SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR FOR THE INTERS!

Hard luck to our Intermediate squad and management on their narrow 1 point defeat to Naomh Barróg in tonights Inter Football Championship, played in the raw cold of floodlit Russell Pk.  This was a cracking game with two fit and well-drilled teams "going at it hammer and tongs" throughout.  Division 3 table-toppers Barróg looked particularly impressive early on and were full value for their 1-5 to 0-6 half-time lead.  They started the 2nd half as if they were going to storm clear and were unlucky to hit the woodwork when a goal looked likely some 10 mins in.  However, a lighter Crokes team gradually wore them down, playing a fast, short-passing game and dominated the last quarter.

Aided by some judicious substitutions and an improved midfield supply, the Stillorgan side now attacked in waves and at the finish Barróg were on the ropes.  Crokes missed good goal and point chances in both halves including one or two equalising opportunities in a tense finale.  In the end a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-12 saw the Northside men advance to the last eight.  Few would argue that they didn't deserve to progress although the feeling was that some more injury time might have been played.  A feature of the game was the splendid dead ball kicking by the Crokes goalkeeper, Joe "Cluxton" Mooney, who drilled over 3 super 45s, 2 in the first half when scores were hard to come by.

Next up for Crokes is a promotion play-off with Ballyboden on Saturday next.  If they take tonight's fine 2nd half performance into that match John Sweeneys men have every reason to feel confident of avenging their 1 pt defeat to the same opposition last August.  It should be another cracking contest and we wish them all the best!