Quiz Answers

The question was

“At least five former Crokes hurlers have won Division 1 National Hurling League honours.  Can you name them and when?”

 

The five players in question were:

 

John Maher (Kilkenny 1961-2)

A right corner back by preference Maher’s distinguished playing career saw him win Leinster Championship medals with Dublin (1952 – as a forward) and Kilkenny (1953, 1957, 1958 and 1959), an All-Ireland with Kilkenny in 1957 and a National League medal with the same county in 1961-2.  In 1958 he was selected on the Leinster Railway Cup team and the Ireland team to play the Combined Universities.  That year he was also selected right corner back on the Sunday Review team of the year.  With Crokes he won a 1953-54 Senior Hurling League medal and a senior County Championship medal in 1966.  He was also on the Junior Board Selection that won the Senior Championship in 1963.

 

Liam Skelly (Tipperary 1956-57)

Liam Skelly, came to Crokes from New Ireland along with his fellow Holycross man Mick McHale and John Murphy in 1957.  All three featured in the 1953-54 Dublin Senior Hurling League final against St Vincents, played in April 1957.  A 1947 minor All-Ireland medallist with Tipperary, Skelly captained Dublin to the Junior All-Ireland crown in 1952 and won a 1956-57 National League medal with Tipperary at left corner forward when they beat a Kilkenny team which had John Maher at left corner back.

 

John Mitchell (Cork 1969/70)

Best known as a goalkeeper John played minor under 21 and senior for Cork.  He won county senior championship medals with Crokes in 1974 and 1976.  He also played senior intercounty for Wicklow and London as well as junior for Dublin.  He later managed Crokes and took Wicklow to a Division 2 Hurling League final.

 

Pat Cleary (Offaly 1990-91)

From Ballyskenagh, corner forward Cleary had a magical year in 1985 winning a Dublin senior hurling championship with Crokes, an All-Ireland senior medal with Offaly (he also gained the man of the match award in the final) and an  All-Star.

 

Richard Stakelum (Tipperary 1987-88)

Richie is currently a pivotal member of the Dublin senior hurling management team.  From Borris Ileigh he captained his native county to the 1987 Munster Hurling Championship and won an All-Ireland senior medal the following year.  He played for Crokes in the mid 1990’s, including in the 1996 senior county final.  The same year he won a Dublin Senior Hurling League medal with the club.

 

And the Winner is....

 

With no fully correct entry the prize of a €20 voucher for the club shop goes to Nick Scallan who answered:

Ryan O’Dwyer 2008

Pat Cleary 2001

Richie Stakelum 1994

John Maher 1962

Martin White 1933

 

While he gave long and very distinguished administrative and coaching service to the club, Kilkenny legend Martin White did not actually play for Crokes. 

Current players, Niall Corcoran, Ryan O’Dwyer, Ronan Walsh, Conor Clinton and Barry O’Rorke, and now the proud winners of Division 1 National Hurling League honours did not qualify as correct answers.