Junior D's open league campaign with a victory

The newly promoted Junior D's opened their league campaign with a hard fought win over Clanna Gael Fontenoy in division 7, in Silver Park on Sunday afternoon. The conditions were perfect for hurling, and the game was evenly contested with neither team able to break their opponents. Points were exchanged at the start of the first half, with Shane O'Keefe slotting over two early frees, and Neil Martin adding another single, before his scored his first goal mid-way through the half. Shane added another free, before Fionnán Motherway scored two excellent points, to leave Crokes leading 1.6 to 0.7 at the break.

 

Whatever wind that there was, was behind Clanna Gael in the second half, but the Crokes back did well to get their opponents at bay, the full back line of Ciarán McIntyre, Paul Ryan, and Damian McAuliffe, were solid all afternoon. Neil Martin bagged his second goal at the start of the second half which put 5 between the teams, but Clanna Gael came back into the game and got a goal soon after. Two more Shane O'Keefe frees, and another from Fionnán Motherway stretched Crokes' advantage but they could never pull away from their opponents, as Clanna Gael kept adding scores. Barry Horan worked hard throughout the match, and was rewarded with a point mid-way through the half. Substitutes Andy Cullinane and James Butler scored when they came on, before Clanna Gael got a late goal. Crokes held on well, and for the second year in a row, recorded a 1 point win of the Ringsend men.

Team; 1.Dáire Brennan, 2. Damian McAuliffe, 3. Paul Ryan, 4. Ciarán McIntyre, 5. Niall Hanley, 6. Adrian Crean, 7. Brian McHenry, 8. Simon Rouse, 9. Shane O'Keefe, 10. Fionnán Motherway, 11. Richie Power, 12. Ronan Walsh, 13. Barry Horan 14. Neil Martin, 15. Niko Salvino. 

 

Substitutes; James Butler, Andy Cullinane, Paul Byrne, Peter O'Donoghue

 

Report by Dáire Brennan