Kilmoyley overcome battling Dr Crokes to reach quarter-finals on an emotional evening

QUARTER-FINAL SPOT BOOKED: Kilmoyley advanced to the quarter-final stage of the Kerry SHC, with Ronan Walsh scoring 0-11 to help them overcome a stern test from Dr Crokes on a wet and blustery evening in Lewis Road. Pic: Kilmoyley Hurling Club

Garveys SuperValu SHC: Group 3: Kilmoyley 1-23 Dr Crokes 1-14

Kilmoyley advanced to the quarter-final stage of the Kerry SHC, with Ronan Walsh scoring 0-11 to help them overcome a stern test from Dr Crokes on a wet and blustery evening in Lewis Road. The game was overshadowed by the tragic death of former Kilmoyley hurler John Paul O’Mahony in San Francisco whose funeral takes place this weekend and many of the current Kilmoyley players had played with him in the 2014/15/16 SHC finals. Dr Crokes accommodated Kilmoyley in bringing the game forward twenty four hours.

Kilmoyley made a bright start to proceedings with Daniel Collins and Tom Doyle exchanging points in the opening minute. Philip Maunsell nudged Kilmoyley ahead with a point before he made a swashbuckling run down the left channel to shot high into the net past Diarmuid Quirke.

Crokes through Doyle and Mark Heffernan stayed in touch with Kilmoyley and at the end of the first quarter they trailed 1-5 to 0-5. Ronan Walsh was a laser accurate free taker for John Meyler’s charges, he soon made it a four point margin as we passed the midway point.

Crokes continued to pluck away and after Kieran O’Connor jostled his way through the Kilmoyley rearguard, the sliotar slipped loose along the rain sodden turf and Colm O’Cuiv pulled along the ground to strike past John B O’Halloran, leaving Crokes a point behind after 22 minutes 1-6 to 1-5.

Kilmoyley ended the opening half in strong fashion scoring five points to one Heffernan free to make it 1-11 to 1-6 at the interval. 

Crokes had some early momentum in the second half, three Heffernan frees reduced the arrears to three points by the 37th minute.

Kilmoyley started to stamp their authority back into proceedings in the third quarter. Paudie O’Connor and Dougie Fitzell struck long range points before Quirke had to be alert to make a save to deny Kilmoyley another green flag in the 40th minute.

By quarters end the lead was 1-18 to 1-9 as O’Connor and Walsh added points to further the Kilmoyley lead. Three Heffernan frees made an ideal start for Crokes in the final quarter as they reduced arrears to six points, 1-18 to 1-12.

O’Halloran was a busy man in the final minutes, the Kilmoyley net minder had to make some key saves in the final minutes to deny Crokes a second goal. At the other end Brick and Walsh rubber stamped the win with late points.

Scorers for Kilmoyley: R Walsh 0-11 (9fs), P Maunsell 1-2, T Brick 0-4, D Collins, P O’Connor 0-2 each, B O’Connor, D Fitzell, 0-1 each 

Scorers for Dr Crokes: M Heffernan 0-10 (8fs), C O’Cuiv 1-0, T Doyle 0-3, D Carroll 0-1 

KILMOYLEY: JB O’Halloran; D Kennedy, C Fitzell, F McCarthy; D Corridon, D Fitzell, D Nolan; P O’Connor, D McCarthy; J Brick, D Collins. R Walsh; B O’Connor, T Murnane, P Maunsell.

Subs: T Maunsell for D McCarthy (h/t), R Collins for B O’Connor (48), C Savage for D Collins (56) 

DR CROKES: D Quirke; M O’Connor, J Murphy, N Doncel; M O Buckley, M Lenihan, C Murphy; M Heffernan, W Allen; B O’Connor, T Doyle, O Hayes; K O’Connor, C O’Cuiv, K Landers.

Subs: D Caroll for Allen (h/t), TJ O’Sullivan for C Murphy (46), J Lenihan for Hayes (53) 

Referee: D O’Callaghan (Limerick)