CROOKEDWOOD
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t was like 2005 all over again for Crookedwood last September when Noel Boyce returned to guide them to their second IHC title at Fr. Dalton’s expense. The Adrian Murray Cup returned to its spiritual home on September 29 last following Crookedwood’s sixpoint victory over favourites Fr. Dalton’s in the IHC final. The success, coupled with the camogie side’s dramatic victory over Brownstown in the junior final a few hours earlier, made for the greatest day in the club’s history. And as was the case in 2005 when the ‘Wood defeated Cullion to secure intermediate honours for the first time, the two protagonists in their triumph were manager Noel Boyce and veteran forward Johnny Orme. Boyce worked the oracle once again in what was his second spell as manager, while Orme – who bagged 3-8 in the 2005 final – came off the bench to score 2-1 on this occasion. It was also a special day for the Savage family with Antoinette winning a junior camogie medal and her sons Antoine, Conor and Seamus securing intermediate medals, and a poignant one for Crookedwood captain Enda Murray, who had the honour of collecting the silverware named after his late father and Westmeath GAA legend Adrian. “It’s a great honour for me to bring this cup home. From the minute it
The squad celebrates their success over Fr Dalton’s in the IHC final
WONDERFUL ‘WOOD END SEVEN-YEAR ITCH was named after my late father, it was my ambition to take it back to Crookedwood,” he proudly stated. For Boyce, who played his hurling with Castlepollard and later with Ringtown, the success completed a remarkable year in which he also guided the Westmeath camogie team to All-Ireland junior glory. “It’s all about having the passion.
They have it and once you have that you can win anything. We did what we had to do. That’s the main thing,” he said. The ‘Wood manager was delighted with the impact his substitutes had on the final, and singled the ever-green Orme out for special mention. “Johnny’s a brilliant man to have, top class. We knew he’d do damage
The 2012 IHC champions. Front row l/r: Damien Grifferty, Alan O’Mara, Aodan Boyhan, Simon McCarthy, Brian McLoughlin, David Newman, Enda Murray, Gerard Brennan, Shane McGovern, Conor Savage, Richie Crowley, Kevin Orme, John Orme. Mascots l to r: Tony Brennan, Cian Yourell, Cathal Flanagan, Lorcan O’Mara, Jack Butler, Cian O’Mara, Shane O’Mara, Claire Loughrey, Emer Loughrey, Darragh Orme, Lucy Orme. Back row l/r: John Coughlan, Val Brennan, Michael Savage, Gerard McGovern, Aaron Orme, Tomas Brennan, Tommy Casserly, Noel Yourell, Darragh O'Keefe, Henry Reilly, Seamus Savage, Edward Nally, Kieran Brennan, Ciaran Yourell, Conor Hyland, Adam Mitchell, Ronan Scally, Andy Boyhan, Antoin Savage, John James Brennan
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