Kilmacud Crokes claim the U21 'A' Hurling Title

Image Courtesy Máirtín Ó Goibín

KILMACUD CROKES 3-19 

CUALA 0-17

Goals proved telling as Kilmacud Crokes defeated Cuala by eleven points in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Championship final at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon. 

While the final margin was somewhat flattering, there was no doubting Kilmacud’s dominance with late goals by Oran O’Keeffe and substitute Ruairí Walsh adding gloss to the final scoreline. 

After a tight opening, Crokes began to assume control in the second quarter with a Ciaran Donovan goal helping build a healthy 1-10 to 0-6 lead by the interval. 

Cuala refused to accept their perceived fate after the break, bringing their deficit down to a more manageable five points with ten minutes remaining before Crokes regrouped well to raise two further green flags in the closing stages.

Neither side were able to assert themselves initially with David Purcell’s 3rd minute free cancelled out in an instant by Conor Groarke’s fine score from play. 

Andrew Dillon and George O’Toole traded points soon after and the stalemate continued as Purcell and Cuala’s Conor Lowry cancelled each other out by the 9th minute. 

Cuala were coping well at the back at this stage with Eoin O’Driscoll catching the eye at full-back but he proved powerless from Kilmacud edging two points clear by the 21st minute courtesy of Gearóid Flannery and Purcell. 

While Jamie Conroy halved that deficit soon after, a Donovan point in the 23rd minute preceded the opening goal of the game as O’Keeffe’s shot was parried by Adam O’Toole, allowing Donovan to pick up the pieces with a composed finish from eight yards. 

A brace of Lowry frees stalled Kilmacud briefly but both Purcell and O’Keeffe clipped over two points apiece to enhance the Crokes lead to seven points at half-time. 

Donovan and Purcell (free) kept their scoreboard ticking over upon the restart but a trio of Lowry frees by the 38th minute ensured that Cuala gained tangible reward for their battling efforts. 

The goal required to ignite their comeback proved elusive however as David Lucey and Conal Ó Riain excelled in the central defensive positions. 

Aodhán English worked tirelessly for the Dalkey outfit as he struck two points in quick succession with four points on the bounce through Ruairí O’Connor, Lowry (2) and Groarke reducing their arrears to 1-17 to 0-15 by the 51st minute. 

With bodies committed up front, they were caught on the counter-attack in the 54th minute as Purcell burst through and timed his pass to perfection for O’Keeffe to bat home past the exposed O’Toole. 

If further insurance was required, it duly arrived a minute into added time as Walsh clinically found the net as Crokes reaffirmed their control by the final whistle.  

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: D Purcell 0-9 (6f, 1 ‘65’); C Donovan, O O’Keeffe 1-3 each; R Walsh 1-0; A Dillon 0-2; C Ó Riain, G Flannery 0-1 apiece. Cuala: C Lowry 0-8 (7f); C Groarke, A English, G O’Toole 0-2 each; J Conroy, R O’Connor, C Small 0-1 apiece.

Kilmacud Crokes: F Boyd; J Dunphy, D Lucey, L O’Gorman; F Donohoe, C Ó Riain, B Lynch; E Keys, J Neary; G Flannery, D Purcell, A Fearon; O O’Keeffe, C Donovan, A Dillon. Subs: O McCann for Dunphy (43), R Walsh for Flannery (45), B Kenny for Dillon (57), C McClean for Neary (59). 

Cuala: A O’Toole; E O’Carroll, E O’Driscoll, L Sheehan; M Grant, R O’Connor, D Fay; C Groarke, J Conroy; A English, R McGrath, G O’Toole; C Small, C Lowry, P Egan. Subs: F Ó Muirí for Egan (49), F Dowling for Fay (49), J McDonough for Lowry (57), C Dockery for Grant (58), S Patton for McGrath (60).  

Referee: Kevin McDonnell (St Vincent’s).