Crokes take a step closer to final as Mitchels fear drop

DIVISION ONE

Dr Crokes 4-17 John Mitchels 0-11

AN 18 point win and some daylight at the top of the table now for Dr Crokes as despite conceding the first two points of the game in Lewis Road, they weren’t long finding their stride in taking a 2-6 to 0-5 lead at the break thanks to two goals from Jordan Kiely.

Brian Looney and Kieran O’Leary found the back of the net in the second-half as the match petered out as a contest despite Mitchels’ best efforts to stay in the game.

Johnny Buckley and Alan O’Sullivan had a good game at midfield for the Killarney side who are now four points clear at the top of the table. Victory over An Gaeltacht in their next game would assure them of their place in the League Final as Mitchels need to beat Rathmore in Round Nine to stay in control of their own hopes at staying up.

They now prop up the table with Glenbeigh / Glencar on four points with this defeat.

Spa 2-15 Kerins O’Rahillys 1-19

A THRILLING second-half between both sides came down to a late winner for O’Rahillys’ Gearóid Savage as Strand Road went into joint-second in the table after inflicting a third successive defeat upon Spa.

Evan Cronin had scored the first goal of the game for the hosts but it would be O’Rahillys who led at half-time 0-11 to 1-6 after a run of points from Tommy Walsh (3), John Ferguson (2) and Savage (2).

An early second-half penalty put the visitors advantage out to six points but Spa rallied late on to very nearly pull a draw out of the fire. They scored 1-1 as the game entered injury-time to level the scores up before O’Rahillys went down the other end and both Walsh and Ross O’Callaghan set up Savage for the decisive score in the Tralee side’s favour.

O’Rahillys play host to Glenbeigh / Glencar in two weeks time as they look to be in a good position from here. Spa’s short trip to Direen to face Legion is probably their last chance at making an impression on reaching the League Final as they lie fourth in the table now.

Rathmore 3-12 Killarney Legion 1-17

A FRANTIC East Kerry derby once again settled by a late score in Rathmore’s favour as substitute Chrissy Spiers’ point was the decisive factor in the home side moving above their opponents in the table.

Conor Keane’s goal had given Legion a lead of 1-5 to 0-7 after 20 minutes but Mark Reen would convert a penalty after John Moynihan was fouled to give the hosts a lead of 1-8 to 1-7 at half-time. Cathal Murphy scored Rathmore’s second goal after half-time but six consecutive points for the visitors had them ahead by two.

John Moynihan made it goal number three for Rathmore to put them ahead but between a total of 1-5 for Conor Keane and 0-7 for Jamie O’Sullivan, Legion looked like they had done enough for a draw until Spiers’ late winner.

Shane Ryan, George O’Keeffe, Padraic McCarthy and Michael J Kelliher impressed for Rathmore in their narrow win despite the best efforts of Pádraig Lucey for Legion. The Direen side lie just above the relegation places ahead of their crucial meeting with Spa next time out.