Junior E's Head Group

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The Junior E’s kept up their strong championship campaign with a hard fought victory over Castleknock in the final group game before the knock out stages on Tuesday evening 19th July 2011 in Silverpark.

 

Crokes won the game 2–16 to 1-16 after coming from 4 points down half way through the second half to finish the stronger with an excellent goal from full forward Neale Martin to steal victory with only minutes remaining on the clock. With record numbers turning up on the day, team selection was tough. Crokes fielded a strong line up and were expecting a tough game after losing at home to Castleknock a few weeks ago in the league fixture. Castleknock lived up to that expectation although the game was not helped by some interesting refereeing decisions that ensured a constant stream of frees throughout the game.

 

Crokes went into half time down by 2 points with a score of 1–8 to 10 points. The second half kicked into gear quickly when Crokes netted with Neale Martin’s first goal of the game. This was further added to by some great play from centre forward James Byrne and free taker Shane O’Keeffe who ended with a fine tally of 11 points. Some dogged defending especially from Sean Boyd and Brendan Halpin ensured Castleknock never got off an easy score and kept Crokes in the game. It all turned with just two minutes to go when Neale Martin caught a high ball just outside the square and turned the full back expertly to calmly finish past the Castleknock keeper from close range. It was a dramatic end to an excellent game where this side had given one of its best ever performances. Congrats to all on the night in what was an excellent team performance all round.

 

This victory takes the team to a total of nine points from five games and also saw the team leapfrog Skerries Harps into top place in their group on score difference.

 

Team on the night was:

 

  1. Paddy Tige
  2. Sean Boyd
  3. Mark Regan (Ronan Egan at half time due to injury)
  4. Niall McIntyre
  5. Damien McAuliffe (Niall Hanley at half time due to injury)
  6. Ciaran O’Callaghan (Ciaran McIntyre)
  7. Brendan Halpin
  8. Shane O’Keeffe (11 points, (8 from frees)
  9. Simon Rouse
  10. Daragh Brennan
  11. James Byrne (2 points)
  12. Ciaran McIntyre (David Beagon)
  13. Justin Cassidy (2 points) (Ken Noctor)
  14. Neale Martin (2 goals and 1 point)
  15. Ciaran McGrath

 

Hurling.