Romp for classy Crokes

Dr Crokes 0-14 Kerins O’Rahillys 0-04

They did so as their attack was an ocean of motion that left their Tralee opponents listless.

However, the type of football played by Kerins O’Rahillys did not sit well with the winning manager, Noel O’Leary.

“Were you happy watching that? Did you pay €15 to see that today?” in reference to the Tralee opposition pulling 13 men behind the ball.

“Football’s a game to be enjoyed. That’s not football. I want to see football played like Kerry-Dublin this year.”

He lauded the ability of his forwards to spread the responsibility around.

“They are all good players. We think they are fabulous ball players. We’re looking forward now to the county final in a fortnight. That’s been our aim since last January.”

Kerins O’Rahillys manager Morgan Nix was despondent afterwards: “We did set out to hold them but it just became a tall order. We learned today the difference between league and championship. Our forward line just did not click today, but they are better than that.”

The game was a tame affair. All the flair belonged to the Kerry county champions as the Tralee men — as their manager admitted afterwards — attempted to limit damage in the first half.

The first quarter was a cagey battle with Kerins O’Rahillys dropping their half forwards — John O’Connor and Kevin Walshe back into defence.

Dr Crokes, meanwhile, left Eoin Brosnan sweeping in front of Rahillys two-man full-forward line of Barry John Keane and Jack Savage.

Between the 12th and 18th minutes, Dr Crokes turned the screw, kicking three-in-a-row from play. The wandering Colm Cooper pulled the strings as Kieran O’Leary (two) and Brian Looney with a fine score as he jinked onto his left, propelled them further ahead. Things at this early stage were looking ominous for the Tralee men as the champions led 0-4 to 0-2.

The game had its first flicker of life in the 20th minute when Kerins O’Rahillys were awarded a 14-yard free in front of goal. Barry John Keane took possession and shaped to point but instead shot for goal. His quickfire effort though forced a reflex save from David Moloney. The half trundled on but Kerins O’Rahillys attack was shapeless. After Walshe’s second minute point they failed to score from play for the rest of the half as Crokes took a 0-6 to 0-3 lead into the break.

Kerins O’Rahillys made a fist of getting back into the game but their attack faltered as the impressive John Payne, Fionn Fitzgerald and Kieran Ward dominated in the backline.

Crokes put their foot on the gas and extended their lead to 0-10 to 0-4 with 13 minutes left. The sole Kerins O’Rahillys point in the second half came via substitute Declan Quill. It was only their second point from play, the first was scored 42 minutes earlier. Therein lay their problems.

And then they got a chance at redemption. A quick Quill free found Barry John Walsh in the square, as he shot he was hand-tripped by Eoin Brosnan. Penalty for the Tralee men. David Moran’s kick was low but lacked the power to beat David Moloney who saved comfortably to his right.

Crokes finished with a necklace of fine points as Cooper, corner-back Kieran Ward, Looney and Dáithí Casey popped over under little or no pressure. Four in a row is now in their sights. No pressure then.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: B Looney (1 45) 0-4, D Casey (1f), C Cooper (1f) 0-3, K O’Leary 0-2, K Ward, E Brosnan 0-1.

Scorers for Kerins O’Rahillys: K Walshe, D Quill, BJ Keane (free), J Savage (free) 0-1.

DR CROKES: D Moloney; K Ward, F Fitzgerald, J Payne; E Brosnan, L Quinn, S Myers; A O’Donovan, J Buckley; A O’Sullivan, D Casey, B Looney; K O’Leary, C Cooper, C Brady. Subs: J Doolan for Brady (41), M Moloney for Myers (51), G O’Shea for Casey (58), S Doolan for Ward (58).

KERINS O’RAHILLYS: G Kissane; T Begley, M Tierney, S Brosnan; G O’Grady, B Moran, A Thompson; M Quirke, D Moran; J O’Connor, BJ Walsh, K Walshe; J Savage, BJ Keane, K O’Mahony. Subs: D Quill for Walsh (36), J Ferguson for O’Connor (43), G Duffy for O’Grady (51), D McLoughlin for Savage (58).

Referee: Seán Joy (Laune Rangers).