Heartbreak for Crokes in Feile Final
Crokes progressed to the Dublin Division 1 Feile na nGael final for the second year in succession following a hectic day on Saturday 23rd May 2009. When it was all over two were left standing, Crokes and southside rivals Ballyboden St Endas. On a toss of a coin Crokes won home advantage and all roads led to Silverpark on a glorious Sunday morning 24th May 2009.
The home team dominated the early exchanges and led 0-5 to 0-0. The forwards were moving well and particularly threatening down the left wing through Dara O’Gallchobhair and Ciaran McIntyre. Slowly the tide turned and Boden dominated the remainder of the half, scoring a goal and a point in the nineteenth and twentieth minute to be level 0-5 to 1-2 at the break. In the first two minutes of the second half the sides exchanged white flags, 0-6 to 1-3. By the thirty eight minute it was 0-8 to 1-3. The visitors had it back to one a moment later. Eight more minutes were to pass without a score.
In this time Crokes had chances to extend the lead but failed to do so. Also worryingly, they were finding it difficult to cope with the strong Boden forward runners. Boden drew level and, as often happens in hurling, inability to press ahead came back to haunt the Crokes boys when Boden goaled in the thirty ninth minute. In the final act Crokes pressure won a 20 metre free. The strike was true but deflected over the bar and with it went victory by 2-5 to 0-9 to Ballyboden, who we wish well as
Dublin representatives in the national finals. Likewise we wish well Crokes Cian MacGabhann who has been selected as Dublin’s representative in the skills competition.
This was a high quality game and the Crokes lads have much to be proud of, not only for their efforts over the weekend but in their hurling careers to date. They have to be lauded for their application and commitment. One of the things that makes sport worthwhile is that one doesn’t win every game. There is always another day and with this team there is plenty to build on. The boys were a credit to their mentors, long serving hurling stalwarts
Tom McIntyre and Gearoid MacGabhann ably assisted by John Lonergan, Jim Kane, Seosamh O’Murchu, Mick Campion and Dave Spollen, and to their club. Well done and thanks to all connected with them.
Team: Eamonn Allen, Sean Bedford, Odhran O’Siochru, Gregory Buckley, Michael O’Dwyer, Donnchadha O’Murchu, Cian MacGabhann (0-1, 65), Edward Campion, Dara Mullin, David Kane, Mark O’Loughlin (0-6, f-5), Dara O’Gallchobhair, Ronan Horgan, Donal Keane, Ciaran McIntyre (0-1). Subs: Stephen Faughey for E Campion, Shane Veale (0-1) for R Horgan, R Horgan for
S Bedford, Edward Campion for C McIntyre, Sean Bedford for D O’Gallchobhair, Graham Healy-Hayes, Conor Hayes, Conor Egan, Karl Doyle, Kevin O’Flanagain, Sean Crowe and Mark McCallion.
Weather having forced the cancellation of the event the previous Saturday, the County Board decided to err on the side of caution and opted for a new qualifier location, the heavily sand based pitches at DCU Sports Complex. One of the immediate consequences was the standing down of many of the large Crokes support force expertly organised by Ronan Conway. A smaller detachment was still needed at the new venue and for duty at home on Sunday morning. They did the club proud and we are truly appreciative of their efforts.
In the opener on Saturday Crokes played their conquerors in the 2008 under 13 county final, near neighbours Cuala. The honour of notching the first score fell to captain Cian MacGabhann after two minutes. Next Ciaran McIntyre doubled the score on the turn. At the break Crokes led 0-4 to 0-2, thanks to two fine points from Dara Mullin. Crokes defence was holding firm with Graham Healy-Hayes, Donncha O’Murchu and Ronan Horgan in fine form and David Kane operating in the midfield area to good effect. Within five minutes of the second period (20 minutes a half) Cuala had equalised. A Ciaran McIntyre goal put Crokes clear. Stephen Faughey’s thirtieth minute point made it 1-5 to 0-4. Five minutes on, Cuala had it back to a goal. A late goal from a free by Mark O’Loughlin saw the game end 2-5 to 0-5 in the Kilmacud boys’ favour.
Team: Eamonn Allen, Michael O’Dwyer, Odhran O’Siochru, Gregory Buckley, Graham Healy-Hayes, Donnchadha O’Murchu, Ronan Horgan, Edward Campion, David Kane, Cian MacGabhann (0-1), Mark O’Loughlin (1-0, f), Dara O’Gallchobhair, Sean Bedford, Donal Keane, Ciaran McIntyre (1-1). Subs: Dara Mullin (0-2) for
S Bedford, Stephen Faughey (0-1) for E Campion, Kevin O’Flanagain for C McIntyre, Conor Hayes, Conor Egan, Karl Doyle, Kevin O’Flanagain, Sean Crowe and Mark McCallion.
Next up were Ballyboden. Two points up, the second a peach from Donal Keane, eleven minutes into the game and things were looking good. That was not to last and by the interval the Boden boys led 2-1 to 0-2. A minute into the second half it was 2-2 to 0-2. A saved penalty and a missed free did not augur well but the Stillorgan lads slowly clawed their way back and by the thirty second minute there was just a goal between the teams. Then goalkeeper Eamonn Allen was called upon to show his worth with a superb save. Kevin O’Flanagain (having switched from corner forward) and Gregory Buckley were operating as two very competent defenders. Crokes, with full back Odhran O’Siochru, making a telling impact having followed his man outfield, were dominant but the scores just would not come until the final minute when a Cian MacGabhann line ball was doubled to the net by Mark O’Loughlin to see the points shared, 1-5 to 2-2.
Team: Eamonn Allen, Michael O’Dwyer, Odhran O’Siochru, Gregory Buckley, Graham Healy-Hayes, Donnchadha O’Murchu, Ronan Horgan, Stephen Faughey, David Kane, Cian MacGabhann (0-1, f), Donal Keane (0-1), Dara O’Gallchobhair, Dara Mullin, Mark O’Loughlin (1-3, f -3), Kevin O’Flanagain. Subs: S Bedford for G Healy-Hayes, Ciaran McIntyre for S Faughey,
S Veale for D O’Gallchobhair, Conor Hayes, Conor Egan, Karl Doyle, Kevin O’Flanagain, Sean Crowe and Mark McCallion.
Na Fianna provided stiff opposition on the third game, after lunch. An eleventh minute Shane Veale point put Crokes 1-2 to 0-1 clear. At the interval it was 1-4 to 0-3. Four added points, including a long range effort from defender, Michael O’Dwyer, seemed to set Crokes fair for victory. Up front Conor Hayes was moving well. The Moibhi Road boys had other ideas, held Crokes scoreless for the remainder of the game and by the final whistle had the margin down to four points, 1-8 to 1-4. In that frenetic period Conor Egan did a lot of good work taking the battle to Na Fianna up front while Sean Crowe and Mark McCallion made their presence felt in defence.
Team: Eamonn Allen, Kevin O’Flanagain, Odhran O’Siochru, Gregory Buckley, Michael O’Dwyer (0-1), Donnchadha O’Murchu, Sean Bedford, Dara Mullin, Edward Campion (0-1), Stephen Faughey (0-1), Mark O’Loughlin (1-4, f-4), Ciaran McIntyre, Conor Hayes, Donal Keane, Shane Veale (0-1). Subs: Cian MacGabhann for D Mullin, Conor Egan for C Hayes, Sean Crowe for Michael O’Dwyer, Mark McCallion for Shane Veale, Shane Veale for
S Faughey, Karl Doyle for M O’Loughlin, Graham Healy-Hayes, Ronan Horgan, Dara O’Gallchobhair and David Kane
Results in other games meant the last game of the day against St Vincents was effectively a semi final. A first minute Edward Campion goal and a Mark O’Loughlin free put Crokes four points up. Vincents reduced the gap to two. An eighteenth minute Donal Keane goal put daylight between the sides with Sean Bedford’s point a minute later leaving it 2-3 to 0-2 at the short whistle. Eleven minutes of the second half passed before the first score, a Shane Veale point. In the remaining period Crokes, with Karl Doyle, now operating to good effect in the forwards, added 1-3 as the game finished 3-7 to 0-2.
Team:
Eamonn Allen, Michael O’Dwyer, Odhran O’Siochru, Gregory Buckley, Graham Healy-Hayes, Donnchadha O’Murchu, Cian MacGabhann, Edward Campion (1-0), David Kane, Dara O’Gallchobhair, Mark O’Loughlin (1-4, f-4), Dara Mullin (1-1), Ronan Horgan, Donal Keane, Shane Veale (0-1). Subs: Ciaran McIntyre for S Veale, Stephen Faughey for D O’Gallchobhair, Sean Bedford (0-1) for G Healy-Hayes, Shane Veale for S Faughey, Karl Doyle for C McIntyre, Conor Hayes for R Horgan, Mark McCallion for M O’Dwyer, Sean Crowe for G Buckley, Conor Egan for S Veale, Dara O’Gallchobhair for D Mullin and Kevin O’Flanagain.
To see images of all of Crokes’ Feile matches click 