Tony Brosnan shines as Dr Crokes stroll past West Kerry

Dr Crokes 5-19 West Kerry 1-09: A masterclass from Dr Crokes’ Tony Brosnan was one of the few highlights of this dreadfully one-sided Kerry SFC first round clash in Killarney on Saturday night.

The Dr Crokes corner-forward finished with 2-6 from play, and also teed up Jamie Doolan for the winners’ third goal.

Pat O’Shea’s forward unit had it all too easy in front of goal on Saturday evening, with nine players on the scoreboard — the 5-17 tally of which they kicked from open play indicative of their dominance.

The final margin stood at 22-points, but, in truth, would have been far greater, were it not for four excellent saves from West Kerry ’keeper Tomás Mac an tSaor. The An Ghaeltacht custodian twice denied Colm Cooper in the second-half and also got down low to somehow repel a Brosnan drive from close range.

West Kerry, who travelled to Killarney minus the services of Brian Begley, Rob Ó Sé and Alan Fitzgerald, were dealt a further blow by the non-availability through injury of Marc Ó Sé.

The absence of three Kerry senior footballers, though, didn’t appear to weigh too heavily on Francie Dorgan’s team in the early stages as Seán Ó Conchúir fielded a long ball inside Fionn Fitzgerald and blasted to the Crokes net after 17 seconds.

Brosnan replied for Crokes before Ó Conchúir continued his fine start with a sideline kick from the tightest of angles.

But 1-6 without reply from the 2013 champions between the sixth and 19th minute killed off any early notions of a surprise result materialising. Centre-forward Gavin O’Shea, after a flowing move involving Mike Milner, Brian Looney and Kieran O’Leary cut open the West Kerry defence, struck their opening goal and Crokes celebrated a second green flag when Brosnan fired beyond Mac an tSaor on 22 minutes.

Points from O’Leary, and Colm Cooper’s first, left the scoreboard reading 2-11 to 1-2 at half-time, Seán Ó Conchúir providing all three of West Kerry’s scores.

Ó Conchúir (free) kicked the first score of the second period, but the West Kerry forward unit was starved of possession for long periods as the Crokes midfield partnership of Eoin Brosnan and Daithí Casey dominated. Points from Casey (0-2), Cooper and the two Brosnans cancelled out the points of Jason Hickson, Gavin O’Connor and two more from Ó Conchúir as the intensity of exchanges fizzled out.

Sub Jamie Doolan fisted the first of three Crokes goals which arrived in the closing stages, with fellow sub Jason Lyne on hand to find the net after Mac an tSaor repelled Colm Cooper’s initial drive. And somewhat fittingly, it was left to Tony Brosnan to complete the scoring, the corner-forward grabbing his secondgoal on 59 minutes.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: T Brosnan (2-6); D Casey (0-2 frees), M Burns, K O’Leary (0-3 each); J Lyne, J Doolan, G O’Shea (1-0 each); E Brosnan, C Cooper (0-2 each).

Scorers for West Kerry: S Ó Conchúir (1-5, 0-3 frees); J Hickson, S Foley, G O’Connor, G Ó Nuanáin (0-1 each).

DR CROKES: S Murphy; J Payne, M Moloney, F Fitzgerald; S Doolan, A O’Sullivan, M Milner; E Brosnan, D Casey; M Burns, G O’Shea, B Looney; C Cooper, K O’Leary, T Brosnan.

Subs: J Doolan for S Doolan (37 mins); PJ Lawlor for Burns (37); C Fitzgerald for F Fitzgerald (44, inj); A O’Donovan for O’Shea (48); D O’Leary for Brosnan (50); J Lyne for Milner (52).

WEST KERRY: T Mac an tSaor (An Ghaeltacht); C Ó Murchú (An Ghaeltacht), C Ó Luing (An Ghaeltacht), C Ó Muircheartaigh (An Ghaeltacht); P Óg Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), C Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), T Moriarty (Castlegregory); C Ó Coileáin (An Ghaeltacht), E Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht); G Ó Nuanáin (Lios Póil), J Hickson (Annascaul), E Hickson (Annascaul); S Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht), J Crean (Annascaul), S Foley (Annascaul).

Subs: G O’Connor (Castlegregory) for Moriarty (21 mins); D Ó hUigín (Lios Póil) for Ó Coileáin (HT); A Finn (Annascaul) for Ó Beaglaoich (HT); A Kelliher (Castlegregory) for E Hickson (40); T Ó Caomhánaigh (Lios Póil) for Ó Sé (47).

Referee: J Lynch.