Our Under 16 hurling team played their Championship final on Saturday last the 20th of November in the Westmanstown Sports Complex.

In excellent conditions for the 20th of November, the 1st half got off to a cagey start with both teams trading scores for the first 15 minutes with Kilmacud ahead by a point at the first water break. Kilmacud then tagged on 6 unanswered scores after the water break leaving a 7 point gap on the 25th minute but true to form we fought back to narrow the gap before half time on a score of 0-4 to 0-10.

At the start of the 2nd half and a serious increase in intensity and work rate required by our players, Brendan Galvin was moved to full forward and this had an immediate effect, Brendan scored 2 goals inside the first 2 minutes to draw the game level at 2-04- to 0-10. For the remainder of the 3rd quarter both teams again traded hard won scores as both defences were giving little away with excellent tackling and blocking.

In the 4th quarter the game opened up at a frantic pace, we were leading by 2 points with minutes left on the clock and Kilmacud struck with a very good goal to leave us 1 point down going into injury time. We also lost our excellent goalkeeper Conor Laird with a hand injury and Sean Cronin moved from full back to goalkeeper. With one final attack, an excellent side line cut by Nathan Foster found the young hands of Liam Galvin who calmly slotted it over the bar to bring the game to extra time. 

With ‘Winner on the Day’ regulations in place, two 10 minute periods of extra time followed.

At the start of the first period of extra time some great scores were orchestrated by both sides with the pick of the scores a long range point by centre back Senan Crosbie, this left the teams level again at the halftime break. In the second half of extra time we led by 3 points going into injury time when Kilmacud struck again with a goal to draw the game level. With the game ending level at the end of extra time, a penalty shoot out commenced. This was new territory for players, mentors and supporters alike.

Penalties were taken by both sides and due to very good goalkeeping by both goalkeepers after 5 penalties the sides were still inseparable with 2 penalties scored. Sudden death then followed, a superb save by Sean Cronin gave us the opportunity to win the game and Brendan Galvin duly stepped up and finished a bullet of a penalty to Kilmacud net giving victory to our team.  

All 21 players contributed to the winning of the game and the other players who were unable to tog out for the final due to injury. There were brilliant displays all over the pitch, in defence Senan Crosbie, Daniel Foster and Tom Kennedy were the most consistent over the 80 minutes .Midfielders Nathan Foster and Cillian Dignam worked hard throughout the game covering every blade of grass, and in attack, Brendan and Liam Galvin played took some excellent scores at key moments, the work rate from all other forwards was excellent and they assisted in many of the scores.

This game had everything a championship final should have . A massive thanks to all the supporters who travelled to the game and Niall Fennessy for taking excellent photographs of the game. A huge thanks also to the referee Brian McCarthy who allowed the game to flow. Thanks also, to an excellent Kilmacud Crokes team and management who never gave up and made this game a fantastic spectacle and whose attitude during and after the game are a credit to their club and shows how they have won both football and hurling Senior championships in Dublin this year.  

The winning of this championship was a truly remarkable feat made possible by the support given to this team by our under 14 and under 15 players and management.

So, after an exhilarating 80 minutes and 12 penalties the championship was on its way back to the North County!

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All photos can be found here