On Wednesday June 2^nd, the U12 A football team played neighbours Kilmacud Crokes in the 3^rd round of the league.  In previous games against Crokes, this particular Olaf’s team always came out second best. However, on this occasion they were determined that the losing streak against Crokes wouldn’t continue... and continue it didn’t!!  The team turned in a colossal performance and won on a final score-line of Olaf’s 5-13 Crokes 0-7.

The game started with both teams trying to assert their superiority but Olaf’s got the upper hand when Tom Keane struck a marvellous goal to set the team on their way.  Tom followed up with 2 more points and Glenn Soraghan stuck over 2 points to give Olaf’s a commanding lead.  Crokes refused to lie down and scored 3 points without reply.  With Crokes creeping back into the game, Jack Dalton upped his performance, caught a marvellous ball, turned his man and struck the ball to the back of the net to swing the game back in Olaf’s favour.  Eoin Foley was next to register a score with a fantastic point from a 45.  Glenn and Tom scored another point each before the break to leave the half time score at Olaf’s 2-6 Crokes 0 – 4.

Olaf’s were fully deserving of their 8 point lead at half time, but the team managers cautioned the team about becoming complacent.  The lads took on board these words of wisdom and started the second half with 2 goals from Jack Dalton. Jack scored another point to bring his tally for the day to 3-1.  Big midfielder Sean McDaid fought hard and won a kick-out from Crokes and burst through the Crokes backs with a spectacular point. Fiachra O’Sullivan was causing mayhem and scored an astonishing point from near the sideline.  Cian DeBurca ran on to a precision pass from Fiachra to score a goal with his first touch of the ball.  Glenn Soraghan and Tom Keane completed the scoring fest with 2 points and 1 point respectively.

To concede 7 points in 50 minutes is a huge achievement but to only concede 7 points against the mighty Crokes is stunning.  The half backs of Rory Gallagher, Eoin Foley and Alex Start were up for any challenge that was thrown at them.  However the performance of full backs of Tom McGurk and Conor Kirwan had to be seen to be believed.  Both Tom and Conor cut out numerous Crokes attacks.  Any balls that got past Tom and Conor were soon retrieved by the ever dependable goalkeeper Jordan O’Connor.

Crokes managed to tag on 3 points towards the end of the game but, as stated earlier, Olaf’s won on a final score-line of 5-13 to 0-7.  Picking a Man of the Match was an extremely difficult task for the team managers.  They couldn’t decide on one individual performance so in the end, the Man of the Match award went to Tom McGurk and Conor Kirwan.  Well done lads!!

The panel on duty was: Jordan O’Connor, Tom McGurk, Conor Kirwan, Rory Gallagher, Eoin Foley (0-1), Alex Start, Sean McDaid (0-1), Jamie Deasy, Glenn Soraghan (0-5), Fiachra O’Sullivan (0-1), Tom Keane (1-4), Conor Brady, Jack Dalton (3-1), Cian DeBurca (1-0)