The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Crokes crush surprise packages Templenoe in Lewis Road
EMPHATHIC would be a bit of an understatement in describing how Dr Crokes booked their place in the County League Final as they had no less than 32 points to spare over a Templenoe side who saw a sharp difference in quality from some of the other opposition they have faced this year in the top flight.
It’s hard to know if, when trailing by 0-7 to 0-1, an Adrian Spillane goal chance had not been saved by Shane Murphy whether or not the match might have been a bit more competitive but what we can say is that it made the Crokes take the match to a level Templenoe simply couldn’t compete with. Gavin O’Shea set up Kieran O’Leary for the first of six goals for the home side with Daithi Casey scoring their second in the first period. Spillane did find the net before half-time but Crokes’ halftime lead was 2-15 to 1-4.
O’Shea scored Crokes third goal as Killian Spillane responded with a second for the visitors but it was now only exhibition stuff at 3-20 to 2-5. Brian Looney was goalscorer number four as O’Shea got a second with Crokes’ fifth green flag. Not even a black card for Cillian Fitzgerald knocked the Killarney side off their stride as Johnny Buckley gave a very positive signal ahead of next weekend in Croke Park with a total of 1-7 during proceedings with his former Kerry team-mate in O’Leary finishing with 1-10. Crokes can made sure of home advantage for the decider with a win over Milltown/ Castlemaine in their game while Templenoe can only force a playoff with Austin Stacks to see who they will play in the League Final should they manage to recover and beat the Rockies on home turf.
Dingle and Kerins O’Rahillys’ outside chances of making the decider ended with defeats to John Mitchels and Kenmare Shamrocks respectively. The former match was the more important in terms of the Tralee side’s chances of staying up as their 3-12 to 0-9 win over the West Kerry outfit means they moved above Kilcummin in the relegation zone ahead of the final day with their fate in their own hands against Strand Road. It also made Kenmare’s 3-10 to 0-10 win over O’Rahillys pretty inconsequential and ended a short return to the top flight for the club in 2016.
Last year’s County Championship runners-up Killarney Legion’s two-year spell in the top flight also ended as Glenbeigh/Glencar secured a third year in Division One with a 2-11 to 0-10 success at home to the East Kerry side. A Colin McGuillicuddy goal separated the two sides at half-time at 1-5 to 0-7 after Legion had led by 0-5 to 0-2 early on through braces from both Jamie O’Sullivan and Finbarr Murphy.
The Mid Kerry side went further ahead after half-time with a Kieran Courtney goal putting them 2-7 to 0-7 in front and their defence held firm in the face of Legion’s effort to make amends but seven points would be Glenbeigh/ Glencar’s winning margin at the final whistle.
Castleisland Desmonds also made sure of a third year in the top flight with a 1-13 apiece draw at home to the already safe Milltown/ Castlemaine. The hosts led by 1-8 to 0-6 at the break, Pat Fitzgerald the Desmonds goalscorer as Stan Devane nearly added a second before his shot blazed over the bar. The visitors were a lot better in the second period however, Shane Murphy getting their goal in levelling the match up at 1-9 apiece and they were still level at 1-12 apiece coming towards the end before some late excitement.
Graham O’Connor appeared to have given Desmonds the win but Milltown/Castlemaine were awarded a penalty at the other end which Jeremiah Hayes elected to fire over the bar as opposed to taking a shot at goal in ensuring that the match ended in a draw. This is the only division where all teams have completed all their 10 scheduled matches at the moment.
On the last day Kilcummin need to beat Glenbeigh/Glencar at home and hope Strand Road do them a favour against John Mitchels to have any chance of staying up with the Legion and Kenmare and Dingle versus Desmonds games having no consequence on matters at either end.