Seniors Win Vital SHL Tie

Posted on

A convincing win over Naomh Fionnbarra in the unaccustomed surrounds of Inisfail's grounds at Balgriffin in Crokes final game of Division 1 of the 2009 senior hurling league was enough to secure Division 1 status for 2010. The game was switched at short notice from Sancta Maria and played on a reasonably firm, but grass bare, sod under lights that did not quite reach hurling specifications, on a dry but quite cold night. The first ten minutes were even Steven and concluded at two points apiece. Over the next twenty minutes an on fire Kevin O'Loughlin added 1-4 to the 0-2 he had already notched. The goal was a real piece of individual incisiveness in the 19th minute. The O'Rorke brothers, Barry (0-2) and Shane (0-1), together with Fergal Armstrong (0-1) chipped in to leave it 1-10 to 0-5 at the break. Had the woodwork not denied Armstrong, when set up by Kevin O'Loughlin from a fluffed puck out in the twenty sixth minute, the lead might have been greater.

Crokes were slow too start the second period. By the fortieth minute the 2009 Cabra men had registered three minors without reply. A side line cut over the bar from twenty metres out on the left by Kevin O'Loughlin wrested the initiative back to the Kilmacud men. This was shortly followed by a point from the excellent Ronan Walsh. Five more white flags were raised up to minute fifty, three for the 2009 intermediate chammpions and two for Crokes. At 1-14 to 0-11 that was as good as it got for Finbarrs. They failed to score again while the Stillorgan side added three more Kevin O'Loughlin placed ball points and a goal from long range by Walsh as the coup de grace.

Apart from Kevin O'Loughlin and Ronan Walsh, others to stand out on a team that was on top in all departments included goalkeeper Richie Sweetnam, Adrian Grogan, Gary McMorrow and Shane O'Rorke.

Team: R Sweetnam, G McMorrow, N Lillis, A Grogan, R Walsh (1-1), N Corcoran, R O'Loughlin, S Gillen, Rory O'Carroll, J Burke (0-1), H Gannon, S O'Rorke (0-1), B O'Rorke (0-2), F Armstrong (0-2), K O'Loughlin (1-10, f-6, 65-2, s/line - 1). Subs: B O'Leidhin for J Burke (46 mins), D Byrne for H Gannon (56 mins) and N Mulligan for S Gillen (59 mins)

Hurling.