GARVEY’S COUNTY SFC GROUP 1 ROUND 1
Dr Crokes 2-14
St Kierans 0-14
They haven’t gone away you recognize… as if anyone actually anticipated that they had been.
Shorn of injured Kerry stars Micheal Burns and Gavin White, with a membership legend like Johnny Buckley retired from the scene, and with a number of kids now of their ranks, Dr Crokes can nonetheless all the time be relied upon to be doughty championship campaigners. And so it proved in Milltown this afternoon once they floor out an vital first spherical win in opposition to a St Kierans group that gave the Killarney males a lot to cope with.
There won’t be as many huge names as within the current previous within the Dr Crokes jersey today – and a number of the gamers on present could be on the callow facet in the case of expertise – however each particular person introduced up within the Lewis Highway custom is aware of how you can play soccer. That’s by no means going to vary.
Of their opening Group 1 encounter on this yr’s race for the Bishop Moynihan Cup, Brian McMahon’s costs produced a really spectacular first half efficiency, the place the vary of their scoring choices (eight totally different contributors) would have been essentially the most pleasing half.
The second half-hour won’t have gone precisely in line with plan, with the general effectiveness of their game-plan happening a notch or two, however that was balanced out, to some extent, by the creation, and taking, of two aim probabilities, which turned out to be the margin of victory within the end.
Not that the inexperienced flags, in any manner, had been the catalysts for any change in momentum, or something of the type. From the primary whistle, Dr Crokes set out their stall, taking management on the scoreboard instantly, and even a dogged and never-say-die St Kierans had been unable to actually take a look at their mettle at any juncture.
With dependable previous stagers Fionn Fitzgerald and Brian Looney getting them off the mark with the opening two scores, the Lewis Highway males, with Michael Potts all the time an influential determine, and Mark O’Shea a very good focus on the fringe of the sq., led by three factors on the finish of the opening quarter, 0-5 to 0-2.
St Kierans had been residing off scraps, and what’s going to frustrate Jimmy Keane and his selectors essentially the most is that they turned over far an excessive amount of hard-earned possession within the first half. Certainly, Dr Crokes had moved six factors clear, 0-9 to 0-3, by the twenty fifth minute, though the divisional outfit diminished the arrears by the interval with minors from two of their finest gamers, Paul Walsh and Philip O’Connor.
Needing to fireplace out of the blocks within the second half, the losers obtained off to the worst attainable begin, with defender Mark Fitzgerald sauntering up the sphere to fireplace over for Dr Crokes after which, inside a minute, the St Kierans’ internet was bulging, with the rating that nearly definitely stopped any potential comeback useless in its tracks.
This was old-school Dr Crokes soccer, Mark Cooper competing effectively on an opposition kick-out, the excellent Potts gobbling up the break, and the stylish David Shaw arrowing a beautiful foot move into vigorous corner-forward McMahon. Eschewing the chance of a straightforward level, the quantity 15 went for the jugular and beat the Sean Og O Ciardubhain with a low drive.
By the three-quarter stage, St Kierans had been six factors adrift, 1-11 to 0-8, however with Walsh getting on prime of an ideal particular person battle with Crokes corner-back John Payne, and Thomas Lynch and O’Connor persevering with to work like Trojans, there was no dropping out. Nothing of the type, the truth is.
Nevertheless, you recognize what you’re going to get with Dr Crokes, particularly once they have a snug sufficient result in shield. They could have been sloppy in a number of cases heading down the house straight, however they by no means regarded like coming underneath the cosh from their opponents both.
Neil O’Shea, an rising chief on the again, the electrical and energetic Potts, who was everywhere in the discipline, the elegant Shaw, and the afore-mentioned McMahon had been all outstanding, whereas Tony Brosnan additionally produced moments of magic in his participating tussle with St Kierans’ corner-back Brian Leonard.
St Kierans huffed and puffed, however by no means threatened to blow the Dr Crokes home down, and even rock a few of its foundations, and the coup-de-grace from the Killarney facet was utilized within the 57th minute when skilled substitute Kieran O’Leary rocketed a rasper of a left-footed missile into the highest nook of the online.
Three late factors, together with a brace from play by star man Walsh, put slightly gloss on the ultimate scoreline for St Kierans, and whereas overwhelmed on the day, they are going to be buoyed by the truth that they stored going to the dying, and are certain to have a say but in how this group concludes.
For Dr Crokes, the information that they gained’t have Burns and White at some stage in their championship journey is disappointing however, on first inspection, they’ve merely put the top down, gathered the remaining troops, and nailed their opening battle with aplomb.
Write them off at your peril. Similar because it ever was.
DR CROKES: Shane Murphy; John Payne, Neil O’Shea, Mark Fitzgerald 0-1; Mark Cooper, Fionn Fitzgerald 0-1, Michael Potts 0-2; Cillian O’Regan, David Shaw 0-1; Evan Looney, Tom Doyle 0-1, Brian Looney 0-1; Tony Brosnan 0-4 (2f), Mark O’Shea 0-1, Cian McMahon 1-2. Subs: Kieran O’Leary 1-0 for Fitzgerald (42 minutes), Daithi Casey for B Looney (45 minutes), Cillian Fitzgerald for Cooper (54 minutes), Mikey Casey for McMahon (58 minutes), Brian Fitzgerald for Payne (59 minutes).
ST KIERANS: Sean Og O Ciardubhain 0-1 (’45’); Micheal Reidy, Shane Fitzmaurice, Brian Leonard 0-1; Cian Counihan, James Walsh 0-1, Michael Walsh; Adam Donoghue, Luka Brosnan; Maurice Hickey, Thomas Lynch, Sean Horan; Paul Walsh 0-8 (3f), Philip O’Connor 0-1, Eddie Horan 0-2 (2f). Subs: Daniel O’Shea for Brosnan (inj, h-t), Aidan Breen for Donoghue (45 minutes), Seamus Brosnan for Counihan (inj, 45 minutes), Cathal Brosnan for S Horan (45 minutes), Tadhg Brick for Reidy (58 minutes).
REFEREE: Seamus Mulvihill (St Senans)
