U16s go down to classy Crokes
U16A Championship Final - St Sylvesters 1-5 Kilmacud Crokes 3-7 Lovely day at Parnell Park but Crokes got a jump on us early and, although we held our own through the middle of the game we failed to make much inroads and never really rattled their confidence. We started brightly and made a few chances early but didn't take them while Crokes took a nice point against the run of play and quickly followed with a class goal, the wing forward carrying 50 yards through the middle and, I think, surprised us with his aggression by going for his own goal.
Click for a few picturesThey followed with another good passing movement and another goal. We lost our way a little and only for a fabulous save by Dylan McNulty we would have been out of it, going in 2-6 to 0-2 at the break
Pierce Gibney pulled the same play on the restart, route one very swiftly and scored a great goal to give us hope. We followed with a few points and at 2-6 to 1-4 we were back in it. We were strong around the middle with Conor Quinn, Eoin Hammill (replacing the injured Alan Kavanagh) and Shane Woods holding the half line, Conor Mullarkey and Stephen Cunningham going well in the middle and Dave Sexton and Kevin O'Flynn supporting the on-fire Gibney and we thought we had a chance. Unfortunately we gave up a soft goal and then missed a penalty when we might have been threatening and couldn't break down their well organised defense.
Obviously disappointed to lose to Crokes in the final two years in a row, two injuries during the week to Ciaran McGahan and Philip Browne didn't help our preparation. There were a few great battles, Mark Hazely and the full back, Rory Boland and the full forward but Crokes diminutive wing backs stole the show with a determined display of tight marking, disciplined tackling and great game awareness that marked then as real champions at this age group.
A word of congratulations and thanks to Alan O'Connor who chairs CCC2, he got the three U16 finals back into Parnell Park and ran the games and presented the medals and trophies in a very professional manner - well done Alan.
Sylvesters: Dylan McNulty, Conor Ryan (C), Rory Boland, Eoin Costello, Conor Quinn, Shane Woods, Alan Kavanagh (Eoin Hammill), Stephen Cunningham, Conor Mullarkey, Kevin O'Flynn, Peirce Gibney, Dave Sexton, Ciaran Daly (Brendan Flood, Darragh Walsh), Mark Hazely, Mark Hughes (Paul McBride), John Corcoran, Colm Byrne, Kevin Danaher, Jack Hazely, Ciaran McGahan, Philip Brown
