O’Leary swoops to turn tide for Crokes

Dr Crokes 2-7 Laune Rangers 1-4

While Colm Cooper struggled to overcome the heavy going and swarming Killorglin defence, Kerry minor Kieran O’Leary swooped for two goals in three second half minutes to break the logjam and blow this attritional duel wide open.

O’Leary’s clinical finishing had a certain poignancy about it - the youngster was blamed by many in the county for not taking an opportunity for a last minute equalising point in Kerry’s All-Ireland minor semi-final defeat to Mayo in August. His 2-2 yesterday underlined that quality finishers will always go for the jugular.

“The following Tuesday night in training, I said to Kieran ‘don’t be down, you did the right thing in Croke Park,” insisted Crokes coach Pat O’Shea. “99% of the people in Kerry thought he should have fisted the ball over the bar (against Mayo), but fortune favours the brave, and he proved that today.”

O’Leary’s opening goal in the 46th minute - the game’s decisive moment - underlined his opportunism. He won an unlikely ball over the head of Killorglin defender Conor Falvey after 45 minutes, and given the acute angle, should have fisted the point. Instead he managed to squeeze the ball between the post and Rangers keeper Tony Lyons.

His confidence visibly soared. A minute later, O’Leary pointed off his left side, and almost immediately, he was on hand to finish to the net after Andrew Kennelly capitalised on some sloppy Rangers passing out of defence.

Suddenly Killorglin, attempting to reach their third successive Kerry county final, were down and out at 2-6 to 0-4 behind. Amazingly, four minutes beforehand, they only trailed by a point (0-4 to 0-5) and looked the likelier side to prevail in the testing conditions.

But unlike the drawn game, Crokes defended resolutely from the first whistle, despite the pre-match shock of Eoin Brosnan’s withdrawal with tonsilitis.

It all looked promising for Rangers in the opening exchanges as they skipped into a three-point lead after 13 minutes. However, they would fail to score (with the wind) for the remainder of the half as Crokes’ defiance grew.

Colm Cooper converted a free, then set up Kieran O’Leary for an excellent point. Midfielder Kieran Brosnan levelled it at 0-3 each after 18 minutes and by the time wing back Batt Moriarty put them ahead five minutes before the break, Crokes were winning all the mini-battles around the pitch.

“It was very gratifying to see the lads stand up to the physical challenge from Laune Rangers. County championship football in Kerry is inter-county standard and that’s where the lads are judged,” reckoned coach Pat O’Shea. “The key today was that our young fellas did a lot better in the physical stakes than many people thought they would. They met the challenge head on.”

Crokes got little assistance from a dying breeze in the second period, and looked to be in trouble as Killorglin reshaped their attack into a more direction formation - returning Russell to the full forward line. The Kerry attacker placed his inter-county colleague Liam Hassett after only three minutes, but his goal attempt slid across the goal. It wasn’t long before Russell notched his third pointed free, but Rangers never got a chance to use their psychological edge.

Cooper replied with a free before O’Leary grabbed control of proceedings to set up next Sunday’s decider against reigning champions South Kerry. The venue will be decided tonight.

Scorers: Dr Crokes: K. O’Leary (2-2), C. Cooper (0-2, frees); K. Brosnan, B. Moriarty, J. Jones (0-1 each). Laune Rangers: P. O’Sullivan (1-1), M.F. Russell (0-3, frees)

DR CROKES: K. Cremin; S. Doolan, L. Quinn, V. Cooper; B. Moriarty, M. McMahon, E. Kavanagh; K. Brosnan, J. Jones; D. Moloney, A. O’Donovan, A. Kennelly; C. Cooper, M. Moloney, K. O’Leary.

Subs: R. Neher for D. Moloney (half-time); J. Fleming for Kennelly (59)

LAUNE RANGERS: T. Lyons; C. Falvey, E. Ferris, T. Houlihan; P. Costello, J. Sheehan, N. Lynch; J. Lynch, L. Hassett; B. O’Shea, M.F. Russell, C. Kelly; B. Gannon, P. O’Sullivan, S. Foley.

Subs: J. Coffey for T. Houlihan (half time); G. Mahony for Gannon (50 mins); P. Sheehan for B. O’Shea (51); M. Foley for S. Foley (57);

Referee: P. Sheehy (Clounmacon).