Crafty Crokes kings again

THERE must have been times in recent years when Dr Crokes pondered if their luckless streak in Kerry deciders would ever cease.

County final day proved to be the graveyard for their ambitions three times between 2005 and 2009, yet those ghastly experiences have proved informative and a more seasoned team has intelligently absorbed those lessons.

Yesterday in Fitzgerald Stadium they demonstrated their staying power by claiming a second successive senior crown by staving off the challenge of Mid Kerry. It was a special success as they finally managed to taste glory in the ground that is only separated from their own club base by the width of the Lewis Road.

On a day when howling winds and heavy showers prohibited sparkling passages of play, Dr Crokes dug in and held their nerve. Shorn of cornerstones of their rearguard and handicapped by stalled preparations, 2011 has been a testing campaign.

That was reflected in the difficulties they endured in overcoming the quarter-final and semi-final hurdles but a two-week break from competitive action left them refreshed when they arrived for yesterday’s showdown.

They were full of energy and invention from the off, dominating the first-half exchanges as they fashioned a 1-4 to 0-1 lead by the interval. Mid Kerry countered strongly in the second-half but too great a gap had been created. That dynamic start to the game had proved pivotal in ensuring Dr Crokes full-back Luke Quinn would hoist the Bishop Moynihan Cup into the air afterwards.

Scores were in short supply given the elements and thus the two green flags that Dr Crokes raised were of incalculable worth. Supporters had barely settled into their seats when Colm Cooper prodded the ball into the back of the net with a mere 20 seconds elapsed, after a Kieran O’Leary burst forward had cut open the Mid Kerry defence. That set the tone for Dr Crokes early dominance but they were just as grateful for the second strike which arrived in the 40th minute courtesy of Daithí Casey.

A high ball lofted in by Cooper tempted Mike Moriarty to venture out from the Mid Kerry goal but the ball broke from a cluster of players towards Casey who finished coolly to the net despite the efforts of Aaron Cahillane to prevent the goal. That Dr Crokes score was the perfect riposte as Mid Kerry had strung together four successive points after the interval to cut the margin to two points, 1-4 to 0-5.

Mid Kerry’s scoring salvo occurred too late. They were flat-footed during the opening half as they struggled to prise open the Crokes defence. Their tactic of pumping high balls into big full-forward Colm Kerins yielded little joy as he was superbly marshalled by Luke Quinn. John Payne and Eoin Brosnan were outstanding in stifling the Glenbeigh/Glencar threats of Darran O’Sullivan and Gavan O’Grady, while Fionn Fitzgerald had a fine afternoon on the right flank of defence.

A neat point by Pa Kilkenny in the 22nd minute was the solitary effort that Mid Kerry could muster in the first-half as their shooting was poor and they also were denied a goal when Alan Kelly produced a marvellous block to stop an O’Grady shot.

The second-half was initially about soaking up the pressure for Dr Crokes. The switch of Fergal Griffin to midfield helped alter Mid Kerry’s fortunes as he inspirationally drove his team on while the introduction of Gary Sayers from the bench also assisted their comeback.

But the concession of the second goal was a killer blow for the divisional side bidding to win the title for the first time since 2008.

Dr Crokes expertly retained possession in the closing stages as they controlled the game. Casey and Johnny Buckley, who completed an unique double of Cork and Kerry senior football titles in the same year, grew in stature while Cooper was terrific with his range of passing and movement. A flurry of Mid Kerry points from O’Grady and Sayers did trim the gap to 2-7 to 0-9 by the 54th minute and Dr Crokes spurned a couple of chances to plunder a third goal.

However, those misses were not significant and when Ambrose O’Donovan banged an injury-time shot over the bar from distance, the spoils from this game were assured.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: C Cooper 1-3 (1f), D Casey 1-1 (1f), B Looney, K O’Leary, J Buckley, A O’Donovan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mid Kerry: G O’Grady 0-3 (1f), G Sayers 0-2, P Kilkenny, D O’Sullivan, S O’Sullivan, B Murphy 0-1 each.

Subs for Dr Crokes: C Brady for Doolan (51), B MacMahon for Kenneally (55).

Subs for Mid Kerry: G Sayers (Keel) for S O’Sullivan (44), C McGillicuddy (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for Kerins (57), C Moriarty (Milltown/Castlemaine) for Flynn (57).

Referee: Paul Hayes (Kerins O’Rahilly’s).