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Gavin O’Connor watched Kerins O’Rahillys bow out of the Garveys Supervalu Kerry SFC at Austin Stack Park this afternoon…
Dr Crokes 1-16
Kerins O’Rahillys 0-14
Johnny Buckley rises highest. Photo by Dermot Crean
A CLASSY and composed Crokes dumped a battling Kerins O’Rahillys out of the Senior Football County Championship at the quarter-final stage on Saturday.
Though O’Rahillys won the second half by 0-8 to 0-6 they could not bridge a seven point lead that Crokes built up in the first half.
Colm Cooper hit 1-5 and was at home around the 40 linking up with his fellow forwards, while Daithi Casey and Gavin White were also standout performers for the Killarney side.
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Colm Cooper celebrates his goal with Daithi Casey. Photo by Dermot Crean
Thoughts must be with blues defender, Giles O’Grady, who sustained a horror injury six minutes in which delayed the match by 40 minutes, while he was receiving medical assistance on the Austin Stack Park turf.
On resumption, with the scores one point apiece, it was Crokes who seemed to have coped better with the long delay. From the eighth to the 21st minute, they outscored O’Rahillys by 1-4 to 0-1.
Giles O’Grady is carried to an ambulance after suffering a leg injury. Photo by Dermot Crean
Though O’Rahillys had greater aerial presence around the middle, Johnny Buckley, was getting a lot of change breaking the ball down for his teammates to hoover up. Crokes were rampant as they initiated wave after wave of attacks.
On 13 minutes, Strand Road gave away a penalty after goalie Greg Kissane invited pressure following a poor clearance. However he made up for it when he saved Daithi Casey’s spot kick.
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The ball breaks wide in the Dr Crokes square. Photo by Dermot Crean
Crokes would get a goal eventually. It came on 22 minutes when Casey again shot at Kissane who saved only for his parry to rebounded to the net by Colm Cooper, who was in the right place at the right time. The goal put Crokes 1-6 to 0-2 in front and in a very commanding position.
Strand Road bounced back with points from David Moran and Barry John Keane who began to show some leadership, but Crokes would rattle three-in-a-row from Casey, Alan O’Sullivan and Tony Brosnan to increse their advantage once more.
The half ended with Crokes in very good shape, 1-10 to 0-6.
Tommy Walsh on the ball as Mike Milner looks on. Photo by Dermot Crean
Right from the second half whistle, Strand Road set about eating into the seven point mountain. Points from Moran, Savage and Barry John pulled them back to within four points inside five minutes of the half.
O’Rahillys had upped the tempo considerably, but The Gooch calmed things for Crokes when he hit a free and then one from play to increase the gap to six.
David Moran’s shot is stopped by Gavin O’Shea and Johnny Buckley. Photo by Dermot Crean
There was a sense that if O’Rahillys were going to pull this out of the fire they would need goals. Tommy Walsh was deployed around the square to do just that and indeed was treble marked for large spells.
With five minutes left in the half Jack Savage brought the game back to a four point game, but with time against them they could not orchestrate an opportunity to complete the come back.
Dr Crokes eased out the game like pros. On evidence of this performance Pat O’Shea’s charges will take some stopping this year.
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Scorers
Dr Crokes: Colm Cooper 1-4 (2f), Dathi Casey 0-4 (1f), Tony Brosnan 0-2, Shane Murphy 0-2 (1f and 45) Kieran O’Leary 0-1, Alan O’Sullivan 0-1, Eoin Brosnan 0-1, Jordan Kiely 0-1
Kerins O’Rahillys: Jack Savage 0-5 (2f), Barry John Keane 0-4 (1f), David Moran 0-2 (45), Kieran O’Mahony 0-1, Tommy Walsh 0-1, Greg O’Connell 0-1
Dr Crokes
Shane Murphy, John Payne, Michael Moloney, Fionn Fitzgerald, Gavin White, Alan O’Sullivan, David O’Leary, Ambrose O’Donovan, Johnny Buckley (capt), Dathi Casey, Gavin O’Shea, Brian Looney, Colm Cooper, Kieran O’Leary, Tony Brosnan
Subs: Eoin Brosnan for Brian Looney, Micháel Burns for Gavin O’Shea, Jordan Kiely for Tony Brosnan, PJ Lawlor for Ambrose O’Donovan, Luke Quinn for Micháel Burns, Mike Milner for Kieran O’Leary
Kerins O’Rahillys
Gary Kissane, Danny O’Sullivan (capt), Cormac Coffey, David Murphy, Ross O’Callaghan, Shane Brosnan, Giles O’Grady, Tommy Walsh, David Moran, Con Barrett, Barry John Keane, John C O’Connor, Kieran O’Mahony, John Ferguson, Jack Savage
Subs: Cian Sayers for Giles O’Grady, Kevin Walshe for John C. O’Connor, Greg O’Connell for Kevin Walshe (Black card), Gavin O’Brien for Kieran O’Mahony, Andrew Thompson for Ross O’Callaghan,
David Moran catches a kickout challenged by Johnny Buckley. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tony Brosnan sells a dummy to David Murphy. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ambrose O’Donovan and Tommy Walsh challenge for the ball. Photo by Dermot Crean
Daithi Casey looks for a man as Ross O’Callaghan challenges. Photo by Dermot Crean
Johnny Buckley on the run as Kieran O’Mahony chases. Photo by Dermot Crean
Daithi Casey in full flight. Photo by Dermot Crean
Gavin O’Shea challenges David Moran. Photo by Dermot Crean
Daithi Casey’s spot kick about to be saved by Gary Kissane. Photo by Dermot Crean
Barry John Keane and Colm Cooper tangle. Photo by Dermot Crean
John Ferguson keeps his eye on the ball as Ambrose O’Donovan closes in. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tommy Walsh gets away from Gavin White and Alan O’Sullivan. Photo by Dermot Crean
Midfield action with Con Barrett, Johnny Buckley and David Moran. Photo by Dermot Crean
