Top of the heap again: Ballyduff see off plucky Lixnaw after a replay
Both teams injury-free for Sunday’s SFC final
THE safety net of already being qualified for the Mun ster Club Championship will have no bearing on how Dr Crokes approach Sunday’s County SFC Final with South Kerry. The reigning county champions knew before their semi-final with West Kerry that they were the last club team standing in the competition and therefore automatically designated as Kerry’s representative in the provincial competition. However, Dr Crokes selector Harry O’Neill says knowing in advance of Sunday’s final that they are already in Munster won’t affect their game plan or determination to win.
“The fact we’ve already qualified for Munster Championship doesn’t change the dynamic at all,” O’Neill said this week. “We’re very proud of the fact that we’re in a county final and when you’re in there you want to win it. You’re trying to put the Crokes club up the roll of honour. That’s a huge thing for us, having your name ticked after a county championship in 2017 or whatever year it is. It’s brilliant to have the back-up of it. Even going into the West Kerry game in the semi-final we knew we were going to be in the Munster Club because O’Rahillys were out. We were automatically qualified at that stage but it won’t change anything going in the final.”
Dr Crokes expect Kieran O’Leary (hamstring) to be fully fit for Sunday’s final after he was withdrawn from the semi-final as a precaution. Colm Cooper and Johnny Buckley had ice-packs on them toward the end of that game also after being substituted off, but O’Neill expects the management to select from a fully fit and available panel for Sunday’s game.
South Kerry are also expecting to select from a full panel, with the exception of long-term absentee Killian Young. Team captain Denis Daly has recovered from a persistent injury over the last few months and the St Marys man is expected to take his place in the match-day panel, although a starting place will probably be a bridge too far for the Kerry panellist.
South Kerry manager William Harmon is aware of the quality and threat of this Dr Crokes team, but the Milltown/Castlemaine club man is optimistic of his team’s chance of dethroning the county champions.
“What’s stood out for me is despite the fact (Crokes) achieved what they wanted in winning the All-Ireland club title, the players look hungrier than ever and the fact they haven’t lost a game since that win tells a lot about their ambition,” Harmon said this week. “We’re the underdogs coming into this and we have to play above ourselves if we are to win. At the same time it’s just once more you are asking the players to give it their all and leave it out on the pitch. If we can manage to do that I would be very excited about where it could take us at the end.”