Hosts Kilmacud Crokes capture Sevens All-Ireland

For the first time in the 42 year history of the competition hosts Kilmacud Crokes were crowned One Direct All Ireland Hurling 7s Champions on Saturday evening.

After an epic and intensely fought battle with a strong Portroe team Crokes emerged victors by 13 points.

Earlier Crokes, managed by Ollie Baker, had overcome the much fancied Midelton team in the semi final, while Portroe had beaten Tubber in the other semi final.

The weather conditions around Stillorgan were perfect for top quality hurling, as 20 teams from all four provinces competed in the senior competition of the One Direct Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Hurling Sevens.

Over 50 Teams representing the 4 provinces took part in the Senior Cup, Shield and u13 competitions. The first ball was thrown in at 10am and the action commenced at five separate Stillorgan venues at a fantastic pace. The tempo never let up throughout the Senior group games as teams from Tipp, Clare, Cork and Galway dominated, culminating in home club Kilmacud Crokes winning the title for the first time. Crokes have hosted the tournament for 42 years, and this was the first time that they have kept the cup in Stillorgan, and only the second Dublin club to win the tournament after Ballyboden St. Enda’s won it last year

Crokes beat Portroe of Tipperary in the final on a scoreline of 6-21 to 7-5, with county stars Ryan O’Dwyer, Niall Corcoran and Jack Dougan among the key players. Crucial goals for Crokes came from O’Dwyer, who scored two, and Oisín O’Rorke, who bagged a hat-trick, in the final, with Seán McGrath getting the other goal. Other Crokes’ players including Caolán Conway, Dillon Mulligan, and Niall Corcoran chipped in with important scores during the game. The O’Carroll brothers of Bill and Ross were solid at back along with goalkeeper Matt Collins, while captain Seán McGrath providing leadership throughout.

The beaten quarter finalists were Mullagh of Galway, Wolfe Tones Shannon of Clare, Borris/Kilcotton of Laois, and Moycarkey/Borris of Tipperary, while Tubber of Clare with intercounty star Patrick O’Connor and Middleton of Cork, with Cork ace Conor Lehane falling short in the semi-finals.

The Shield Final, in which teams from counties with emerging hurling talent compete, was hotly contested by Burt of Donegal v Keady of Armagh, with Burt coming out on top on a scoreline of 2-12 to 3-8.

The future of hurling was well represented by the U13 contingents from all over Ireland with Erin’s Own of Castlecomer, Kilkenny claiming an historic victory over the home club Kilmacud Crokes on a scoreline of 3-5 to 1-3.

Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Chairman, Peter Walsh said, 

Hurling fans countrywide came out in their throngs to sample 7’s hurling at its finest. We are delighted that Crokes were able to secure the championship for the first time. We have a proud tradition of great hurlers representing the club, and this current crop of players are right up there among the best. Well done to the panel, manager Ollie Baker and and the management team. With the U13 team doing well as well, we are happy that Kilmacud Crokes hurling is going in the right direction and we can compete with the best hurling teams in the country. We would thank One Direct for their support for this competition and because of them Kilmacud Crokes can continue to provide a platform for hurling talent in this unique competition. This official All Ireland tournament is one of the most prestigious competitions on the club calendar and we congratulate our own team, along with Burt, who won the shield, and Erin’s Own, who won the U13 competition.