Seniors Continue Good Run

The penchant for late comebacks continues.  Thanks to MacDara O’Hogain’s monster sixty second minute free Crokes claimed another two AHL1 points in Silverpark on Monday 14th June 2010.  At the break few would have thought it likely.

 

One third of the way through Crokes trailed 1-5 to 0-4.  The Stillorgan team then hit something of a purple patch recording 1-2 to the visitors’ solitary point and thus achieved parity.  The goal came following good work by Shea Gillen who created a chance that was sweetly finished by Donal McGovern.  As Chiarans put three balls over the bar in quick succession doubts about the Crokes recovery took root.  When a Chiarans free, just before the short whistle, hit the upright and the rebound found its way to the net the apprehension increased. 

 

On a nice bright evening the elements did not come into play.  Within three minutes of the restart Kevin O’Loughlin converted a free to make it a five point game, 2-9 to 1-7.  Six minutes later the Donnycarney team restored the half time gap.  Two more O’Loughlin points (from play and a placed ball) made it 2-10 to 1-9.  Chiarans tacked on another point.  Barry O’Rorke then set up Conor Clinton for the same.  Chiarans responded with a converted free.

 

At 2-12 to 1-10, and with ten minutes left, eking out a result would test Crokes mettle.  As seven scores followed the examination was met.  In the fifty second minute a long free was decoyed by Donal McGovern and Fergal Armstrong, putting his poacher’s instincts to good use, guided the ball home.  Now there was just two in it.  Chiarans attacked but could only cause the umpire to wave his hands.  McGovern registered an over to leave the minimum between the teams.  Chiarans responded in kind almost immediately.  The puck out ran on to Conor Clinton and he put over a beauty - 2-13 to 2-12.  Chiarans went back up the field and it was 2-14 to 2-12.  Crokes missed a long free and the northsiders pushed forward for another minor, 2-15 to 2-12. 

 

With little over two minutes left that seemed to be it but the Kilmacud team refused to throw in the towel.  Gillen won possession twenty five yards from goal.  His lob towards goal came to Kevin O’Loughlin, the net billowed and the teams were level.  Now that was surely that.  No.  The game continued for another minute or two.  With just over sixty one minutes on the clock Crokes were awarded a free fifty yards from their own goal, towards the right hand sideline.  As O’hOgain stepped out it seemed the most Crokes supporters could wish for was that he would hit it long and the game would finish with the sliothar in the Chiarans defensive area.  Hit it long he did.  The ball soared high and dropped just inside the square before resuming its elevated path and clearing the bar to steer Crokes home 3-13 to 2-15.  On a night when resolve was the byword O’hOgain, McGovern, Adrian Grogan at corner back and full back Fergus Garvey deserve special mention

 

Team:

MacD O’hOgain (0-1, f), S O’Rorke, F Garvey, A Grogan, R O’Loughlin, A Cleary, D Browne, C Clinton (0-2), B O’Rorke (0-2), E O’Byrne, S Gillen, J Burke (0-1), F Armstrong (1-0), D McGovern (1-1), K O’Loughlin (1-6, f-5).  Subs:  B Mulligan for D Browne (40 mins), D Canny for R O’Loughlin (48 mins)

 

 

 

For pictures see http://pix.ie/kchurling/album/379878