Inters Continue Championship Run
On Saturday evening, 9th May 2009, the Kilmacud Crokes intermediates made it three wins out of three in the round robin section of the championship with an 0-14 to 1-9 win over Setanta at the latter’s impressive new facility in Ballymun.
This was a very well contested game, not short of drama, especially in the hectic finish. When Hugh Gannon made it 0-4 to 0-3 in the tenth minute the game had already been level three times. Crokes enjoyed the better of the remainder of the half and thanks to the finishing stick of Kevin O’Loughlin led 0-9 to 0-6 at the semi-conclusion. The visitors might have been further ahead but for a save by the home keeper on the stroke of half time.
Turning into the wind three points was not a big lead. Crokes gave full forward Damien McSweeney liberty to roam far from the edge of the square and by the fortieth minute had extended the lead to six points, 0-12 to 0-6, thanks to two more placed balls from O’Loughlin and a point from Kevin Dalton. Setanta were not done and piled on the pressure. Frantic Crokes defending eventually resulted in the concession of a forty fifth minute free 20 metres from goal. This found its way to the back of the net and the fat was truly in the fire. Two minutes later it was 0-12 to 1-7.
McSweeney was sent back to the traditional full forward spot. Shea Gillen took up the number 11 position and Kevin O’Loughlin came to left half forward with Daithi de Paor, who had moved there in the first half, going into the corner. Nearly ten minutes were to pass before the next score. Three Setanta wides and a mishit from a 30 metre in front of goal did the Crokes cause no harm, before Setanta reduced the margin to one in the fifty sixth minute. The Crokes defence, in which Gary McMorrow, Aidan McCarthy and Niall Mulligan excelled, had to resolutely stand their ground and a goal line clearance was demanded of goalkeeper Richie Tighe, which he executed with aplomb, as the clock seemed to tick endlessly on. In the five minutes or so of injury time Kevin O’Loughlin again came into his own. His two white flags, to one for Setanta, would have been a major boost in themselves but probably more important were two splendid catches and deliveries from puck outs when the ball had to be won.
Next up are St Brigids in Silverpark on 20th May 2009.
Team: R Tighe, G McMorrow, F Monnelly, R Managn, N Mulligan, D de Paor, A McCarthy, S Gillen, C Brugha, B O’Leidhin, H Gannon (0-1), K O’Loughlin (0-12, f-10, 65-1), K Dalton (0-1) D McSweeney, M O’Dwyer. Subs: D Browne for M O’Dwyer, P Byrne and S Murphy.