Kerry Football League round-up: Dr Crokes make perfect start to three-in-a-row title bid with Glenflesk win

PERFECT START: Dr Crokes Tony Brosnan in action. Pic: Don MacMonagle

The old adage of ‘Death and Taxes’ being inevitable could be used for Dr Crokes winning County Leagues matches as the last year’s champions made a successful start to making it three in a row Division 1 title triumphs when they proved too strong for Glenflesk, winning on a 1-22 to 1-9 scoreline.

The availability of Tony Brosnan was a huge plus after his three point cameo for Kerry in their win over Armagh on Saturday evening. Mark O’Shea and Evan Looney were also available for Dr Crokes, who were on top right from the off as they raced 0-6 to 0-0 in front inside the opening eighteen minutes with Brosnan kicking a two pointer plus a close in free.

Dylan Roche eventually got Glenflesk up and running but Brosnan responded with a free. Jeff O’Donoghue then found the Crokes net as Glenflesk closed the gap but Mark O’Shea responded with a point for Crokes.

Brosnan then fired over a second two pointer as Dylan Roche kept Glenflesk in the game with two points. But a two pointer from a David Shaw free saw Crokes retire 0-12 to 1-4 in front at half time before they dominated the second period.

Despite Cillian O’Sullivan and Alex Hennigan swapping early points, Crokes struck for a crucial goal in the 34th minute scored by Mikey Casey. And that was that. David Shaw ended up with 0-6, while Tony Brosnan top scored with 0-9, plus the introduction of veteran Brian Looney in the second half probably means another year in the black and amber for the Crokes banker.

Crokes take on Rathmore at home in the next round and they haven’t lost a league game since 2023.

Elsewhere Rathmore proved too strong for Ballymac, winning 2-18 to 1-11 thanks to two early goals from Brian Friel and Brendan O’Keeffe, which helped them lead 2-10 to 0-3 at half time.

Ballymac did improve in the second half adding 1-8 with Vinny Horan kicking a brace of two pointers and that was one of the features across the league on Sunday, the ability of club players to kick two pointers. Brendan O’Keeffe top scored with 1-7 for Rathmore while Darragh Nagle kicked 0-4.

Kerins O’Rahillys had an impressive win over Kilcummin with Jack Savage and Conor Hayes doing the damage. Barry John Keane had a fine game at midfield for the Tralee side and it was a close contest until the 20th minute.

Two points from Paudie Moynihan, a point from Paul O’Shea and a two pointer from Kevin Gorman had Kilcummin in front. But then a brilliant pass from Barry John Keane saw Gearoid Savage race in for a goal and Kerins O’Rahilly’s led 1-6 to 0-7 at half time.

A two pointer from Jack Savage and a point from Ben Hanafin saw O’Rahillys move clear but Sean O’Leary and Paul O’Shea made it a 1-7 to 0-7 game at the end of the third quarter.

But the Tralee side struck a purple patch that saw them kick four unanswered points with Darragh O’Connor to the fore as they cruised to victory. Jack Savage top scored with 0-7 while Conor Hayes and Darragh O’Connor kicked 0-4 each. Kilcummin had six different scorers but they kicked too many wides.

Laune Rangers, who ran Crokes close last year and were beaten in the Intermediate Club final by Austin Stacks, made a winning start when they beat local rivals Glenbeigh/Glencar with Eoghan O’Sullivan and Marc Clifford getting their goals in a 2-14 to 1-8 win with Stephen Gannon kicking 0-8.

Spa were too strong for Beaufort, winning by 1-14 to 0-11 with the damage done in the opening half as Spa led 1-11 to 0-5 at the interval. Evan Cronin was the man destroyer of Beaufort scoring eight points included a brace of two pointers while Joey McCarthy scored one of the finest points witnessed at the venue from the touchline.

David Spillane got their goal and it made the second half a formality despite a spirited Beaufort fightback.

Meanwhile Austin Stacks had a spectacular shootout with Killarney Legion with Stacks winning 2-19 to 3-14. But it could have gone Legion’s way as they led 3-14 to 2-18 in the 58th minute.

But Darragh Long’s side rallied with a Shane O’Callaghan goal (his second) and a Sean Quilter free to grab the two points on offer. While Armin Heinrich did play, all Stacks U-20 players and Dylan Casey and Joe O’Connor were not involved so this was victory for youth and Sean O’Callaghan.