Senior Hurlers get first league points in the bag

The game started in rain and Crokes open brightly, with Barry Mulligan opening the score on two minutes when he pulled on a high incoming ball & sent it over the bar, two minutes later, Adrian added to this with a well taken long range point, the first competitive score a lot of people have ever seen him score. However, the lead only lasted three minutes, when some slack marking in the backs allowed Chiarain’s to sneak a goal to edge in front. A wonderful point from Dillon equalled things two minutes later, but again a mix-up in the backs two minutes later allowed Chiarain’s to score another goal. Crokes rallied with a converted 65 meter free by Kevin and then a well worked moved from mid field resulted in a goal by Mark to regain the lead for Crokes. Two converted dead balls by Kevin and another point from a rampaging Dillon, saw Crokes head to the dressing rooms at half time with a four point lead (1-07 to 2-00).

At half time, the Under 10’s played two mini games on the pitch, a great spectacle to see so many young Croke’s hurlers strut their stuff up in Silverpark.

Chiarain’s started the brighter in the second half and opened with a point, this was cancelled out by another point from Dillon, but after a 5 minute stalemate, it was Chiarain’s who added a point to their scoreline, but then a goal by Kevin, a point each from Jack, Barry Mulligan and Sean saw Crokes take command again. But Chiarain’s did not lie down and hit back with two points of their own before Barry Mulligan was at the end of a move started in midfield that saw the ball rattling the back of the net. But Chiarain’s came back with a goal followed by a Barry O’Rourke point and another Chiarain’s goal before Barry Mulligan sealed the victory with his second goal of the game. In a topsey turvey second have, Crokes outscored Chiarain’s 3-05 to 2-04, to leave Crokes winning with a 4-12 to 4-04 scoreline. In fairness, while an impressive display at times by Crokes, Chiarain’s were a weakened side on the day, so this young Croke’s side must learn to convert procession into scores and stop conceding soft goals.

Team: - Matt Collins, Shane O’Rourke (capt), William McEvoy, Adrian Grogan (0-01), Gary McMorrow, Rob O’Loughlin, Jack Doughan (0-01), Dillon Mulligan (0-03), Mark Coughlan (1-00), James Burke, Declan Browne, Barry O’Rourke (0-01), Kevin O’Loughlin (1-03 - 2 x 65, 1 x f), Barry Mulligan (2-02), Sean McGrath (0-01), subs:- Darren McVeigh for Rob O’Loughlin, Damian Byrne for Sean McGrath, Shane McNicholas for Darren McVeigh, Eoin Dalton unused

Report by Pat Halpin

To see photos of this match click HERE or on the photo below