U14B Feile Weekend Report - A Wonderful Weekend for the U14's

 2010 Feile Na nGael U14B pipped at the final hurdle in Parnell Park

This was a wonderful weekend (May 15th & 16th) for underage hurling in the club with the U14A’s beating Na Fianna to win the Dublin title and the B’s going down at the final hurdle to Oliver Plunketts. Kilmacud Crokes was privileged to host Division 4 of the Feile Na nGael in Silverpark on Sat 15th Sep 2010. Thanks to Tom McIntyre, all the U15 parents and other club members who ran the day superbly. The home side were paired with Erin’s Isle, Raheny & St. Peregrines and were straight into the fray at 10:45 on Silverpark against Erin’s Isle, who had pipped us by 3 points in our recent league game in Finglas. The games were 20mins per half with 5mins half time break.

Kilmacud Crokes 6-9, Erin’s isle 3-1: This was a game the team had being looking forward to since the draw was made and a game that we all felt would define our weekend. The team was well tuned and set a marker from the off with a strong start (something we had not always done this season) with Paul Comerford scoring an early goal  - a portent of what he was to deliver on the day. A point from Niall Sweeney and further goals from Adam Tuck & Feargal Whitley along with 3 more Paul Comeford points ensured Crokes notched up a respectable 3-4 in the 1st half. However the concession of 3 scores – all goals (a couple on the soft side) meant a HT score of Crokes 3-4, Erins Ise 3-0 and the game was by no means over.

Following the HT break, where the need to shut up shop at the back and drive on per the 1st half was highlighted, the home side added a further 3-5 in the 2nd half, to a solitary point from the visitors, ensuring an emphatic win on a scoreline of 6-9 to 3-1. This despite the loss of a player midway through the half for a straight red as a result of a shemozzle.  This was a real team performace and a culmination of all the work put in by the boys over the past number of months. The full back line of Ruairi Geraghty, Matt Redmond & Shane Vallom shut up shop with a commanding 2nd half showing. Powerful displays from midfielders Syed Risvi, Richard Couse and centre-back Andrew McGowan exemplified the team attitude. Hubert Barry, Colin Smyth, Kevin Culligan & Andrew Aherne contributed seamlessly from the bench. Scorers: Paul Comerford (4-6), Adam Tuck (1-1), Feargal Whitley (1-0), Niall Sweeney (2-0);

Kilmacud Crokes 6-5, Peregrines 3-1: Next up at 11:45 were Peregrines and the management rang the changes with Feile debuts for Andrew Liffey, John Egan, Cian Montague, Ross Finnegan & Daniel Bohan. This was a keenly contested game in the 1st half with Crokes running out winners on a score of 6-5 to 3-1. Stephen Barr got on the score sheet with a long range goal. Peregrines fought bravely but Crokes proved too strong in the end. Scorers: Paul Comerford (2-2), Feargal Whitley (2-0), Stephen Barr (1-0), Andrew Liffey (1-0), Richard Couse (0-1), Hubert Barry (0-1), Adam Tuck (0-1);

Kilmacud Crokes 6-9, Raheny 3-2: The final group game paired the home side with Raheny and this was the Adam Tuck show including doubling on a long ball  to deliver a goal of phenomenal skill. Stephen O’Hurley, Andrew Porter & Cian Fahy were to the fore in ensuring Crokes finished top of the group thus securing a home semi-final that afternoon with our old friends Boden. Erin’s Isle fought back from their 1st game defeat to win two on the trot and reach the other semi-final v Oliver Plunketts. Scorers: Paul Comerford (2-3), Adam Tuck (2-3), Feargal Whitley (2-1), Richard Couse (1-0), Niall Sweeney (0-2).

Semi-Final: Kilmacud Crokes 2-10, BallyBoden 1-4: Legs were tiring but with Boden in opposition and a Sunday afternoon date in Parnell Park up for grabs motivation came easy. The semi-final was held on SilverPark 1 in ideal hurling conditions and it was very pleasing to see a fine home crowd showing up to cheer on the boys with Boden as always bringing good support. Paul Comerford once more led the way on the scoring front and Cillian Fleming was rock solid in the goal  but as in the Erin’s Isle game this was a real team performance. Crokes led at the break on a score of 1-4 to 0-2; A few words of wisdom from club coach and Dublin inter county player Niall Corcoran were just the half-time tonic to ensure the boys remained focused and pushed home their advantage in the 2nd half. Boden scored an excellent goal with a 1st time one handed pull on the air on a cross ball from a young forward to keep things interesting early in the 2nd half but there was no stopping the boys from very deservedly reaching the final on a score of KC 2-10, Boden 1-4; Scorers: Paul Comerford (1-3), Niall Sweeney (1-1), Adam Tuck (0-2), Feargal Whitley (0-2), Cian Fahy (0-1), Richard Couse (0-1);

Oliver Plunketts 3-4, Kilmacud Crokes 0-7: The final v Oliver Plunketts was held in Parnell Park at high noon. Crokes met in the club and stopped off in Fairview Park to warm up. The final was very keenly contested and Crokes played with the wind in the 1st half to lead at the break by 0-3 to 0-1. However tellingly, despite some good possession, we could not rack up the goals in that 1st half that had been our forte over the weekend. Two goals in quick succession from Plunketts about 1/3rd of the way through the 2nd half proved pivotal and though Crokes fought to the end Plunkets deservedly won on the day. Matt Redmond, Niall Sweeney & Richard Couse were defiant to the end. Plunketts won 3-4 to Crokes 0-7 proving the old adage “goals win games”; The boys were naturally very disappointed, having won 9 out of the 10 halves they played that weekend, as they climbed the steps of Parnell to collect their runners-up medals. Scorers: Paul Comerford (0-3), Niall Sweeney (0-2), Feargal Whitley (0-2);

FEILE PANEL: Cillian Fleming, Ruairi Geraghty, Matt Redmond, Shane Vallom, Stephen O’Hurley, Andrew McGowan, Cian Montague, Andrew Porter, Andrew Liffey, Richard Couse, Daniel Bohan, Syed Rizvi, Stephen Barr, Niall Sweeney, Cian Fahy, Adam Tuck, Colin Smyth, Paul Comerford, Kevin Culligan, John Egan, Hubert Barry, Ross Finnegan, Andrew Aherne. Feargal Whitley; Mentors: Brian Geraghty, Cillian Doherty, Naomhan O’Reardon & Mick Culligan;

CLUB Reception: Following the wonderful performance by the A’s in annexing the Dublin Feile from red hot favourites Na Fianna both U14A & B panels were feted with a reception in the club where they were welcomed upstairs to rapturous applause. Hurling Chairman Tom Barry was master of ceremonies and highlighted what a special day it was for Juvenile hurling in the club and complemented all involved. Pat Fenlon club chairman did likewise and wished the A’s every success in the All Ireland Feile in Clare in June. Mick Crowe & Mick Culligan on behalf of both teams thanked all mentors, parents and in particular the players for representing the club with pride and distinction. A weekend to remember – food for the soul!