O’Leary answers the call for Crokes

ANOTHER week, another nerve-shredding encounter for Dr Crokes.

Their Kerry SFC semi-final success at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday afternoon replicated the script that had been penned in their quarter-final victory the previous Sunday. Again they only had a wafer-thin margin to rely on at the final whistle. Again they had to withstand a ferocious late onslaught from stubborn opponents, with West Kerry proving as difficult to overcome as Austin Stacks had been. And again it was Kieran O’Leary, deservedly bestowed with the man of the match award, with the critical second-half points when they needed it.

This six-day period may define Dr Crokes’ season. They are still standing after 120 minutes of serious combat and on the cusp of retaining their title, a feat that has eluded them since 1914.