Gaeltacht survive late Crokes rally

An Ghaeltacht 2-10 Dr Crokes 0-11

An Ghaeltacht pair Rob Ó Sé and Seán Ó Gearbhaí dominated midfield and the latter’s high ball was collected by Sean Ó Beambaire who slammed home the opening goal after three minutes.

Crokes, with 12 behind the ball for most of the half, could not match their West Kerry opponents despite a ninth minute Bryan O’Shea free.

With Seán Ó Gearbhaí and Tomás Ó Sé kicking two fine points and Dara Ó Sé unerring from placed balls, An Ghaeltacht were 1-7 to 0-1 clear by half time.

Dr Crokes narrowed the gap to three points with 10 minutes remaining. Eanna O’Connor extended the lead to four but points from Brosnan and O’Shea closed the gap to two in a dramatic finish.

Dr Crokes had a goal disallowed for a square ball in injury time while at the other end Eanna O’Connor converted a late penalty to seal victory for An Ghaeltacht.

Scorers for An Ghaeltacht: EO’Connor 1-3 (1-0 pen), D Ó Sé 0-3 (3 frees), T Ó Sé 1-0, S Ó Gearbhai 0-2, Tomas Ó Sé and PJ MacLaimh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: B O’Shea 0-6 (0-2 frees), T Brosnan 0-3 (0-2 frees), J Kiely 0-2.

AN GHAELTACHT: S Ó Grifín, C Ó Murchú, C Ó Lúing, C Ó Gairbhia, C Ó Beaglaoich, Pádraig Ó Sé, M Ó Gormáin, R Ó Sé , S Ó Gairbhí, S Ó Muircheartaigh, D Ó Sé, P Breathnach , T Ó Sé, É Ó Conchúir, S Ó Bambaire.

Subs: PJ MacLaimh for P Breathnach (45 mins).

Dr Crokes: J O’Leary, A Murphy, S Lavery, G White, J Lyne, M Egan, C Fitzgerald, B O’Shea, L Byrnes, M Burns, G O’Shea, D Healy, T Brosnan, D Stack, J Kiely

Subs: K Regan for D Healy (23), D O Doherty for D Stack (25), D Stack for K O’Regan (ht), C Doncel for J Lyne (38), M De Bhillis for L Burs (45),P Clarke for D Stack (50), L Burns for De Bhillis (B/C52),

Referee: Ger Lynch (Ballymac).