Tiernan for Donal McGovern (58 minutes), Eoin Roche, Fergus Garvey, Damien Byrne, Tomas Donohue, Willie Ryan, Ray Mangan, Michael Dalton, Shea Gillen, Eoin de Paor, Andrew Hopkins, Cathal Brugha, Conor Clinton, Rob O’Loughlin, Barry O’Rorke, Rory O’Carroll and Kevin O’Loughlin
Disappointing as the result was for a team that had been well prepared since February it has been a year not without highlights. Chief among these were reaching the final of the AIB Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Hurling Sevens and a table topping league campaign with one regulation game left to play. How a group reacts to adversity tells the true tale. As they regroup for the remainder of 2007 and the 2008 season we thank all involved for their effort and remind them it is a long road with no turning.
Dublin Junior Colleges
Earlier on Wednesday the Dublin Junior Colleges team, with Crokes Darren McVeigh at centre back, progressed to the Leinster quarter final by beating St Marys of Enniscorthy, 5-15 to 1-9, in O'Toole Park. Banagher CS provide the opposition on Monday.
Minor Hurling Semi-Final
The minor A’s pursue the club’s third county title of the year when they face St Davids (a Craobh Chiaran/Parnells combination) in the championship semi final at Rathcoole on Sunday 21st October next at 11.00am. Please try to get out and support them. Children are especially welcome and encouraged.
Keep an eye on ww.kilmacudcrokes.com/hurling or www.hill16.ie for fixture details and always remember to confirm with relevant mentors
Friends of Dublin Hurling: Awards night
‘Friends of Dublin Hurling’ are hosting a ‘Celebrate Dublin Hurling’ night in the Red Cow Hotel on the night of November 2 (7.0).
RTÉ’s Des Cahill will host the event at which Wexford’s All-Ireland winning manager of 1996, Liam Griffin, will attend as the guest speaker.
Dublin hurling’s player of the year and young player of the year will be announced and there will also be an inductee to the Friends of Dublin Hurling Hall of Fame.
In addition, the evening will also feature the presentation of medals for the Dublin’s U21 Leinster winning side of 2007, the 2006 National League Division 2 winners and the victorious Walsh Cup team of 2003.
Tickets are priced at €50 and are available at Dublin clubs or from any member of the ‘Friends of Dublin Hurling’ committee. Contact: Michael O’Grady 087-2331983 or Humphrey Kelleher 086-2544328.
Nursery Hurling
Saturday nursery activity at 11.00am for children born 1999 or later continues in Glenalbyn. Contact Liam Coughlan 086-6063232 and lccoughlan@eircom.net Active parental input is essential for the success of the nursery. No hurling experience necessary