Kilmacud Crokes looking to keep the treble dream alive beyond Dublin

Published date23 November 2022
The men may have been garnering more attention, winning a first double-double (as in back-to-back Dublin titles in football and hurling), only for the women's team to make it a first club treble after their breakthrough victory in the county

After losing two finals in the previous three years, Crokes got the better of Thomas Davis this year, winning 2-9 to 0-12 at Parnell Park, and have since followed that up with a first Leinster title, scoring a convincing 4-15 to 0-9 win over Tinahely earlier this month.

Next up in Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final are Monaghan champions Donaghmoyne: founded in 1991, they've won the last 20 county titles in succession, plus five All-Irelands and 14 Ulster titles. Crokes know exactly what to expect.

Crokes manager Paddy O'Donoghue doesn't deny the challenge that awaits, especially as Donaghmoyne are also at home. Still, his team's confidence is rising, and the mood around Stillorgan couldn't be better (the hurlers will also look to make a Leinster club final on Sunday, the footballers booking their place last weekend).

O'Donoghue is in his fourth season in charge, and puts the breakthrough this year in part down to lessons of the past.

"A few things came right," O'Donoghue says. "Definitely the bit of experience. Foxrock won six or seven in a row, were a formidable team before. We're also that bit older now too, most of our team mid-20s, and learned a little from the hard knocks.

"We'd a bit of luck too, the Dublin women's team were beaten a little earlier, so the club players there had more time to integrate back with us. We avoided injuries too, and that always helps.

"In the Dublin final, against Thomas Davis, we played very well in the first half, maybe put a bit of pressure on ourselves in the second half, thinking about defending a lead rather than go out and do what we should. But we have five or six of our team have won All-Ireland medals on the pitch with Dublin, most of the team have played underage with Dublin, so that's counting now as well."

That parish feel within the club and team is real: new club chair Joan Kehoe has three daughters on the panel, including standout player Aoife Kane; Molly Lamb's mother Daphne for years chaired the women's football section, and there are many links to the breakthrough 1995 All-Ireland-winning men's team.

O'Donoghue was also on that team, as was club groundsman John Sweeney, his...

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