Dr Crokes book their place in East Kerry U-21 final

ON Sunday last, the East Kerry Under 21 A Championship reached the Final stage when Dr Crokes came out on top against Rathmore in the semi-final.

Played in Dr Crokes club grounds, the first half was a close affair, but Dr Crokes pulled away in the second half and progressed to the final against neighbours Spa with a convincing display. It was tit for tat in the first ten minutes. Micheál Burns opening the scoring with a point from play and Brian Friel quickly replied.

The sides traded points, David Shaw, Dr Crokes and Shane Ryan for the visitors – two points apiece after ten minutes. Dr Crokes dominated the next five minutes, and a brace of points from the boots of David Shaw and Jordan Kiely, was followed by a well worked goal when Jordan Kiely turned over the ball and made no mistake rattling the Rathmore net.

Dr Crokes led 1-4 to 0-2 going into the second quarter. Both sides created goal chances. A Dr Crokes rasper just skimmed wide while Rathmore hit the upright and the rebound came out and was cleared. Dr Crokes pressed for goal only to have the ball cross the goal mouth and trail just wide.

The sides traded points (Jordan Kiely pointed free and Shane Ryan from play for the visitors) 1-5 to 0-3 on the 26th minute. Rathmore then had the better of the play. The visitors won the kick out passed to Shane Ryan, who rounded the Dr Crokes defence and gave the goal keeper no chance netting the ball – 1-5 to 1-3.

A Tommy Sheehan point from play was followed immediately with a Mark Ryan point and the sides were level as the half time whistle approached. A nice David Shaw point gave Dr Crokes the lead by the minimum at the break: Dr Crokes 1-6 Rathmore 1-5.

On resumption, Rathmore levelled the game with a Shane Ryan pointed free on the 35th minute but a well worked Jordan Kiely goal on the 37th minute gave Dr Crokes a lead they did not relinquish.

Rathmore pressed forward and were denied a goal with a great save by the Dr Crokes goal keeper, Johnny O’Leary on the 39th minute. In the remainder of the half, Dr Crokes turned defence into attack and notched up a further five points without reply to progress to the final. The East Kerry U-21 ‘A’ Championship Final between Spa and Dr Crokes is fixed for next Sunday at 1.30pm at a neutral venue TBC. THE East Kerry Convention will take place on Thursday, January 19.