Banner champs push Dr Crokes to the limit

Dr Crokes (Kerry) 2-08 Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) 0-13

Despite a soaked sod which made soloing impossible in a lot of the central areas, the Kerry kingpins had put themselves in a commanding position with 20 minutes remaining.

With no shortage of graft or grunt, they had overcome their shortcomings at midfield — where the absent Ambrose O’Donovan was missed — to exert themselves on a physical encounter in front of a 1,924 crowd in Quilty.

Brian Looney and Daithi Casey, both substituted, ran themselves into the ground while David Moloney showed why Eamonn Fitzmaurice has called him into Kerry’s winter training panel with an exceptional save in each half. Even if Kilmurry-Ibrickane were far from economical with their wind-assisted chances in the first half, Crokes were good value for their eight-point advantage when Looney scored his second goal in as many weeks.

And yet it was a Shane Myers’ 56th-minute point completely against the run of play that proved the difference between the teams.

Crokes’ difficulties in the middle of the field were apparent in the first half when, having gone 1-1 up after just four minutes, Kilmurry-Ibrickane levelled matters in the 24th minute. Moloney’s restarts were fighting a gale wind and landing almost on the heads of his half-back line who were forced into fouling and duly punished by Ian McInerney and Johnny Daly.

Crokes couldn’t blame the conditions, though, in the last quarter when a clearly tiring pairing of Eoin Brosnan and Johnny Buckley were struggling, especially against an excellent Peter O’Dwyer.

Trailing 1-4 to 0-5 at the break, having spurned a host of scoring chances with Noel Downes the worst offender, the home team were put on the back-foot further when Chris Brady, Jamie Doolan and Brian Looney found their range.

Against the wind, goalkeeper Peter O’Dwyer’s kick-out following Looney’s point was a poor one and the ball was transferred to an alert Looney who looked to have sealed the victory when he slotted a goal.

Complacency may explain some of what followed but fatigue was undoubtedly the principle factor as Crokes, a week after seeing off Dingle to win a third Kerry SFC title, lost their shape and discipline. Kilmurry-Ibrickane managed their first point in 24 minutes when half-time replacement, Mark McCarthy, sailed a kick over the bar. Crokes keeper Moloney, having denied Enda Coughlan a goal with a stretched palm in the fifth minute, acrobatically deprived Seamus Murrihy and tipped the rasping shot above his crossbar. The vocal home support didn’t need much encouragement and further points from corner back Shane Hickey and a free from Coughlan, which narrowed the deficit to four, had the majority of those in the stand on their feet.

The comeback of all comebacks was sensed when McInerney bagged his fourth free of the game after Downes had been fouled. Myers broke some of Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s momentum when he availed of Gavin O’Shea’s pass to give Crokes some respite and restore their four-point lead.

But back came John Kennedy’s men, McCarthy adding his second of the game and then Downes finishing a move that had been started by Peter O’Dwyer catching Moloney’s kick-out from McCarthy’s score.

With two minutes signalled and the game in the balance, tempers flared as Kennedy exchanged heated words with a member of the Crokes camp.

By that stage, Crokes’ defending was desperate and cynical and McInerney’s fifth free, one minute into the additional two signalled by referee Conor Lane, made it a one-point game.

However, Crokes, sensing the significance of the moment, put an onus on winning the next kick-out and, with Colm Cooper heavily involved, played enough keep-ball until the Cork official blew for full-time.

Full of beans, Crokes were a different team in the first 40 minutes of the game, Cooper getting a touch for their first goal in the fourth minute from a Casey free delivery.

Looney came to the fore after the break but it was Casey and Jamie Doolan who were the sharpest in the Crokes attack.

Even with Kilmurry-Ibrickane keen to exert their muscle on occasions which saw them pick up two yellow cards in the opening 20 minutes, Crokes were able to play clever possession football.

And just when it appeared a paucity of midfield possession could prove their undoing, a clever Chris Brady pass set up Buckley for a point and then Casey linked up beautifully with Doolan to register another to give Crokes a two-point lead at the break.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: C Cooper 1-1 (0-1 free), B Looney 1-1; J Doolan 0-2; D Casey, J Buckley, C Brady, S Myers 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilmurry-Ibrickane: I McInerney 0-5 (all frees); M McCarthy 0-2; P O’Dwyer, J Daly (free), S Murrihy, S Hickey, E Coughlan (free), N Downes 0-1 each.

Subs for Dr Crokes: A Kenneally for Looney (inj 52); G O’Shea for Casey (54).

Subs for Kilmurry-Ibrickane: M McCarthy for N Hickey, O O’Dwyer for Talty (both h-t); S Murrihy for Daly, C Donnellan for T O’Connor (both 43).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).