In 2007 our club made history by becoming the first team from outside Ireland to win an All-Ireland title - a feat unmatched to this day. The following is a report taken from the Irish Post on that milestone achievement.

 

Robert Emmetts 1-14

Killimordaly 0-8 

The side managed by Corkman Mick O'Dea outplayed Galway's Killimordaly at Croke Park to lift the Intermediate Club Hurling Championship and send out a clear message that teams from this side of the Irish Sea can mix it with the best.

 

Amazingly Emmetts kept Killimordaly scoreless from play for the entire duration of the game - a superb achievement considering the potent attacking force the Connacht champions possess.

 

Afterwards a delighted O'Dea praised his team's discipline in defence and accuracy in attack. He said: "I told the lads before the game and at half-time that keeping them scoreless was one of the keys to victory and I'm over the moon that we did that. To win All-Irelands you need to have that killer instinct and the Emmetts players had that in abundance out there."

 

Corkman John Quinlan was a constant thorn in Killimordaly's side from start to finish picking up eight points while also setting up Jim Ryan for the only goal of the game after 20 minutes.

 

Emmetts played with a swagger while also fighting for every ball like their lives depended on it.

 

It was the second time in three years that O'Dea had led a London side to AllIreland glory. In 2005 London won the Nicky Rackard Cup with seven of that side lining-out for Emmetts on Sunday.

Fergus McMahon captained London three years ago and on Sunday he made the same journey up the steps to pick up the Intermediate Cup. A delighted McMahon said afterwards:

 

"We knew we had to win the hard balls out there today and we did that. This is a huge result for us and London hurling. It's been two years of hard work to get here and we're ecstatic."

Emmetts held a homecoming reception last Monday night at the Crown Moran Hotel, Cricklewood cradling the latest piece of silverware to cross the Irish Sea. 

 

ROBERT EMMETTS - C Buckley; L Mannix, S McLoughlin, C Ó Murchu; B Foley, F McMahon, J Dillon; T O'Callaghan, E Carey; O Kennedy J Ryan, B Keane; S Quinn, S Quinn, M Trayor. Subs: S Kelly for B Keane (37), P Jordan for S Quinn (56), P McArdle for M Trayor (60), B Hennebry for C Ó Murchu (60), A Maloney for L Mannix (60).

KILLIMORDALY - P Kilkenny; JP O'Halloran, I Creaven, J Daly; Conor Daly, S Hanlon, N Earls; P Madden, F Duane; T Madden, A Lawless, N Earls; C Earls, E Ryan, G Earls. Subs: M Corcoran for C Earls (38), S Spellman for Conor Daly (50), Cathal Daly for N Earls (52), J Whyte for S Hanlon (60).

REF - E Morris (Dublin)