Tony Brosnan and Gavin White ensure Dr Crokes defeat Na Gaeil to retain Kerry senior club title

DOUBLE ACT: Tony Brosnan of Dr Crokes in action against Fergal Barry of Na Gaeil. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

DR CROKES 0-20 NA GAEIL 1-12

The devastating double act of Tony Brosnan and Gavin White was simply too much to handle for Na Gaeil as defending champions Dr Crokes retained their Kerry senior club football championship final at a windswept Austin Stack Park.

The Kingdom inter-county stars were simply sensational from beginning to end. Brosnan notched eight points over the hour, all from open play, while the flying White was equally as inspirational from centre-back, finishing with 0-6, including a brace of orange flags.

Na Gaeil were always facing an uphill battle after the winners opted to play with the wind in the opening 30 minutes but, driven on by Stefan Okunbor, they dug in commendably and, with a late Diarmuid O’Connor goal, and a 0-5 haul from Jack Sheehan, they reduced the deficit to five at the death.

The first half was all about the dynamic Dr Crokes duo of White and Brosnan however. With the strong breeze at their backs, the reigning kingpins were determined to make an early impression, and two of their Kingdom contingent were on fire.

After Diarmuid O’Connor opened Na Gaeil’s with a fine run and point into the wind, and Tom Doyle replied with a punched equaliser, Brosnan then fired over three on the trot as Fergal Barry struggled to tie him down.

Na Gaeil’s Oison Maunsell with James O’Connor come up against Brian Looney of Dr Crokes. Pic:©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

Despite the physical presence and height which the Tralee side enjoy in the midfield diamond, Mark O’Shea was also quickly into his stride in the Dr Crokes’ engine room and, despite a beautiful point by Andrew Barry, it was the other centre-back who took centre stage.

Between the 10th and 20th minutes, Kerry captain White grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, arrowing over a pair of two-point specials, and also raising a white flag, as Dr Crokes built a seven-point lead (0-10 to 0-3), corner-back Niall O’Mahony replying for Na Gaeil.

Dr Crokes also missed a goal chance when Cian McMahon was foiled by a Conor Bohane save, and Na Gaeil dug in strongly in the last ten minutes of the half, Diarmuid O’Connor and James O’Connor with points, as Brosnan took his first half tally to 0-6 at the other end (0-12 to 0-5).

The Killarney side kept Na Gaeil at arm’s length for long periods too on the resumption. Jack Barry shot well wide with a goal chance for the Killeen club and, with Micheál Burns bursting into the picture, Dr Crokes were home and dry by the 54th minute (0-19 to 0-9).

To give them due credit, Na Gaeil didn’t throw in the towel. Diarmuid O’Connor punched to the net after an Oisín Maunsell effort came back off the crossbar, and the lively Sheehan kicked over a two-pointer to threaten a late comeback. Steadying the ship, White set up sub-Alex Hennigan for the insurance score.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: T Brosnan 0-8, G White 0-6 (2tp), M Burns 0-2, T Doyle, C McMahon, B Looney, A Hennigan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Na Gaeil: D O’Connor 1-2, J Sheehan 0-5 (1tp), A Barry, N O’Mahony, J O’Connor, O Maunsell, S O’Connor 0-1 each.

DR CROKES: S Murphy; M Potts, F Fitzgerald, N O’Shea; C Fitzgerald, G White, E Looney; M O’Shea, B Courtney; M Burns, G O’Shea, B Looney; T Brosnan, T Doyle, C McMahon.

Subs: K O’Leary for Doyle (40), M Cooper for C Fitzgerald (45), A Hennigan for McMahon (55), D Shaw for Burns (60).

NA GAEIL: C Bohane; N O’Mahony, S Okunbor, E O’Connor; J Doyle, A Barry, F Barry; J Barry, D O’Connor; J O’Connor, O Maunsell, T Ó hAiniféin; P Doyle, D Devine, J Sheehan.

Subs: K O’Connor for Devine (40), D Reen for P Doyle (40), E Doody for O’Mahony (44), S O’Connor for Ó hAiniféin (49), R Ó hAiniféin for J O’Connor (56).

Referee: B Griffin (Clounmacon).