Michéal Burns back as Dr Crokes ease into Kerry Club SFC decider

This was Dr Crokes of old, quick passing and quick moving and showing almost unerringly accuracy with their chances

BACK WITH A BANG: Dr. Crokes' Micheal Burns

Kerry Club SFC semi-final: Dr. Crokes 1-15 Rathmore 2-10.

DON'T let the scoreline fool you. This was a comprehensive victory for Dr Crokes at the Bishop Moynihan/Tim Linehan Memorial Park.

Pat O'Shea's side led 1-9 to 0-3 at half time and by the three quarter stage, it was still all black and amber as Mark O’Shea gave a powerful midfield performance. Up front Tony Brosnan and Gavin O’Shea combined well and Micheal Burns, returned from his US sojourn, looked in fine fettle as they built up a commanding 1-12 to 0-6 lead.

But Rathmore as is their wont, never gave up and outscored Crokes 1-4 to 0-1 to leave it tantalising at 1-13 to 1-10 as the clock wound down. With five added minutes, could they complete a remarkable fightback?

Dr Crokes provided the answer as they went up a gear again. Brian Looney's experience - this was his first championship start of the season, having not missed one since he made his senior debut for Crokes back in 2006 - was important as Brosnan and Cian McMahon pushed Crokes five clear and into the final against Dingle.

But in the final defiant act of the game, Paul Murphy fed Andrew Moynihan who blasted the ball to the roof of the Dr Crokes net as referee Paul Hayes sounded the final whistle. 

This was Dr Crokes of old, quick passing and quick moving with almost unerringly accuracy with their chances. This was the first occasion this summer they could call on Micheál Burns and playmaker Gavin O'Shea and that pairing were always a handful for a Rathmore side shorn of a number of their own regulars, as well as losing their sweeper Brian Friel early on.

Rathmore opened the scoring in a slow burner opening ten minutes with a point from Cian Dineen and then in the ninth minute Cian McMahon levelled for Crokes. Shane Ryan restored Rathmore’s advantage from a free but Crokes then enjoyed a period of dominance when they fired over 1-4 without reply that saw the Crokes move 1-5 to 0-2 by the 20th minute.

Burns and Tom Doyle kicked points while a brilliant move in along the end line in the 16th minute yielded the goal, as Burns passed the ball across goal for the inrushing Tony Brosnan to finish to the net.

Ciaran Collins kicked Rathmore’s only second quarter points as Mark O’Shea and Charlie Keating ruled the roost at midfield with Gavin O’Shea pulling the strings on the forty.

Crokes added four more points before half time from David Shaw and three from Tony Brosnan to see Crokes retire 1-9 to 0-3 at half time.

It was never going to be anything other than a Crokes victory as they continued to dominate the third quarter and they eased 1-12 to 0-6 in front by the 45th minute with points from Tom Doyle, Tony Brosnan and Michael Brosnan while Shane Ryan added three points from placed balls for Rathmore.

Despite that late Rathmore rally, it was Crokes who advanced to the decider and a quick opportunity to avenge their group phase loss to Dingle at the end of last month. 

Scorers for Dr Crokes: T Brosnan (1-6, 1f), M Burns (0-3, 2f), T Doyle, D Shaw and C McMahon (0-2 each).

Scorers for Rathmore: F Murphy (1-1), S Ryan (0-4, 3fs, 1’45), A Moynihan (1-0), C Dineen, C Collins, A Dineen, C Spiers and J Moynihan (0-1 each).

DR CROKES: S Murphy: M Fitzgerald, F Fitzgerald, N O'Shea; M Cooper, G White, E Looney; M O'Shea, C Keating; M Burns, G O'Shea, T Doyle; T Brosnan, D Shaw, C McMahon. 

Subs: J Payne for M Fitzgerald (35), B Looney for G O'Shea (45), H Potts for C Keating (51), a Hennigan for C McMahon (65).

RATHMORE: W Casey: C Dineen, A Moynihan, D Murphy; F Holohan, P Murphy, T Holohan; B O'Keeffe, C Ryan; C Collins, F Murphy,, B Friel; D Nagle, S Ryan, J Moynihan. 

Subs: A Dineen for B Friel (15), P Moynihan for D Nagle (h/t), C Spiers for C Collins (45), C O'Connor for C Dineen (48).

Referee: P Hayes (Kerins O'Rahillys)