An extremely versatile player, picked at Centre Forward on the Premierview Podcast Minor Team of the Year. He manned the full back spot in Holycross Ballycahill’s successful Mid and County U19B Championship campaign while simultaneously leading Holycross Ballycahill’s forward line in their run to the Co. Minor A Final.
Eoin Craddock of Holycross Ballycahill is that rare blend of ball winner, creator and finisher. Typically playing at center forward Eoin was the focal point of the Mid Club’s attack. Always available to receive the ball, whether it was the perfect 30 yard pass from Gould or a long under pressure clearance from the likes of Ryan or Morris, it didn’t matter what way it came at Eoin, he was going to win it and make the correct decision after he did.
When called on in the Mid Final to lead the line in scoring he bagged a hat trick of goals.
Likewise in the Quarter Final Replay Eoin was asked to go full forward and rattle the net which he did with another hat trick.
When St. Mary’s took a deserved 2-3 to 0-0 lead in the Co. Quarter Final Craddock, along with others, stepped up to the challenge. Craddock took the hits to win frees, put his body on the line to win the ball, offloaded it to Robbie Ryan, Jimmy Lahart and others to take the score. He was the epitome of the well known mantra, ‘get the ball to the man in the best position’ .
In the County Final Craddock again led the line, taking the fight to a much larger Durlas Og team. As one of only two forwards up to the age, Eoin led by example putting his body on the line time and again to win crucial possession before delivering the perfect ball to his younger teammates.
To sum up Eoin Craddock’s performances in 2021 in a few paragraphs is very difficult.
Perhaps the best way to do it is to reflect on his similarities to perhaps Tipp’s most important forward of the last 10 years, The Bonner Maher.
Many people outside Tipp may not appreciate Boner’s greatness but within the county Bonner is a folk hero, he’s the man that every true Tipp man would follow into battle. He’s the man that every opposition forward line hates to see coming. Eoin Craddock has the potential to be the next Bonner Maher, for both Holycross Ballycahill and Tipperary, while possibly being a better score taker.
Craddock is a diamond in the rough, if he continues to develop as he has done in the last two years, We in Tipperary will have a 10 carat diamond on our hands.
