Classy Croke bags a treble
Portlaw United striker 16 year old Sam Croke who bagged a hat trick against St. Josephs in the FAI Junior Cup. Photo: Paul Elliott.
Portlaw United are heading for second-round of the FAI Junior Cup after this comfortable win over St. Joseph’s at John Grant Park on Sunday last. The star of the game undoubtedly Sam Croke, the Portlaw striker at just 16 years of age hit a wonderful hat-trick to take his team into the next round. However St Joseph’s gave themselves no chance as they conceded two goals in the opening six minutes of the game.
With their first real attack of the game, Portlaw took the lead with only four minutes on the clock when a perfect cross from Peter Woods found the unmarked Jordan Myler, who sent a powerful header past Aaron Healy in the saints goal.
They doubled their lead two minutes later. Peter Woods sent in a perfect cross this time from a corner-kick and Portlaw centre back Tighe King had little trouble beating Healy from close-range.
It wasn’t long before a third goal came their way as they put the home side under real pressure on 13 minutes when Woods fed a clever pass into the feet of striker Sam Croke, whose his quick turn fooled the saints’ defence, before firing a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net.
A shellshocked hosts slowly began to get into the game and they created their first chance four minutes later. James Kennedy played a neat one-two with Dylan Brannigan and then got his shot away, but it went over the bar.
The Saints went close to pulling a goal back on 21 minutes. Brannigan pulled a low ball across the face of goal only for the inrushing Shane Wyse to have his effort saved by Stefan McCurley.
Portlaw added their fourth goal on 38 minutes. Jordan Myler slipped a first time pass into the run of Sam Croke and from just inside the box the young striker found the net in off the far post.
The home side pulled a goal back four minutes later when a back pass led to a free-kick ten yards from goal. Dylan Kiely touched the ball to James Kennedy and he hammered the ball into the roof of the net before they lost Shane Wyse to injury seconds later.
St. Joseph’s started the second period on the attack and they had a chance on 52 minutes. Dylan Kiely won a tackle in midfield and ran at the Portlaw defence, but his strike from distance flew just over the bar.
The visitors went close again on the hour mark when Darryl Walsh knocked the ball into the run of Deevy Samuel, but his strike was cleared off the line by Saints defender Craig Norris.
From here on in it was a case of two penalties. The first one came to the hosts when Portlaw defender Cian Kiely handled in the box and up stepped Dylan Kiely to make it four goals to two.
But any hopes of a St. Joseph's comeback were dashed on 80 minutes. Saints defender Judah Adeloye handled in the box and referee PJ O’Keeffe pointed to the spot and Sam Croke placed the ball on the spot and he sent Aaron Healy the wrong way.
It was a hat-trick for the youngster to complete his hat-trick and write himself into the history books as the youngest ever Portlaw player to score a hat trick in a FAI Junior Cup game. Another piece of history for Portlaw came on 74 minutes when Cian Mullowney was replaced by his dad John.
Aaron Healy, Jordan O’Sullivan, Shane Wyse (David O’Mahony 42), Craig Norris, Sean Kelly, Conor Dunphy, Wayne Marshall, Judah Adeloye, James Kennedy, Dylan Kiely, Dylan Brannigan.
Stefan McCurley, Eoghan O’Brien, Peter Woods, Darryl Walsh, Cian Mullowney (John Mullowney 74), Tighe King, Alfie Keane (Cian Kiely 68), Jack Kennedy, Jordan Myler, Michael O’Grady, Sam Croke ( Shane O’Brien 82).
PJ O’Keeffe.
