U13s in Kilkenny
Kilmacud Crokes U13’s travelled (from all corners – Dublin, Wexford, Killarney and Castletownbere) to Kilkenny on Saturday 8th August to take part in the Michael Lannigan Under 13 hurling tournament hosted by James Stephens GAA Club. The opening round games took place in St Kieran’s College and Kilmacud were joined in their pool group by Ballygunner (Waterford) and Clara (Kilkenny).
In the opening game against Ballygunner, Kilmacud Crokes were quick to find their scoring touch and having lead by 2-7 to 0-5 at half time, had to survive a Ballygunner rally in the second half. However in the end Kilmacud ran out comfortable winners 4-15 to 3-6.
In the 2nd game we took on Clara, a team that this Crokes team has struggled against in the past. However no such worries this time around. Again Crokes were quick to get into the pace of the game and ran into a comfortable lead by half time – 7 points to 2. In the second half Crokes continued to add to this lead and ran out winners on a score line of 2-13 to 1-3.
The other group comprised James Stephens, Rower Inistioge and Naas. As expected James Stephens topped this group with Rower Inistioge in second place.
Following a break for lunch, Crokes took on Rower Inistioge in the semi-final. Despite having led by 3-4 to 5 points at half-time Crokes had to survive a 2nd half fight back from Inistioge. With time running out Inistioge had reduced to deficit to 3 points. Crokes, however, rallied to score the insurance point with 30 seconds left on the clock.
The prize for winning the semi-final was a place in the tournament final against the host club James Stephens. The final was played in James Stephens’s ground. James Stephens were quick into their stride and notched up 3 points before Crokes opened their account with a goal. Following this score Crokes enjoyed their best spell of the game and were unlucky not to turn possession into more scores. A fortuitous goal just on the stroke of half-time ensured that James Stephens led 2-3 to 1-1 at half time. This game proved a bridge too far for this Crokes squad. The long day combined with the effects of playing with a panel of just 17 players and injuries to key players took its toll in the second half. While James Stephens ran out comfortable winners Kilmacud Crokes can be justifiably proud of the battling display they put up against one of the best teams in the country.
The Kilmacud Crokes panel on the day was;
Tadgh Murphy, Cian O’Connor, Tom Duke, Lorcan Tucker, Des Dagg, Sean Crowe, Peter Herlihy, Eamonn Allen, Michael Crowley, Eoin MacMahon, Stephen Barr, Ronan Kennedy, Shane Veale, Niall Sweeney, Alex Considine, Cillian Fleming and Adam Tuck. A special thanks to Alex, Cilian and Adam from the Under 12 squad for turning out and acquitting themselves so well in all 4 games.