The spring struggles of Dr Crokes

It’s a relationship best described as fraught. They got off on the wrong foot 26 years ago this month and while there have been one or two afternoons that didn’t end in tears, they’ve rarely clicked.

There are very few Dr Crokes footballers who hold fond memories of All-Ireland Club semi-final afternoons and, in truth, the latter has never been too kind to the Killarney outfit.

It’s a fixture Dr Crokes have grown wary of, mutual trust has long been eroded. A seventh provincial crown may have been annexed in devastating fashion last November, but it doesn’t change the fact they head to Limerick today more in hope than expectation.