Junior E's Joint Top in Championship Group - One Game left

With three wins in the championship to date it was vital for the visitors to come away with a victory if they were to keep pace with table toppers Skerries. The almost perfect weather conditions made for a high quality encounter for the ten spectators present at St Catherines Park on Sunday 25th Julu 2010.

With thirty one scores and the lead changing on a number of occasions both sides served up a thriller which was not secured until the final minutes. Crokes opened the scoring with a brilliant point on the run from Liam Kennelly out on the right wing. Two pointed frees for the hosts were followed by a pointed free from Shane O’Keeffe to tie up the game again. Then four points on the trot for Crokes were cancelled by a minor and major for the home side who were now in control. Another goal and a point had Go Breagh totally on top. A brilliant point from Ciaran McGrath was followed by a defence splitting run by Fionan Motherway who finished to the net with great aplomb to level matters. With time running out to the short whistle Ciaran McGrath did just enough to register a score to give Crokes the minimum advantage at the break. HT Crokes 1-9 Go Breagh 2-5.

The half time team talk from Tom Bohan and Stephen Power left the Crokes lads in no doubt that they would be in for a battle right to the end, and if they were to prevent the home side adding to their two previous championship wins a greater effort would be required.

The second half started well for Crokes with Shane O’Keeffe again pointing two frees but the advantage was quickly cancelled with a home goal followed by a point to edge ahead. Again McGrath levelled only for the home side to again take the initiative with a goal and a point. A hard earned point by Barry Gavigan, a half time sub, followed by a rasper of a goal by Ciaran McGrath tied the game up for the last time as the younger fitter Crokes side finished out the game with four pointed frees by O’Keeffe and one from Gavigan.

The result sets up a winner take all final game in the group with Skerries in late August. This was a most entertaining encounter with both sides going all out for the win resulting in a cracking contest.

Best for Crokes were Pat Kennedy, Cian O’Brien, Shane O Keeffe, Fionan Motherway and Ciaran McGrath.