Under 11s in Kilkenny
Hot on the heels of their victory over James Stephens, Kilmacud Crokes under 11's overcame O'Loughlin Gaels in two games at weekend as they travelled down to Kilkenny as part of the annual 'Crokes on Tour' trip.
Game One
O'Loughlin Gaels 4-3 Kilmacud Crokes 4-6
O’Loughlins were fast out of the blocks and scored an early goal. All credit to the Kilmacud boys as this did not phase them and they kept the scoreboard ticking over with four points in the first half. The Kilmacud full back line of Sam Kenny, Scott Penny and Lorcan O’Connor restricted O’Loughlins to only one more point in the first half and by half time the teams were level.
After the break the Kilmacud forward line of Niall Brady (1 goal), Nathan Slattery (1 point) and Dylan Crossan put the O’Loughlins backline under serious pressure and it was not long before Crokes had built up an impressive lead. The half forward line of Cathal O’Dwyer (1 point), Michael Taaffe and Stephen Horgan were very dominant throughout the second half. In midfield both Tom Kehoe (1 goal & point) and Eoin Barr (2 points) had excellent games. O’Loughlin Gaels had a very strong half forward line and even though O’Loughlins managed to make a small comeback half way through the second half, Crokes strong half back line of Michael Gibbons, Paul Buckley and Adam Cantwell stood firm. As O'Loughlins pressed forward Eamonn Keating in goal made a number of brilliant saves that kept Crokes in the lead. Daniel Crowley joined the full forward line where he really impressed scoring two excellent points from distance. Cian Coleman came on in the back line and helped steady the ship when O’Loughlins were making a late surge. Crokes led by six points and with the last puck of the ball O’Loughlins scored a goal. However, it was too late for the Kilkenny boys and Crokes celebrated a hard earned but memorable victory.
TEAM: Eamonn Keating, Sam Kenny, Scott Penny, Lorcan O’Connor, Michael Gibbons, Paul Buckley, Adam Cantwell, Tom Kehoe, Eoin Barr, Cathal O’Dwyer, Michael Taaffe, Stephen Horgan, Niall Brady, Nathan Slattery, Dylan Crossan, Daniel Crowley, Cian Coleman
Game Two
O'Loughlin Gaels 3-1 Kilmacud Crokes 8-2
Meanwhile, on the main pitch, Crokes gave a wonderfully spirited display of hurling against the Kilkenny boys. It was O’Loughlin Gaels who got the first score of the match with a 65’ but playing against a soft breeze, Kilmacud came roaring back into the game with two quick fire goals from Niall Bezeci and a third just before half-time from Sean Burns. A feature of the first half was a great display of defending from the Crokes half back line of Cathal O’Connor, Stephen Tuite and Aran Murphy who ensured that any ball coming their way was dispatched back down the field just as quick.
It was Crokes who were first out of the blocks in the second half and with midfielders Barry MacGabhann and Hugh Bermingham delivering some quality ball into the forward line it was not long before Mark Scanlon and James Callanan (2) hit the back of net with a brace of well taken goals. O’Loughlins were not to be brushed aside however and they replied with two goals and a point of their own. However, these were to be their last scores of the game as a determined full back line of Robert Kent, Michael MacNulty and Owen Shearer closed the door to any further dangerous attacks. A notable contribution in the last quarter of the game was two beautifully struck points by Sam Lynch and another couple of goals from the in-form full forward Sean Burns which resulted in a final score of 8-2 to 3-1 in favour of Crokes. This was a real team performance by the boys and it is also worth mentioning the valuable contribution from Harry Doyle and Brian Rafter who kept the ball moving in the half forward line and Yassin Siegrest who made some fine saves as goalkeeper. The stand out performance for Crokes was an all action display by Barry MacGabhann in midfield.
TEAM: Yassin Siegrest, Robert Kent, Michael MacNulty, Owen Shearer, Cathal O’Connor, Stephen Tuite, Aran Murphy, Barry MacGabhann, Hugh Bermingham, Sam Lynch, Niall Bezeci, Harry Doyle, Brian Rafter, Mark Scanlon, Sean Burns, James Callanan, Cillian Corcoran